WHOSE SON IS THE CHRIST?

WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL

NOVEMBER 10, 2021

TOPIC: WHOSE SON IS THE CHRIST?

BY T. O. BANSO

“While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying, ‘What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?’ They said to Him, ‘The Son of David’” (Matthew 22:41-42 New King James Version).

One of the names Jesus was called was Rabbi, which means “My Teacher” or “My master.” It is the title of a Jewish teacher. Teachers have different methods of teaching their students or audiences. One of these is asking them questions to make them think or express themselves, or to assess their level of understanding. It’s not because the teacher doesn’t know the answer.

Jesus used this method during His earthly ministry both in answer to questions and as personal questions. For instance, He asked the disciples who men said, He, the Son of man was (Matthew 16:13). After they had answered Him, He followed it up with another question: who do you say that I am? (Matthew 16:15).

In His discussion with the Pharisees in Matthew 22, Jesus asked them an important question. “While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying, ‘What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?’ They said to Him, ‘The Son of David’” (Matthew 22:41-42 New King James Version).

The Son of David is one of the names Jesus was called during His earthly ministry. But He is not the only one called so. So what is so unique about Jesus being called the Son of David? Did it diminish His Person as the Son of God?

At His baptism, the Bible says suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Mark 1:11 and Luke 3:22 record this. That voice was that of God. He testified that Jesus was His Son. Referring to the baptism of Jesus John the Baptist said he had seen and testified that Jesus was the Son of God (John 1:34).

Also, at the Mount of Transfiguration, God testified that Jesus was His beloved Son. “While he [Peter] was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!’” (Matthew 17:5 New King James Version). Mark 9:7 and Luke 9:35 say a similar thing.

Satan, while tempting Jesus, wanted Him to prove if He was the Son of God in reference (Matthew 4:3, 6; Luke 4:3, 9).  But there was no reason for Him to do so. Two demon-possessed men called Jesus the Son of God in Matthew 8:29. A similar story involving one demon-possessed man calling Jesus the Son of the Most High God is recorded in Mark 5:7 and Luke 8:28. In Luke 4:41, demons declared that He was the Christ, the Son of God.

At different times, Nathaniel, who became one of the disciples of Jesus, and Jesus’ disciples also called Him the Son of God (John 1:49; Matthew 14:33). Also, Peter said He was the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16). There are other scriptures testifying that Jesus is the Son of God even though when He said so, the Jews accused Him of blaspheming (John 10:36).

Whose Son is the Christ? The Bible refers to Him as the Son of God, which Jesus also called Himself, and called God His Father. However, Jesus also severally called Himself the Son of man. This does not diminish His Person because that relates to His humanity. Jesus is both God and man. He is not just the Son of God, He is God.  He said, “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30 New King James Version).  

Jesus is God. This is why Titus 2:13-14 says those who are Christians are “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (New King James Version).  One of His disciples, Thomas, after he had seen the resurrected Jesus, believed and called Him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28 New King James Version). Hebrews 1:8 also refers to the Son as God.

Jesus came in the flesh; He was born as a human being although He is the Son of God and God. 1 John 4:2-3 says, “By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world” (New King James Version).

Whose Son is the Christ? Some people are confused about this. They don’t understand why Jesus could be the Son of God and the Son of man at the same time. These two aspects refer to His divinity and humanity. Jesus is fully God and fully man, not half-man and half-God. He is both human and divine, but only one Person. This is a mystery, which the unrenewed mind cannot understand.

Let’s go back to Jesus’ question to the Pharisees and their answer. As we saw previously, Jesus asked them what they thought about the Christ. He asked them, “Whose Son is He?”  And they answered Him, “The Son of David” (Matthew 22:41-42). This means the Christ who is the Son of God and the Son of Man, is also the Son of David!

Nevertheless, Jesus didn’t allow His discussion with the Pharisees to end with the answer they gave Him. He asked a follow-up question. “He said to them, ‘How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying:  The LORD said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool’? If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?” (Verses 43-45 New King James Version).

Whose Son is the Christ? He is the Son of David. But Jesus said if He is the Son of David why did David call Him “Lord”?  That was a question for the Pharisees. But verse 46 says no one was able to answer Him a word or dare question Him anymore from that day on.

But the question is still valid. Whose Son is the Christ? He is the Son of God, which talks of His divinity. He is the Son of man, which talks of His humanity. But He is also the Son of David, which refers to Him being the Messiah. Messiah is from a Hebrew term that means “anointed one.” The Greek equivalent is Christos from which Christ is derived. The scriptures have said that the Messiah must come from the tribe of David (Jeremiah 33:15; Isaiah 7:13-14; 9:6-7). Joseph, the legal father of Jesus, is from the tribe of Judah, David’s tribe (Matthew 1:20).

God had promised King David that He would establish the throne of his seed forever. “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (2 Samuel 7:12-13 New King James Version).  

This scripture was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Son of David. His kingdom is forever. Jesus came through the line of David as a human being. This is why prophetically David called Him “My Lord” long before His birth (Psalm 110:1; Matthew 22:44; Mark 12:36; Luke 20:42; Acts 2:34). Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58 New King James Version). What Jesus said about Abraham is also true about David. Jesus has been before David. Therefore, Jesus is not the Son of David physically.

Jesus said since David called him Lord, how could he be his Son at the same time? (Matthew 22:45). Jesus wanted His audience to know that He was not the physical son of David. He was the promised Messiah from the line of David. 

During His triumphal entry to Jerusalem before His arrest and crucifixion, the multitudes that went before and followed cried out, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” (New King James Version). Hosanna means “Save us now.” Jesus was the long-awaited deliverer, but not the political deliverer that they expected. He is the Saviour of the world. Romans 1:3 says Jesus Christ our Lord was born of the seed of David according to the flesh. The Son of David is the Messianic title of Jesus.

TAKE ACTION!

If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.

Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.

I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.

PRAYER POINTS: Jesus Christ, thank You for being my Saviour. Reign in my life, home, ministry, business, etc. Holy Spirit, convict the sinners so that the Kingdom of God will be established all over the world.

(For over 600 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).

T. O. Banso is the President, Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
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Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org