Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey the week before His crucifixion. On that day, which we now call Palm Sunday, the crowd proclaimed Him to be the Son of David (Matthew 21:9). On the following Tuesday in the temple, Jesus asked the Pharisees a question: “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose Son is He?” They replied, “He is the Son of David” (Matthew 22:41-42). From the Old Testament, they knew that the Messiah would be a descendant of David, their greatest king (2 Samuel 7:13–14; Psalm 132:11; Isaiah 9:7; Jeremiah 23:5).
Jesus drew their attention to Psalm 110:1, a prophetic verse written by David and the Old Testament Scripture most referred to in the New Testament (Acts 2:34; 1 Corinthians 15:25; Ephesians 1:20-21). David wrote, “The Lord said to my Lord” (Luke 20:42). To paraphrase, he was stating, “The God of Israel said to the Messiah.” David calls the Messiah “my Lord” and declares that He is exalted to the highest place of honour (vv.42-43). If the natural order is that a father is superior to his son, Jesus confounded them with this question: “Since David called the Messiah ‘Lord,’ how can the Messiah be his son?” (v.44). Jesus implies that the Messiah was more than just David’s son. The Messiah is God’s Son. The Messiah is David’s Lord, who is the Lord of all. In revealing His true identity, Jesus declared His authority, superiority, and deity.
Earlier, Jesus had privately asked His disciples, “But who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15; Luke 9:20). To which Peter declared, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).
Today, Jesus is asking us this same question: “But who do you say I am?” Your salvation and eternal destiny depends on what you think of Christ.
More:
• Matthew 16:13-16
• Mark 12:35-37
Next:
What do you think of Jesus? Who is He to you?
R R Kelkar on May 31, 2010 at 1:09 am
There are three basic questions that human beings have been asking themselves from time to time: Who am I, where have I come from, and where am I going? The answers vary from person to person depending upon what one thinks of oneself and also what one thinks about God. In the country where I live, 99 per cent of people are non-Christians. It therefore becomes important for those of us who believe in Christ to try and portray his character in our own lives. Of course, we would still be known by our names, or our traditional surnames, or by what we do for a living. But our real identity must come through our degree of likeness with Christ.
Freexone on May 31, 2010 at 7:33 am
as sad as this may sound, we often don’t stop to think about what to say about the Lord. He has done soo much for us and it just felt that we don’t care. sad indeed. God have mercy on all of us
compassion1 on May 31, 2010 at 11:52 am
I know HIM as my LORD and SAVIOR. For all that JESUS has done for me I can not ever forget and I am always grateful, always thanking HIM and praising HIM, I worhip HIM. Because if it had not been for HIM I could have been cut off at an earlier time in my life. The devil tried to cut me off, tried to abort my purpose and destiny but it was not his to touch from the beginning. GOD preserved me for such a time as this. HE never gave up on me, HE stayed with me even when I could not feel HIS presence my LORD was there! We should always be thankful unto JESUS, not because of what HE has given us material wise but just because of WHO HE IS. He’s not our santa clause, but HE is our Source and our Help. HE is Healer, Provider, Shelter, Peace, Banner, the LORD who Reigns in Victory. And because of HIM we are victorious. It’s more to HIM than just the NAME, HIS name has POWER, the name above all names. Even above the WORD. There is something about the name of JESUS and all we have to do is call on HIM and HE will answer. HE is our Everything, our All and All, our Righteousness. My soul doth magnify the LORD, HALLELUJAH!
Ese on May 31, 2010 at 8:46 am
Who is God? Well that can take for ever to answer in my case if I were to start to list who he is to me; and even when I would think to be done it would not be over…Yesterday during the praise and worship service at the church I attend, they had a presentation of the many aspects of God; it was mind blowing yet they still did not cover all…indeed there is just no way to box God in. After the presentation Exodus 3:14 came to mind: “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: “I AM sent me to you”. I always wondered about that verse, and then it hit me that this was God talking about himself; there is no limit to who he is, he just is! WOW! through out the Bible different man of God would describe him differently according to the experience they had with him, and I am sure that if all of them were to stop and think, they would also say that HE IS! Yes HE IS all in all! Basically there is no need to look for anything elsewhere, HE IS ALL!
K.T. Sim, I was trying to locate Luke 21:44, but could not find it…so I just limited my lecture to Luke 20:41.
Thank you for a great devotional, reminding me once again that there is no need to worry, because I have ALL that I need in Christ, AMEN!
compassion1 on May 31, 2010 at 12:00 pm
HALLELUJAH! I CAN RELATE TO WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, no matter what anyone says or the doctors says because GOD is ‘I AM’ and I know who I am and whose I am, I am healed, I am the head, I am the righteousness of GOD, I am a bold, beautiful victorious woman of GOD, I am the KINGS kid, I am of a royal priesthood and All that ‘I AM’ says that I am in HIS WORD. I LOVE IT!!
bherting on May 31, 2010 at 8:48 am
We certainly must be able to give every person an answer about who God is, which means we need to spend time getting to know him. You may read my post, and think,…”I’m going to read this to my daughter.” Then, your daughter might say,”Who is that guy?” You would have not much to say about me except what you gather from this and other posts you’ve read by me. The only way to answer your daughter’s question, is to spend time getting to know me. The same is true of Christ. In order to answer the question about who He is, is to truly get to know Him – spending time in His Word, sitting at His feet in meditation, and talking to Him regularly. Get to know Him!
Jessica Montgomery on May 31, 2010 at 10:55 am
His the creator. Just in all His way. Forgiving and Mericful. A creator that loves His Creation and want a relationship we the those that HE created in HIS OWN image. PURE and Holy. I find that the more time that I spend in the word, worshiping GOD and being thankful, there is a growing desire to please HIM. Apart from who are we…..lost. I see GOD as a Farther.
mikter on May 31, 2010 at 7:42 pm
I am living in China due to my husbands’ work, I am so very grateful that God hears my prayers even when I do not feel His presence, I know He is there. I can pour out my heart to Him.I pray that more missionairies will be brought here, these people need God so bad. Most people here actually believe in nothing, it is heart breaking. I have tried talking to people about Christ. Now, I pray missionairies will be brought here.I have seen God do many wonderful things in my life. I have grown here as a Christian. Who is God? God is our Creator, our Father, our everything!
tom felten on June 1, 2010 at 2:33 pm
mikter, it’s great to see your compassionate heart for unbelievers in China. The ODJ community will be praying for you and the influence you can have on lives while you’re living there. It’s exciting to see both the indigenous church in China, as well as missionaries serving there, being used by God to bring scores and scores of people to belief in Jesus!