What Think Ye Of Christ? Whose Son Is He? They Say Unto Him - The Son Of David! - Part 1888

"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost." (Matthew 1:18)

And the angel answered and said unto her, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:35)

From the scriptures, we learn many varied opinions about Jesus the Christ emerged. In many ways, the same discussion occurs today, particularly between those who believe the Word [the Holy Bible] to be the inspired Word of God, and infallible, and those in modern day religious circles that teach and preach anything but the Word to its congregants.

In that context, let's investigate some of the thoughts of who Jesus was, according to those who spent time with Him while He walked this earth. 

Beginning with Zacharias who was filled with the Holy Ghost,  and prophesied, saying, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He hath visited and redeemed His people and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David; as He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets, which have been since the world began: that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant; the oath which He sware to our father Abraham, that He would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life ...

And Thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for Thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." (Luke 1:67-75)

Interesting to note is His promise to us. Indeed, herein, the Lord is saying to those who believe in Him, the Lord Jesus Christ by faith, that He is the Lord God of Israel who hath visited and redeemed His people. And that, we would be saved from our enemies AND from the hand of all that hate us when we remember His love for us, and His holy covenant -- the oath which He swore to Abraham. And that, when we believe by faith that He is the Giver of life, and our salvation, He will grant us and deliver us out of the hand of our enemies -- so that we can serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life. 

Reminds me in fact of Zephaniah 3:17, which states, "The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17) But I digress somewhat.

What did Mary, the mother of the man Christ Jesus say? She rejoiced in God her Saviour. 

"My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For He hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For He that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is His name. And His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation.

He hath shewed strength with His arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He hath sent empty away. He hath holpen His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy; as he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to His seed for ever."  (Luke 1:46-56)

As prophesied from afore, John the baptize, His messenger which shall prepare the way before Me, saith the Lord, begins proclaiming that people everywhere must repent, pointing always to the One who should come after him -- Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. (John 1:29, 36; Malachi 3:1-4) 

His Name shall be called JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins. Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord by the prophet saying, "Behold, a virgin with child and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His Name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." (Matthew 1:21-23; Isaiah 9:6; Luke 1:31; Luke 2:21; Isaiah 7:14; I Timothy 3:16)

About the same time as the greatest love story ever told was about to transpire, Herod the king is seen demanding of the chief priests and scribes where this Christ should be born. (Matthew 2:4) Their heart motives are later revealed, but suffice to say for now that these did not want any competition to the power and authority they held. And clearly, Jesus, this Christ, was a threat to earthly kingdoms. 

Later, when Jesus asks His disciples who do people say that He is, Simon Peter answers, saying, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God!" (Matthew 16:16; Mark 8:29) However, Jesus also told His disciples here that they should tell no man that He was Jesus the Christ. (Matthew 16:20) 

In another place, Jesus asks the Pharisees who were always plotting against Him -- "What think ye of Christ? whose son is He?" They say unto Him, "The Son of David." (Matthew 22:42; Matthew 1:1; Matthew 21:9; Psalm 118:25-26, Matthew 23:39; Mark 12:35) Of course, in Acts 2, Peter (standing with the eleven) clarifies who Jesus is by telling those in attendance that this same Jesus whom ye have crucified is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36-41) 

But His identity only revealed in entirety after the cross and resurrection. This is again confirmed when Jesus held His peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, "I adjure Thee by the living God, that Thou tell us whether Thou be the Christ, the Son of God." (Matthew 26:63) The Christ, the Son of the blessed? (Mark 14:61)  In fact, right to the end, people wanted to know. Pilate was one of these. When the people were gathered together to crucify Jesus, Pilate said unto them, "Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?" (Matthew 27:17)

And again, Pilate saith unto them, "What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, "Let Him be crucified." (Matthew 27:22)

When Jesus was on the cross, shedding His precious holy blood for you and I, what did His accusers say? "Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe." But they that were crucified with Him reviled Him." (Mark 15:32)

Nevertheless, the apostles did recognize Jesus for whom He was, and declared Him to be both Lord and Christ to the first 3,000 souls saved on the day of Pentecost. For example:

"Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, He would raise up Christ to sit on His throne ... He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. (Acts 2:30-31)

"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ ... Then Peter said unto them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:36-38)

Thus, even though the kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against His Christ" there would be no stopping those who knew who Jesus Christ was.(Acts 4:26)

For us today, who have the benefit of the earliest translations -- the Authorized King James version, for example, there is no excuse for not searching the scriptures, as doth a workman unto God, so that we know the truth. As Jesus said, "Thy Word is Truth." (John 17:17) And also, as Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me." (John 14:6-12)

As Saul proved, as he grew in strength and wisdom, the Word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, He is Lord of all. (Acts 10:36) 

One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism. The Word made flesh and dwelt among us, the Son of man is indeed the Lord of glory. This is why men have hazarded their lives for the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, because He is the One and Only God Almighty, the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending, the King of kings and Lord of lords. (Acts 15:26; Revelation 1:8)

Meditate on these things as you go about this day that the Lord hath made for you and I. Stand in the offering plate.