Final Answer

By: Kari Vo
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April 2, 2026

"And as Jesus taught in the temple, He said, 'How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared, "The Lord said to my Lord, 'Sit at My right hand, until I put Your enemies under Your feet.'" David himself calls Him Lord. So how is He his son?' And the great throng heard Him gladly." (Mark 12:35-37 ESV)

After so many days of having other people ask Him tough questions, Jesus finally asks one of His own: "How can the Messiah be David's son and David's Lord at the same time?" As far as we know, nobody could answer His question. He won the battle of wits, and probably drove His enemies crazy as well.

We can answer it—but only because we know something they didn't. We know that Jesus, the Messiah, is David's Son because He is a human being, born into the family line of David. But He is also David's Lord because He is God Himself, come down into this world to become our Savior. Since Jesus is both God and Man, He is the answer to His own riddle.

And He is the answer to the riddle of our lives, too—the question of how sinful, broken people can ever become the joyful, clean, blessed children of God we know in our hearts we ought to be. On our own we cannot do it—we've tried again and again, and we're just too deeply broken. But Jesus, who is both God and human, has given His own life to save us. Through His death He has put to death all the evil that destroys us; and through His resurrection He has become the Source of everlasting life for all of us who trust in Him.

We Pray: Lord, You are the answer I need. Thank You. Amen.

Reflection Questions:
* Do you enjoy riddles?
* Why or why not?
* How is Jesus the answer to your needs?

Lenten Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Originally published in The Lutheran Hour on March 15, 2025
Used by permission from International Lutheran Laymen’s League, all rights

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