This article is based on Pastor Adrian Rogers' message, Our Great Savior.
The Pharisees criticized and interrogated Jesus—but they were so blind to the obvious.
Jesus said to them:
The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here (Matthew 12:42).
The queen of the south—that is, the Queen of Sheba—once made an arduous trek from what was likely Ethiopia to see Solomon in all of his glory. Imagine what the Pharisees thought when Jesus said to them, “Someone even greater than Solomon is right here with you.”
Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions….So Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing so difficult for the king that he could not explain it to her (1 Kings 10:1,3).
God had given Solomon the supernatural gift of wisdom. The Book of Proverbs was written primarily by Solomon. As you read it, you realize that Solomon knew theology, philosophy, biology, and sociology.
But Jesus is greater in wisdom. Solomon may have studied fish, but Jesus loaded a fisherman’s net so that it sank two boats. Solomon knew of the circulation of the winds, but the Lord stilled the winds. Solomon might have known about navigation, but the Lord Jesus walked on water.
Here is the interesting thing: Solomon’s wisdom did not satisfy him. He wrote, “I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind” (Ecclesiastes 1:17).
Wisdom will never satisfy the longing of your heart. How sad it is to study life, and not know Jesus, who is the Life.
And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the service of his waiters and their apparel, his cupbearers, and his entryway by which he went up to the house of the LORD, there was no more spirit in her (1 Kings 10:4-5).
But Jesus has built a greater house. “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2).
The Queen of Sheba saw that Solomon could host a sumptuous feast; there were delicacies beyond comparison. But he could not take a little boy’s lunch and feed 5000 men. Solomon could not change pure water into sparkling wine. And even if he could, Solomon could not serve the water of eternal life that will satisfy the deepest longing of your heart. If you do not have Jesus, you are ignorant and poor.
Think of the temple that Solomon built. Historians tell us it was probably the most magnificent building the world has ever seen, or ever will see. It took 183,600 workers seven and a half years to build it.
But Jesus has built a greater temple: you. “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19)
Where is Solomon’s temple? Gone! But the temple that Jesus has built, inhabited by the Holy Spirit, will live forever.
Can you imagine serving in the court of such a wise and wealthy king as Solomon?
Happy are your men and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom! (1 Kings 10:8).
Well, “a greater than Solomon is here” (see Matthew 12:42), and His servants are more blessed than Solomon’s ever could be. We not only have happiness, but we also have joy. In this world there are millions of people who not only serve the Lord Jesus Christ, but, if necessary, would also die for Him.
Solomon is gone. His palace, his table, and his servants are gone. But you cannot even give a cup of cold water to a disciple in the name of Jesus and lose your reward.
The weight of gold that came to Solomon yearly was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold, besides that from the traveling merchants, from the income of traders, from all the kings of Arabia, and from the governors of the country (1 Kings 10:14-15).
How wealthy is Jesus, the son of God?
The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein (Psalm 24:1).
It was all made by Him, and for Him, and it is all coming back to Him.
Solomon left nothing to you and me. But a child of God is a joint heir with Jesus Christ. God made all of this for His children.
Blessed be the LORD your God, who delighted in you, setting you on the throne of Israel! Because the LORD has loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, to do justice and righteousness (1 Kings 10:9).
Solomon’s throne is gone. But there is a throne established in the Heavens—and it is occupied.
The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!
At the dedication of that temple, “King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand bulls and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep” (2 Chronicles 7:5a).
All of those offerings could not atone for one sin. All they did was typify and illustrate the offering that would be made.
For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins…. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God… (Hebrews 10:4,12).
In worship, Solomon offered the blood of bulls and of goats. The Lord Jesus offered Himself.
Science can tell you how far it is from the Earth to the sun, but it cannot tell you how far God can remove sin from the human heart.
Education talks about facts, but it cannot impart saving truth.
The government—if it would be honest—would have to say that it can regulate things, but government has no power to make people good.
Sociology and culture can only make the world a better place from which to go to Hell.
Jesus is great because He is the only Savior of the world. He can save you, and He will if you ask Him.
When the queen of Sheba saw everything that Solomon had done, she was filled with awe.
I did not believe the words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of which I heard (1 Kings 10:7).
But as wonderful as Solomon was, Jesus, our great Savior, is more wonderful. We are tongue-tied. We cannot articulate, our brains cannot comprehend the wonders that belong to Christ, King of kings, Lord of lords.
When you see Him in glory one day, you will say, “They didn’t tell me the half of it.”
Matthew 12:42; 1 Kings 10:1-9,14-15; Ecclesiastes 1:17; John 14:2; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Psalm 24:1; Revelation 11:15; 2 Chronicles 7:5; Hebrews 10:4,12
…Upon David and his descendants, upon his house and his throne, there shall be peace forever from the LORD (1 Kings 2:33).
Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this (Isaiah 9:7).
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David (Luke 1:31-32).
