Reality Reframed as a Fantasy
Matthew 22:34-46
Is the question Jesus raises an “either...or” issue?
Photo by Stefanie Jockschat on Unsplash
When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: “What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” He said to them, “How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet” ‘? If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?” No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions. - Matt. 22:34-46
The lawyer was at a loss for words when Jesus pointed out that David calls the Messiah Lord. With what impression does he walk away? Does he think that Jesus is saying he cannot be the Messiah?
The questions suddenly end when the lawyer cannot imagine how both of these things could be true at the same time.
This is the heart of the matter. Jesus is both human, the son of David, and divine, the Messiah. The simple answer is that David knew the greater title to give the Messiah is Lord, not son.
Jesus has presented a “both...and” challenge. Can you believe that both can be true at the same time?
I can understand why some people have trouble believing in Jesus as the Messiah. Oh, they may believe the man existed and was crucified, but that’s where the logic ends.They cannot imagine how Jesus could have also been divine.
It is as if the true story ends with the crucifixion and then the fantasy begins with the tomb, the resurrection, and the appearances with his disciples and believers.
Why can’t people believe that? Fantasy fiction is huge. People can’t wait to read the next tale of their fantasy heroes, but that is fantasy, not reality.
Maybe we need to reframe the story of Jesus as a fantasy novel in order to get people to see the possibility of such a messianic being.
We are coming up on Christmas, the nativity of our Lord. Maybe that is what people cannot accept. Something spiritual happens to Mary and she becomes pregnant. She has to leave her home and stay away when she starts to show so she and Joseph won’t be ridiculed. She then travels to another land to raise the child, who returns with mystical powers beyond belief.
What a great story!
Then, when the child grows up, he is hated by the powers that be and is killed, but he somehow survives a grueling death to start a movement that lasts for centuries.
Yeah. I can see how people would like that story. Too bad Jesus didn’t tell that to the lawyer.
More to come...