Questioning the Questioners: Matthew 22:41-46

Focus Passage: Matthew 22:41-46 (GW)

41 While the Pharisees were still gathered, Jesus asked them, 42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”

They answered him, “David’s.”

43 He said to them, “Then how can David, guided by the Spirit, call him Lord? David says,

44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord,
    “Take the honored position—the one next to me [God the Father] on the heavenly throne
        until I put your enemies under your control.”’

45 If David calls him Lord, how can he be his son?”

46 No one could answer him, and from that time on no one dared to ask him another question.

Read Matthew 22:41-46 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!

If there was something in Jesus’ ministry that bothered Him, most likely it was being challenged by the Pharisees and other religious leaders. One does not need to move too far into any one of the gospels before reading about someone coming to question or trap Jesus.

However, what prompts me to think that this bothered Jesus is from what we read in this entry’s passage. After a series of trap questions, Jesus counter-challenges the challengers with a question of His own: “If David calls him [the Messiah] Lord, how can he be his son?” (v. 45)

From Matthew’s details of this event, we learn that this question stumps and silences all those present – and “from that time on no one dared to ask him another question.” (v. 46)

This event teaches us an important aspect of Jesus’ character – and God’s character too. Up to this point, it would seem as though Jesus was taking a passive or reactive role to those who challenged Him. Basically, He would wait for a challenge before countering it. In this regard, the Pharisee’s and religious leaders have the upper hand, because they can think and craft the question and options over time, while Jesus has to respond with something on the spot. Even with all the time in the world – up to that point – the Pharisees and leaders didn’t succeed in their attempts.

However, Jesus seems to be tired of the constant challenges, so He turns the tables and asks the leaders a question of His own – a question that stumps all of them.

This tells me that after all the challenges we choose to throw at God, we should be ready for a counter-challenge to return. While God starts off accepting and answering the challenges, there is a point where He turns the tables and will challenge those who challenged Him.

In the broad span of recent history, it seems as though God has been silent to the challenges sent His way, but we can learn from this passage that there will be a point when He answers – and then gives a counter-challenge that no one will be able to refute.

This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!

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Prosperous Through Death: Isaiah 52:13-15


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While it would be very tempting to jump straight from Jesus’ burial to focusing on Jesus’ resurrection, to do so would also jump over a couple of prophecies that would be ideal to focus on during this point in time. While we could have technically included these prophecies anywhere earlier on in Jesus’ ministry, the point in time following His death is especially relevant because of what these prophecies talk about.

The first of these prophecies is found in Isaiah, chapter 52, and it in some ways draws our attention onto the abuse Jesus suffered leading up to the cross. Reading from Isaiah, chapter 52, using the New American Standard Bible, starting in verse 13, Isaiah writes:

13 Behold, My servant will prosper,
He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted.
14 Just as many were astonished at you, My people,
So His appearance was marred more than any man
And His form more than the sons of men.
15 Thus He will sprinkle many nations,
Kings will shut their mouths on account of Him;
For what had not been told them they will see,
And what they had not heard they will understand.

In these three verses, we have an interesting dilemma. On one hand, God’s chosen Servant is described as prospering, and as being high, lifted up, and greatly exalted. While the actual application of being high, lifted up, and exalted could reference the praise Jesus received from the crowds, it could also in a more literal way describe how Jesus was lifted up high on a cross. We’ve looked at parts of the gospels in these podcast episodes that draw our attention onto Jesus framing the time He would be exalted as the time He would spend on the cross, though from our perspective, being exalted would be in a very different group of ideas than being put to death.

However, while describing God’s servant as prospering, Isaiah also draws our attention onto Jesus’ appearance being more damaged and injured than any other human. If one experiences the most extreme amount of abuse, it would be challenging to understand that abuse as also being prosperous.

I suspect that while we could dwell on these two seemingly opposing thoughts, Jesus understands Isaiah’s prophecy a little differently.

Part way through Jesus’ ministry, during a point when it would be easy for the disciples to feel proud of being near Jesus, we discover what Jesus does to help frame the situation. In Luke’s gospel, chapter 18, starting in verse 31, Luke writes:

31 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32 For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon, 33 and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and the third day He will rise again.” 34 But the disciples understood none of these things, and the meaning of this statement was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend the things that were said.

