Today's Daily Lesson comes from Mark chapter 12 verses 35 through 37:
35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he said, ‘How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the son of David? 36David himself, by the Holy Spirit, declared,
“The Lord said to my Lord,
‘Sit at my right hand,
until I put your enemies under your feet.’ ”
37David himself calls him Lord; so how can he be his son?’ And the large crowd was listening to him with delight.
This is a most interesting scripture to me.
The leaders in Jerusalem made much of heredity and the rightful claim to the throne of David.
But Jesus seems less interested than his followers -- even his Bible-writing followers -- to prove heirship. He is not looking to ascend to the throne of David. That is too small, and the station too low.
David was a deeply flawed and never quite fully penitent murderer. He was also a sexual predator. These are difficult, but true facts.
Jesus saw those facts in clearer light than everyone who wanted to put Jesus on David's throne. Jesus certainly saw the facts clearer than most of my Sunday School growing up!
Jesus said, "The kings of this earth lord it over the people' yet they call themselves the 'friends of the people.' You shall not be like them."
David was a king of the earth. He did what kings do.
Jesus aimed higher. He wasn't content to be a son of David. He was Son of God.
And he called his followers to live and act like the children of God also.
Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.
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