How do you think our modern view of Jesus is similar to this discussion between Jesus and the religious leaders. They were looking for a political leader to release the nation from Roman rule. Many today lump Christian terminology with politics as if a political leader will solve our human problems. But the Kknv of kings, presidents and politicians has an upside down inverse way of changing us. Instead of a conquering violent leader, He calmly asks us to surrender to Hos gentle but strong authority.
“I have marveled at, and sometimes openly questioned, the self-restraint God has shown throughout history, allowing the Genghis Khans and the Hitlers and the Stalins to have their way. But nothing — nothing — compares to the self-restraint shown that dark Friday in Jerusalem. With every lash of the whip, every fibrous crunch of fist against flesh, Jesus must have mentally replayed the Temptation in the wilderness and in Gethsemane. Legions of angels awaited his command. One word, and the ordeal would end.” - Excerpt, The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey
“The language in Psalm 110 indicates the Messiah was David’s superior and, therefore, greater than David. How, Jesus asked, could one who was David’s superior also be his son? Jesus’s question turned on the idea that the Messiah was greater than David and, as such, was different from David. The people were expecting the Messiah to be like David, doing what David had done as a warrior king. Because he was greater than David, the Messiah would do something different from David. The LORD would work through the Messiah to defeat his enemies by a different method than power used over, down against them.” - Excerpt, Following Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark by Steve Langford
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