Welcome to the Amen Podcast, where we believe that the gospel changes everything. Today's message explores Matthew 22:41-46, where Jesus challenges the Pharisees with a profound question about his identity.
Scripture Reading: Matthew 22:41-46
Now, while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus, asked them a question, saying, "What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?" They said to him, "The Son of David." He said to them, "How is it then, that David in the spirit calls him Lord, saying, 'The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet?' If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?" And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.
The Big Revelation: Jesus is More Than You Think
I was watching surfing with my son Leon recently. He had a sudden interest in it, partly because he wanted to connect with something I enjoy, but also because he's spent enough time in the water himself to understand the scale of those waves.
When you don't surf or go to the ocean much, every wave looks the same. It all blends together - same guy, same wave, over and over. But the closer you get to surfing, the bigger the experience becomes.
It's the same with the Lord. The closer you get to God, the bigger He gets to you.
The Pharisees were far from God, even though Jesus—God Himself—stood right before them. This distance is evident in their approach to Jesus with questions meant to trap Him.
A Question That Silenced the Religious Leaders
Throughout Holy Week, Jesus faced continual challenges from His enemies. After answering their questions perfectly, Jesus turns the tables. He asks them: "What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?"
They quickly answered "Son of David," as any Jewish person would. This wasn't wrong - Matthew's gospel begins by identifying Jesus as "the Son of David, the son of Abraham" to connect Him to messianic prophecy.
But Jesus pushes deeper: "How is it then that David, inspired by the Spirit, calls him Lord?" quoting Psalm 110:1. Jesus points out a paradox they couldn't resolve: Why would David call his own descendant "Lord"?
The Pharisees had no answer. They couldn't reconcile how the Messiah could be both David's son (his descendant) and David's Lord (his superior).
The Big Problem Behind Our Small Problems
The Pharisees missed something crucial: They thought the Messiah would be merely a national leader who would free them from Rome. They saw their biggest problem as Roman occupation.
But Jesus reveals that the Messiah's role is much bigger—universal, not just national. Their actual problem wasn't Rome but sin and death. This required a Messiah greater than they imagined—not just the Son of David but the Son of God.
When God appears bigger to us, our problems don't necessarily get smaller. Instead, we realize that our true problem—sin and death—is actually much larger than our daily concerns. But this realization gives us peace because we have a Savior big enough to handle our greatest problem.
The Waves of Sin and Death
Think about surfing again. From the beach, waves might look manageable. But as you paddle out and get closer, you realize their true size and power. The closer Jesus got to the cross, the more real His suffering became. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He sweat drops of blood as the "wave" of our sin loomed before Him.
Yet Jesus paddled toward that wave willingly, holding nothing back. The crushing weight of sin and death—our biggest problem—overwhelmed Him completely. But three days later, He rose from the dead, defeating what was previously undefeatable.
If Jesus conquered sin and death—our greatest problem—then why do we let smaller problems defeat us? When we see God as truly big, we recognize how holy He is and how sinful we are. But we also see that if Christ defeated our biggest problem, then no matter how overwhelming our daily challenges seem, they're nothing compared to what Jesus has already overcome for us.
Living in Light of the Resurrection
This perspective change comes from spending time with God—praying, reading Scripture, attending church, and surrounding yourself with believers. Don't let small problems consume you when your biggest problem has already been solved.
What scares you about your problems? Maybe it's taxes, and you worry: "What if they take all my money?" But dig deeper, and the fear is really: "What if I'm not going to be all right?" which ultimately points to fear of death.
Or with relationships: when someone breaks up with you, what you feel isn't just rejection—it's as if you're going to die. These "small" problems mask our ultimate fear of sin and death.
But once you realize Jesus has taken care of sin and death, you can face any challenge with confidence. If Christ is with you through your problems, and He has already handled your biggest problem, then you can handle whatever comes your way.
After the Amen: Application
Lokelani’s Amen: We often worry about the wrong things—small problems instead of the big one. What's freeing is living in confidence knowing that the answer to my biggest problem is settled. Why am I consumed by smaller worries when Jesus has already answered my greatest need
?
Alex's Amen: My small problem that feels big is fear that people will discover "I'm not that awesome" and leave me. This fear is really about sin winning in my life. But sin won't win—it's already been defeated. And I'll never be alone because the One who loves me most will never leave or forsake me.
That's how the gospel changes everything in our lives. We make small problems the big problem when they're not. But Christ is bigger than we think, and our biggest problem has already been answered.
Do you want to be encouraged throughout your week? Subscribe to Amen Podcast on Substack, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @amenepodcast and visit amenepodcast.com to support our ministry.
Until next time, go out and be the church!