“And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, ‘How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?’” (Mark 12:35 ESV).
In Mark’s Gospel, the apostle recorded how Jesus taught publicly in the temple courts during the final week before His crucifixion. Addressing the crowd and confronting the religious leaders, Jesus raised a question about the scribes’ understanding of the Messiah. The scribes correctly taught that the Christ would be the “son of David,” a descendant of Israel’s great king. Yet their understanding stopped there. By raising this question and then quoting Psalm 110:1 in the following verses, Jesus revealed that the Messiah was not only David’s son but also David’s Lord. David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, called the coming Messiah “my Lord,” showing that the Christ would possess authority greater than David’s. Through this teaching, Jesus exposed the scribes’ limited view of the Messiah and pointed toward His own true identity. He was both the promised descendant of David and the sovereign Lord whom David himself acknowledged. Mark recorded this moment to show that Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament promises in a way far greater than many expected—the Messiah was not merely a royal heir but the divine Lord.
Jesus’ question still confronts us today. Like the scribes, we can sometimes hold a limited view of who Jesus is. We might acknowledge Him as a great teacher, a moral example, or even the promised Messiah, yet fail to fully recognize His lordship over every part of our lives. Scripture reveals that Jesus is not only the heir of David’s throne but also the Lord who reigns over all. When we see Him rightly, we are called to respond in faith, allegiance, and joyful submission. We trust Him as Savior, but we also surrender to Him as King. We allow His Word to shape our beliefs, our priorities, and our daily decisions. As we read this passage, we are invited to examine our hearts and enlarge our understanding of Christ according to Scripture.
The question Jesus raised in the temple reminds us that the gospel is not about a philosophy but a Person. Jesus continually brought His hearers to a place of decision asking, “Who do you say I am?” (Mark 8:29). This is still the most important question today—”Who is Jesus to you?”
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for revealing the true identity of Your Son through Your Word. Help us to see Jesus rightly and fully. Guard us from holding a small or incomplete view of Christ. Teach us to trust Him completely, worship Him sincerely, and submit to His kingship in every area of our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.