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No Middle Ground Tim Smelser
First it had been the Herodians asking Jesus, “What do you think about paying tribute to Caesar?” Then the Sadducees asked, “What do you think about a woman who was married to seven brothers? In the resurrection whose wife will she be?” A lawyer next asked, “Which do you think is the greatest commandment in the law?” To all of these questions Jesus gave answer (Matthew 2:15-40). Finally it was his turn to ask a question. “What think ye of the Christ? Whose son is he?” (Matthew 22:42). This was not merely a curious inquiry as to what the rabbis believed. Nor was Jesus wondering how the various sects felt about the Messiah. Rather, this question was directed to the individuals in the audience and it is a question that must be answered correctly today by all who would be saved. The Jewish rulers were caught between two ideas: They would readily agree that the Messiah was to be of the seed of David, but they were not willing to confess that he was the divine Son of God. However, the claims and teachings of Jesus left them no middle ground. Either He was truly the Son of the living God, or He was a blaspheming liar. As they had to then, each person must now, weigh the evidence and then decide what they think of the Christ. Jesus appealed to the Old Testament prophecies to prove His deity many times. He told his disciples, “These are my words which I spoke while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled which are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me” (Luke 24:44). In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus also said, “Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets, I came not to destroy but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17). The apostles and the New Testament writers would often refer to Old Testament prophecies when trying to convince their audiences that everything Jesus did and taught was in direct fulfillment of things written hundreds of years before hand. The miracles that Jesus performed were enough to convince Nicodemus of Christ’s identity. “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him” (John 3:2). In concluding his account of the life of Christ, the apostle John wrote, “Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30-31). To prove that He had the authority to forgive sins (which only God can do) Jesus healed a crippled man (Matthew 9:5-6). The final piece of evidence proving Jesus’ identity is his resurrection from the dead. Paul told the Corinthians that his preaching was vain and their faith was vain, if Christ had not been raised (1 Corinthians 15:14-19). Peter concluded the Pentecost Day sermon with this very point. “This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses…Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2:32-36). By faith we believe what is written and by faith we believe in God. The evidence concerning His Son is before us and we must examine it and form our own conclusions. The question then that all wishing to be saved must answer is, “What think you of the Christ?” There is no middle ground. Jesus said, “He that is not with me is against me” (Matthew 12:30). Where do you stand today?
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