Mark 12:35-37

The Son of God

Jesus is more than just a king:

As Jesus was teaching in the temple area he said, “How do the scribes claim that the Messiah is the son of David? David himself, inspired by the holy Spirit, said: ‘The Lord said to my lord, “Sit at my right hand until I place your enemies under your feet.”‘ David himself calls him ‘lord’; so how is he his son?” (The) great crowd heard this with delight.  -Mark 12:35-37, NAB

The Jewish people were awaiting the Messiah, the anointed one, that would free them from the Romans and establish a kingdom on earth.  They were expecting someone from the bloodline of David, but, in Jesus, they got so much more.

Christ’s teaching in this verse points at His divinity.  He is not simply a man from the royal family; He is the Lord, as David called Him.  If David recognized that the Messiah would be devine, how can anyone else deny it?

The Jews were hoping for deliverance in this world, just as many have the same hope for today.  People turn to God hoping that He will completely change their lives for the better here on Earth – not fully realizing how much greater it will be in Heaven.

Jesus is more than a man who came to set up a new kingdom on Earth; He is the Messiah that came to free us from our sin, bring a New Covenant to the people, and establish a Kingdom in Heaven.  He is one Person of the Trinity, our Most High God.

There are those who deny Christ’s divinity, including some “Christian” denominations (to use the term loosely), but we, as Catholics, must fully accept Christ’s place in the world and our lives.  Let Christ be the King in your life, and He will bring grace into your life now and when you reach His heavenly Kingdom.