Son of David

All the crowds were amazed, and were saying, "This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?" (Matthew 12:23).

I remember attending the opera at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles as a requirement for the Music Appreciation course I took as a freshman in college. To this day I don’t remember what opera was being performed, but I do remember standing in the plaza outside the Pavilion waiting for the doors to open. As I stood looking around, not more than 3 feet away from me was June Lockhart the actress. She smiled at me and said hello. I said hello, then her bodyguards escorted her into the Pavilion. I was stunned, excited, and beside myself that I had actually met a movie and t.v. star - Timmy’s mom!

While Jesus was ministering to the sick along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, a demoniac was brought to Him. Jesus healed the man. The response of the people was one of stunned and excited anticipation. The word ‘amazed’ means astounded, astonished or beside one’s self. Their reaction was not only the result of the demoniac being healed, it was also in excited and hopeful recognition of who Jesus really was.

Their question was not one of doubting, but one of anticipation in believing the certainty of Jesus’ identity. So, their question was really, “Who can this person be but the true Messiah, that has wrought such a miracle as this?” From His miracles they rightly concluded He was the Messiah.

Understand that the common folk in Jesus’ day believed only God had authority over demons. It is true the Pharisees called Jesus the servant of Beelzebub (Matthew 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15-19) for healing a demoniac, but Jesus set their theology straight on the matter.

Since Jesus had authority over demons, the people excitedly concluded that He must be the ‘Son of David’, the Messiah. No doubt they were referring to the prophecy in Isaiah 35:5 which reads, Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped, which was a prophetic reference to the Messiah.

It must have been a wonderful revelation to the people to have recognized Jesus as the long awaited Messiah based on His power and authority over the demoniac. What a thrill it must have been to stand near Him after having witnessed first hand this miracle - He is Jesus, the Son of David, the Messiah of God!

“Lord Jesus, what joy it brings to my soul and spirit to know You as Lord and Savior. What greater joy it will be to stand in Your presence and to see You face to face in Heaven. I bless Your name for saving my soul and for giving me the promise of eternal life in You. To Your honor and glory I pray, Amen.”

Pastor