More Than David’s Son

Read Mark 12:35-37

While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, “Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David?” –Mark 12:35

There are two general titles ascribed to Jesus in the Gospels: Son of God and Son of Man. Each of these titles has an important meaning in the Old Testament. “Son of God” was a royal title, given to those descended from the line of David, reflecting God’s “adoption” of David as His son (see Psalm 2:7). “Son of Man” was a Messianic title, given to the One who would be given everlasting dominion by God (see Daniel 7:13-14; note also that Ezekiel the prophet was addressed as “son of man” by God some 90+ times!).

Both titles could be used interchangeably for the Messiah, but Christians saw in each title a reflection of Jesus’ identity. Jesus is the “Son of God” who existed before the foundations of the world were laid and through whom all things were created. But Jesus is also the “Son of Man”—God made incarnate through the virgin birth. How both affirmations can be true is a divine mystery, and yet Christians throughout history have affirmed that Jesus is fully God (of the same substance and being with the Father) and yet fully human (experiencing the same frailty and suffering that we experience upon the earth).

Generally speaking, scholars distinguish between “high” and “low” Christology. “High” Christology views Jesus from a “divine down” perspective, focusing upon Jesus’ divinity, His role in creation, or His power over death. “Low” Christology views Jesus from a “human up” perspective, focusing upon Jesus’ role as rabbi or prophet, or upon his suffering and compassion for people. The Gospel of John is generally regarded as the Gospel with the “highest” Christology, beginning with his prologue about the “Word made flesh” and then continuing with Jesus’ many “I Am” statements. Because Mark does not include a story about Jesus’ divine birth, and because of the secrecy motif, scholars generally argue that Mark reflects a “low” Christology. While this may be true in general, there are certain moments—like today’s passage—when Mark gives us a peek into who Jesus really is.

In addition to “Son of God” and “Son of man,” there was one more title ascribed to the Messiah: Son of David. We have already seen this title applied to Jesus, both by the blind man Bartimaeus (Mark 10:47) and by the crowds during the Triumphal Entry (Mark 11:9-10). This title reflected the common belief that the Messiah would be descended from the line of David, to fulfill the covenant made with David (2 Sam 7:12-16). But Jesus wanted the crowds to understand that the Messiah was not just descended from David, but was indeed greater than David himself.

Jesus quoted a line from the 110th Psalm: “The Lord says to my lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’” This Psalm was understood as a prophetic oracle, in which David was recording a vision he received from God. The first “Lord” is Yahweh (note the “all caps,” which in the Old Testament represents that the formal name of God is being used in the Hebrew). The second “Lord” is the Messiah—a figure who is above (and before) David. The 110th Psalm contains a number of promises about the Messiah—that he would be “seated at the right hand” of God (the place of highest authority and honor), that God would grant him victory over all His enemies, and that he would be a “priest after the order of Melchizedek” (a mysterious figure in the Old Testament whose authority preceded that of Abraham—see Gen 14:18-20).

So, back to the question: Whose son is the Messiah? And the rhetorical effect of Jesus’ teaching is clear—the Messiah isn’t simply David’s son, but is indeed the Son of God. Fast forward to the end of the Bible, and Jesus makes it clear: “I am Alpha and Omega, First and the Last, the Beginning and the End… I am the Root and the Offspring of David.” Jesus was descended from David, and yet he came before. Before David was, Jesus is.

I am thankful for Jesus’ humanity—for the fact that God put on our flesh in order to know us by compassion. But I am also deeply thankful for his divinity, for the assurance that He was here before all things began, and He will be with us at the end. All things will one day be placed at His feet. And because of this, we have nothing to fear.

O Lord, give us the same vision that David had when he wrote the 110th Psalm. To know that You are sitting even now at the right hand of the Father, and to trust that the Father is placing all things at Your feet. May I likewise take my place at Your feet, O Lord, and rest in the trust that You are Lord forever. Amen.