Mark 12:35 – Later, as Jesus was teaching the people in the Temple, he asked, “Why do the teachers of religious law claim that the Messiah is the son of David? 36 For David himself, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, said,

‘The Lord said to my Lord,
Sit in the place of honor at my right hand
until I humble your enemies beneath your feet.’

37 Since David himself called the Messiah ‘my Lord,’ how can the Messiah be his son?” The large crowd listened to him with great delight.

38 Jesus also taught: “Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. 39 And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets. 40 Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be more severely punished.” (NLT)

Shortly before this reading took place, Jesus had arrived in Jerusalem.  As he entered into the city, he was hailed as the ‘Son of David’ by the crowds (Matthew 21:9).  This was a title for the Messiah, and it caused quite a stir among the religious and civil leaders.  Jesus quotes from Psalm 110, and asks how David’s Lord could also be David’s son.  Because Jesus silenced the teachers, the crowd was pleased!  Several theories have been offered as to why they did not answer Jesus, but it basically comes down to the fact that they did not understand the nature of the Messiah.  They looked for a political and military messiah, Jesus was/is a divine messiah – sent from God, indeed, God in the flesh!

Immediately following this short story, we have another story about the religious teachers.  It is not by accident that these two short stories are given together in this passage.  The first story teaches us that our Lord is above all others.  None come above Jesus.  The second story, of the religious leaders parading around, teaches us that many people like to appear as if they are above others.  Jesus, who truly was above all others, lived humbly and never used his true position for any worldly gain.  The religious leaders, who were just people like anyone else, used their positions for any gain they could receive. 

This teaches us that we must strive for humility.  Jesus had no need to appear more important than anyone else because Jesus was secure in who he was, and he was secure in his place in eternity.  We were created for much more than life here and now.  When we find security in who we are, and in whose we are, the need to appear to be more than what we are will disappear.

Today, let us celebrate whose we are, and what we were created for! 

Posted by Ramón Torres