June 9 - Mark 12:35-37

Daily Reading & Meditation

Friday (6/9): "The Christ is the Son of David"

Scripture: Mark 12:35-37

35 And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, "How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? 36 David himself, inspired by the Holy Spirit, declared, `The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I put thy enemies under thy feet.' 37 David himself calls him Lord; so how is he his son?" And the great throng heard him gladly.

Meditation: It is the work of the Holy Spirit to make Christ known to us. That is why Jesus stated that King David could proclaim that his future heir would be both Messiah (the Hebrew word for Christ or the Anointed One) and his Lord. Among the Jews the most common title for the Messiah was the Son of David. The Jews looked forward to the long-expected Savior who would come from the line of David. Jesus was often addressed with that title, especially by the crowds (Mark 10:47ff, Matthew 9:27; 12:23). Jesus not only asserts that the Messiah is David's son, and that he is, indeed, David's son, but, that he is not only David's son, but also his Lord. Paul the Apostle states that no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord' except by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:3).

What does it mean to acknowledge that Jesus is Lord? The word Lord means "ruler" or "king" -- the one who is owed "fealty" and "submission". The Lord or Master of our lives is the person or thing we give our lives over to or submit to in a full way. We can be ruled by many things -- our unruly passions, the love of money, alcohol, drugs, etc. Only one Lord can truly set us free to love and to be loved as God intended from the beginning. When we acknowledge that Jesus is Lord we invite him to be the King of our heart and the ruler of our thoughts, relationships, and all that we do. Is the Lord Jesus the true King of your heart and do you give him free reign in every area of your life?

"Lord Jesus, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of David and the Son of God. You are my Lord and I willingly submit myself to your rule in my life. Be Lord and King of my life, my thoughts, heart, home, relationships, work and all that I do."