In this framing of Isaiah’s prophecy, Jesus intentionally tries to draw the focus away from the negative points of the prophecy, and onto the ultimate triumph that is known as the resurrection. While Jesus knows it would be easy to ignore both the trials and the crucifixion when experiencing an emotional high, it is also easy to ignore the good that is able to come as a result of the emotional low points. In Jesus’ case, with no crucifixion, there would be no resurrection, and with no crucifixion or resurrection, there would be no reason to be a follower of Jesus.

Looking back briefly at the trial Jesus faced, Matthew’s gospel shares in chapter 26, starting in verse 57:

57 Those who had seized Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. 58 But Peter was following Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and entered in, and sat down with the officers to see the outcome.

59 Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death. 60 They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. But later on two came forward, 61 and said, “This man stated, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.’” 62 The high priest stood up and said to Him, “Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?” 63 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy; 66 what do you think?” They answered, “He deserves death!”

67 Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him, 68 and said, “Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?”

Jumping forward into Matthew, chapter 27, starting in verse 24:

24 When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.” 25 And all the people said, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort around Him. 28 They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. 29 And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 They spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head. 31 After they had mocked Him, they took the scarlet robe off Him and put His own garments back on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.

All throughout the 24 hours leading up to Jesus taking His last breath, everything was stacked against Jesus in the most brutal, painful, and torturous way it could be stacked.

However, Jesus ultimately triumphed, because He walked through the pain, torture, and death without abandoning His mission. Because Jesus triumphed, we are able to triumph too when we have placed our faith, hope, trust, and belief in Him. While it is easy to ignore or discount the amazing promises and rewards God has promised us when moving through life with Him, if Satan, or simply life, is challenging us and pulling us down, remember today that Jesus defeated death.

Just like Jesus said He would do, Jesus returned to life. Because of this, anything life throws our way, even if the thing we are thrown is death, we can know that Jesus will be waiting for us on the other side when we stick with Him to the end. After we take our last breath, the next face we see will be Jesus’ and the next voice we hear will be His when we have placed our lives within His hands.

While Satan wants us to minimize, ignore, discount, or distract us away from Jesus, remember that Jesus’ sacrifice defeated Satan while also making the way possible for us to experience salvation.

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

As I always open these challenges by saying in one way or another, intentionally seek God first in your life, and intentionally place your hope, your trust, your faith, and your belief in Jesus and His sacrifice. Remember that Jesus defeated Satan and death for you and me and when we ally and align our lives with His, we will be saved with Him for eternity.

Also, as I regularly challenge you to do, continue to pray and study the Bible for yourself. While pastors, authors, speakers, and even podcasters have ideas they share, take everything you read, hear, and see and test these ideas against the truth found within the Bible. The Bible has stood the test of time as the most reliable guide for orienting our spiritual lives, and the Bible contains everything we need to know to grow a strong, lasting relationship with God.

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or abandon where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!

Year of Prophecy – Episode 41: In a somewhat strange prophecy that Isaiah shared, discover how Jesus could be both prosperous and exalted while also being abused, humiliated, and killed. Also discover how Jesus framed these two extremes, and how looking past the pain is the best way to reach Jesus’ blessing.

Join the discussion. Share your thoughts on this passage.

Caught Sleeping: Mark 4:35-41

Focus Passage: Mark 4:35-41 (GW)

35 That evening, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side.”

36 Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus along in a boat just as he was. Other boats were with him.

37 A violent windstorm came up. The waves were breaking into the boat so that it was quickly filling up. 38 But he was sleeping on a cushion in the back of the boat.

So they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to die?”

39 Then he got up, ordered the wind to stop, and said to the sea, “Be still, absolutely still!” The wind stopped blowing, and the sea became very calm.

40 He asked them, “Why are you such cowards? Don’t you have any faith yet?”

41 They were overcome with fear and asked each other, “Who is this man? Even the wind and the sea obey him!”

Read Mark 4:35-41 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!

