Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

purpose, and these may be brought under two general heads. The first head will contain such passages, in which he is called the Son of David, and the second will refer to such as clearly show his lineal descent to have been from David.

1. Passages from the New Testament, in which Jesus of Nazareth is called the Son of David.

In Matthew i. 1, we read, "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the son of Abraham.” Here we see that in the very beginning of the New Testament, Jesus is called "the Son of David." However, as in the sequel of this chapter, only the genealogy of Joseph is given, who was not the real father of Jesus, and thus an objection may be created in the mind of an inquirer, with regard to the truth of the assertion in the first verse, it is necessary to state that from this genealogy of Joseph, the natural descent of Christ from David is not derived, and that afterwards an explanation will be given why it was of the utmost importance, that Joseph, the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus, should also be a lineal descendant of David.

From Matt. ix. 26, 27, we learn, that in consequence of his public miracles his fame went abroad into all that land, that he became so

generally known to the people, as to his character and descent, that even the blind crying after him to solicit his help, said, "Thou Son of

David, have mercy on us."

From Matt. xii. 23, may be learned how this conviction was strengthened, in the minds of the people who witnessed the astonishing miracles performed by him. They felt convinced that, as he worked these miracles in the name of God, he must be a true Prophet, that as a prophet of the Lord he must speak the truth, and hence that it must be true also, when he declared himself to be the Messiah. They knew, moreover, that none but the Son of David could be the true Messiah, and, therefore, it was by coming to a right conclusion when, as we read, "All the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the Son of David ?"

In Matt. xv. 21, 22, we are informed that the report of Jesus had spread beyond the boundaries of Palestine, and it would appear that even the surrounding heathens became as familiar with his character and appellation as the Son of David, as the Jews, among whom he sojourned. For on one occasion, it is stated, "Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of

those coasts, and cried unto him, saying, have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil." Not only did Jesus listen to her, when thus addressed, but extended his mercy to her sick daughter. The moment he said to her Be it unto thee even as thou wilt," her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

[ocr errors]

Again, in Matt. xxi. 8, 9, we have a striking account of how generally the minds of the Jewish people were convinced not only that Jesus of Nazareth was A Son, but that he was THE Son of David. This passage is the more remarkable, in as much as the general conviction of the people was publicly expressed by multitudes, and openly confessed at the gates of Jerusalem and in the temple. This happened at a time, when myriads of Jews were collected together at Jerusalem, from all quarters, to celebrate the Passover. We read in this passage, that, when Jesus, on a certain occasion, was drawing nigh unto Jerusalem, and about to enter the holy city with his disciples, he was received by the people in the following remarkable manner: "And a great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strewed them in the way. And the

multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David : Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest." Had it not been true, then it is difficult to conceive, how the multitudes of Jews came to believe it, and still more impossible to explain why the Chief Priests and Scribes, the great opponents of Jesus, did not take advantage of the fact on an occasion like the present, and by a timely exposure correct the public opinion respecting the person and character of Jesus. They were indeed, very active and full of zeal to put down the people's shouting "Hosanna," and confessing him to be the true Messiah; but they never said a word about their calling him the Son of David, or to disprove the fact. For when" the Chief Priests and Scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David, they were sore displeased," and addressed him in the words, "Hearest thou what these say?"—which words might be intended as an authoritative rebuke, on account of his accepting divine honor through the shouting of Hosanna, taken from Psalm exviii. 25, 26, but which bespoke only their dismay and inability to prevent it, or else they would at once

have taken him as an impostor, and proved his imposture by a public and legal exposure of his pretended claims to the lineage from David.

In Acts ii. 14—36, is a remarkable address of the Apostle Peter to the Jews at Jerusalem, which he delivered to them on the subject of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Jesus, which had just taken place on the day of Pentecost. In this address he shows that the outpouring had been the effect of the exaltation of Christ after his glorious resurrection from the dead, and that this resurrection was in fulfilment of Ps. xvi. 8-11. He also proves that it could not refer to the literal David, but that it refers to the Son of David,-to the Messiah. He says, from ver. 29-32: "Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the Patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 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. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses."

« VorigeDoorgaan »