General Inspection

Matthew 22:15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. 16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. 17 Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? 19 Show Me the tax money." So they brought Him a denarius. 20 And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" 21 They said to Him, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." 22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way. 23 The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, 24 saying: "Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 25 Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. 26 Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh. 27 Last of all the woman died also. 28 Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her." 29 Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. 31 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 32 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." 33 And when the multitudes heard this, they were astonished at His teaching. 34 But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" 37 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." 41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 saying, "What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?" They said to Him, "The Son of David." 43 He said to them, "How then does David in the Spirit call Him 'Lord,' saying: 44 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool" '? 45 "If David then calls Him 'Lord,' how is He his Son?" 46 And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.    

“Behold! The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

John the Baptist had seen enough. The Holy Spirit had informed him, “Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.”

Inspection passed, Jesus is, without doubt – at least for John the Baptist – the long-promised Messiah. The Son of David. The Son of Man. The Lamb of God.

Why do others struggle so? Remember the Law of the Passover, that the lamb was to be invited into the home on the 10th day of the month and kept close until the 14th day of the month, when the lamb would be slaughtered?

Those 4 days were very important for the Jews, as those would be the days when they would become assured of the perfection of the Passover lamb by way of inspection.

Jesus - The Lamb of God come to take away the sins of the world – has entered Jerusalem on the 10th day of the month. History teaches us He will be crucified on the 14th day. In that period of time He is inspected for perfection by those charged with killing Him.

One intent on murder is different than one intent on wisdom. In this series of inspections for perfection, Jesus responds in such amazing ways, one cannot help but gain the wisdom of God from what He says – unless your heart is hard, and your mind is completely closed.

How could they NOT see Jesus as their long-promised Messiah, based upon these answers alone? The responses Jesus provides to their questions are both startling and disarming. They are living proof the questioners are in the presence of The Living God. No one else could conceive of such perfect answers to such difficult questions. Jesus must be the Messiah. There is no other answer. He is without blemish, and without spot. And The Holy Spirit testifies to the wisdom of these answers to anyone who will listen.

-Pastor Bill