Of all the events in Jesus’ life, one stands apart in my mind as being an amazing example of trusting God. While there are big events like the cross and the resurrection at the close of His earthly ministry, and there are big events like His baptism and the temptations in the wilderness that open His ministry, during His three and a half year ministry, Jesus’ daily routine seems pretty similar: heal, teach, preach, and travel around. We might simply call Jesus an Ambassador for God.

It is during this time of ministry, one of the events that stand out the most is our passage for this entry, which is where Jesus is caught sleeping through the storm. “A violent windstorm came up. The waves were breaking into the boat so that it was quickly filling up. But he [Jesus] was sleeping on a cushion in the back of the boat.” (v. 37-38a)

If I understand the geography of the area, flash storms were very possible on the lake they were crossing, and this doesn’t sound like just any storm. This was a storm that had the boat filling up with water faster than the disciples could bail the water out – and Jesus was sleeping through it.

Simply being able to sleep through a storm where you are being splashed with water, tossed about, and in the midst of high winds says something incredible about Jesus: Jesus had 100% trust in God’s plan and His protection.

Jesus knew that His death was going to be on the cross at the hand of the Jewish and Roman leaders and that it was not going to be at the bottom of the lake they were crossing. So regardless of what happened leading up to the big weekend death, Jesus knew God was protecting His life and the lives of the disciples, and this allowed Him the peace that He could sleep through any storm that came.

With Jesus as our example, seeing that He was able to sleep regardless of what came His way, as His followers, we should also have complete 100% trust in God’s plan and protection for our lives. While storms can start and stop in an instant for each of us, God is still in control, and no experience or event that comes our way will be wasted if we let Him work in and through us.

This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!

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Insulting the Governor: Luke 13:31-35

Focus Passage: Luke 13:31-35 (NCV)

31 At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Go away from here! Herod wants to kill you!”

32 Jesus said to them, “Go tell that fox Herod, ‘Today and tomorrow I am forcing demons out and healing people. Then, on the third day, I will reach my goal.’ 33 Yet I must be on my way today and tomorrow and the next day. Surely it cannot be right for a prophet to be killed anywhere except in Jerusalem.

34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets and stone to death those who are sent to you. Many times I wanted to gather your people as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not let me. 35 Now your house is left completely empty. I tell you, you will not see me until that time when you will say, ‘God bless the One who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

Read Luke 13:31-35 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!

I have sometimes wondered about what prompted Herod to be in Jerusalem during the crucifixion weekend. After all, Jerusalem was not part of his jurisdiction, and prior to the events of the crucifixion weekend in relation to Jesus, he and Pilate were not friends. Some sources say that they disliked each other.

However, part of me wonders if Jesus’ message to Herod through this group of Pharisees prompted the governor to make the trip to Jerusalem. Jesus’ message begins, “Go tell that fox Herod, ‘Today and tomorrow I am forcing demons out and healing people. Then, on the third day, I will reach my goal.’” (v. 32)

Whether Herod took this as a challenge, or whether he was insulted, we do not know, but it is interesting that Jesus would call the governor a name. What is also interesting is Jesus’ message: “Today and tomorrow I am forcing demons out and healing people. Then, on the third day, I will reach my goal.”  

While this event did not occur three days before the cross, I wonder if it foreshadows Jesus’ big mission. In the next verse, Jesus alludes to His upcoming death, and it would not surprise me if during Wednesday and Thursday of crucifixion week, He was forcing out demons and healing people. In this regard, Jesus will reach the goal of the cross “on the third day”.

However, the phrase “On the third day” is interesting. Looking back on the crucifixion weekend from this point in history, “the third day” is typically referred to as the resurrection day. Someone might say, “Jesus died on the cross, and on the third day, He rose again.” In this scenario, the cross and Sabbath day of rest between the crucifixion and resurrection may be symbolic of His earthly mission that included healing, casting out demons, teaching, preaching, and calling people back to God.

This leads me to the big truth that God knows our future, and He directs our path when we allow Him to work in us. While Herod had no other practical reason that we know of to make the journey to Jerusalem, part of me wonders if it was through this message intrigued Herod enough to make the trip for the upcoming Passover weekend.

This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!

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