Being Delighted

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MARK

BEING DELIGHTED

Mark 12:35-37

35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, "How is it that the teachers of the law say that the Christ is the son of David? 36 David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: "'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet." '    37 David himself calls him 'Lord.' How then can he be his son?" The large crowd listened to him with delight.

NIV

While we clearly know that Jesus came from the line of David, it may not have been that clear to those who heard these words of Jesus.  It was clear, however, that the Messiah was to come from the line of David, as these words of David which Jesus was quoting were understood to be prophesy about the coming Messiah. The question Jesus is posing is that if David called the Messiah Lord, how then could the Messiah be the son of David? We are not sure about the public record of genealogies but we do know that Matthew records for us the complete line of men all the way past David to Abraham all the way to Joseph the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Jesus is simply making the point that he is not only from the line of David, but that David called him his Lord. Thus if a man, a king , that was so profoundly respected, and quoted, called the his son, the man who was to come from his line, Lord, then why did these teachers of the law see that Jesus was that Lord. In hind sight we can see it very clearly, but at the time it must have been very confusing for them. They may well have been expecting a king to show up, a powerful new king, a warrior king, like David, being his son and all. What we do know is that Jesus was telling them he was the one David was talking about, and they just were not getting it. We know they may not wanted to get it either, but the large crowds certainly were delighted at what Jesus was saying. So the point of this for us is what we already know, Jesus Christ is the Lord, the Messiah. What about those who are not as versed in the scriptures as we are? These are passages that could lead them to know Jesus is the Lord who came according to all prophesies recorded in the Old Testament. The Jews, in general, still refuse to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah, they are still waiting. Why do they not see the truth? Why do others, gentiles, not see the truth about Jesus? Are they like the Pharisees, the teachers of the law? Is they own religion more important than the truth? We should learn that lesson as well. We should make sure we have not adopted our own beliefs and use the scriptures to prove our stand, our lifestyle, but rather we should base our belief, our lifestyle on the truth of the scriptures. Jesus clearly wants people to know the truth and to live accordingly, having faith in him. We should be like that crowd and be delighted to listen to him. It should not be look at as a discipline of reading the scriptures, or a routine of devotions, or a pattern of going to church on Sunday, or a list of what not to do, but it should be a delight to listen to his words. As believers sitting at the feet of our Lord, learning from him, we should be delighted.