One of the most unique things the scope of world history has ever seen is that the Divine One stepped into terrestrial shores in material form. Jesus asked the question to some Pharisees in Matthew 22:42 about whose son Christ would be. They properly answered that Christ would be the son of David. However, Christ’s follow-up by quoting Psalm 110:1 asked them how Christ could be David’s Son when David called Him Lord. Not only could they not answer the question, He silenced them from asking Him further questions. People today still struggle to answer those questions as the combination of the Sonship and Lordship of Christ is part of the great mystery of godliness (I Timothy 3:16) which ties theologians in knots and gives the enemies of God fits.
Eternal Relationship: When Jesus quoted David, there is a scene that David views wherein the LORD said to his Lord. The distinction in those two words is that when you see LORD on the page, the reference is to Jehovah. David’s Lord (Christ) interacted with Jehovah. This relationship is an eternal one. What David saw was communion that occurs in heaven as John declared with the Son dwelling in the bosom of the Father. (John 1:18) One of the fascinating things about this relationship is that people have argued about the Eternal Sonship of Jesus Christ. Many claim He was just a man on earth, but David’s Lord and ours HAS to be eternal. Why? If the Father is eternal, then the Son must be too. Funny isn’t it that people don’t debate the eternal Fatherhood of God, but they debate the Eternal Sonship of God. How could someone be an eternal Father if He didn’t have an eternal Son? What does Jehovah say? He says our Lord is His Son.
Earthly Relationship: Jesus’s question to the Pharisees stumped them. How could Christ be both David’s Lord and David’s son? Prophecy demanded that He come from the lineage of David. Not just David’s line but literally of his loins. (Psalm 132:11) Therefore, this anointed one of God had to be David’s son. Yet, by the same token, to have a throne that never passed away and a kingdom that wasn’t given to others, He must be eternal and God at the same time. Without the knowledge that Jesus is 100% God and 100% man at the same time, someone could chase their tail forever trying to figure out how this is possible. While we don’t understand the fulness of the GodMan, He simply tells John that He is both David’s root (Lord) as well as his offspring (son). (Revelation 22:16) This perhaps is one of the keynote differences between true theology and all the false doctrines and false gods throughout human history. Some mystic religions believe that people become a form of god through attainment or death. Other religions hold that man becomes god on earth by transmission of divine characteristics into a human body (popery). However, only true religion believes that God Himself literally became a man with common union to both Divine and terrestrial to be a suitable Daysman to lay His hand upon both God and man and so bring peace.
Everlasting Union: Even though Jesus is not an eternal man, the union between God and man in the person of Jesus Christ will go on everlastingly. There is a glorified man seated at the right hand of God. In one way, He is the same as He has always been as His Divine nature hasn’t altered one iota. However, before His advent, the only essence in heaven was Deity. Now, the throneroom of God is occupied by the essence of both God and man. (I Timothy 2:5) While not often discussed in religious circles, the importance of this point cannot be overstressed. Because the throneroom of God is occupied by both now, there is room for more in like manner to inherit it. Because we have been made partakers of the Divine nature, (II Peter 1:3) we have been made a part of who He is. Because He is still a man, He has been made a part of who we are. Therefore, He can promise that where He is, we shall be also. (John 14:3) Without the true perspective of the person of Christ with the everlasting union of Divine and human, one cannot truly have hope for the resurrection and the world to come. They are linked and united completely up and down the chain.
Friends, while the Pharisees were stumped by the Jesus’s question, I hope we are never confounded on this point. Just as it was for David, so it is for us that this is all our hope and desire. (II Samuel 23:5) The promise made to David about his kingship, lineage, and the coming Christ didn’t just affect David’s house. It blessed a people out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation. (Revelation 5:9) When you pray, there is a GodMan who lays His hand upon you and the other on His Father to bring our intercession before Jehovah. When you breathe out your last breath, He will take your hand and present you before Jehovah. When the great and notable last day on earth occurs, He will stand with all of us as we march through the gates right to Jehovah. Thanks be unto God that this wonderful union that is unspeakable by mortal tongue has blessed all of us to be part of a union and family that we could never have imagined or dreamed.