Matthew And The Messiah Series

In Matthew 21 the crowds are shouting Hosanna to the Son of David!” These words come from Psalm 118 which is a prayer that addresses the Messiah. When they responded like this they were acknowledging that Jesus was the long awaited for Messiah who would usher in God’s reign. In essence they were saying, “Blessed is the Messiah, who exercises God’s power and authority on earth and at the same time is present in the highest heaven.” (pg. 63, New Testament Commentary.)

Matthew knew Jesus as the Messiah. And just as that had some implications for those in the first century it has some implications for us today as well.

Since Jesus is the Messiah who has ushered in God’s kingdom everyone is confronted

with a two part decision. First, like the three wise men or the crowds lining the Mount of Olives, there is personally acknowledging Jesus as the ruler of the world and your life. It is to acknowledge that Jesus is not equal to some other god or religious philosophy, but far superior. And to acknowledge him as your Lord and Savior.

But that’s not all. Along with the first decision there is the decision to submit to Jesus’ authority as the Messiah which means striving to live in total obedience to his will revealed in the scripture. That is one pledges to strive to live according to God’s rule and Torah contained in the bible and not some watered down version of it.

There is a nurse on a pediatric ward of a hospital who always lets the children listen to their own heart beat with her stethoscope. She loves seeing the response when they hear their heart for the first time. For many of them their eyes light up with wonder. But the response she remembers the most came from four year old David. She placed the stethoscope in his ears and put the disk over his heart and said, “Listen.” "What do you suppose that is?" He furrowed his eyebrows as he tried to figure out what could be causing the sound in his chest. After a moment of thinking his face lit up and he said, “I know. "Is that Jesus knocking?"

Is it possible that the beating in your chest could possibly be Jesus knocking on the door of your heart inviting you to acknowledge him as the ultimate authority in your life and to live like it?

Maybe the Holy Spirit is convicting some Christ followers for becoming complacent and wants you to step it up when it comes to living like a disciple. If so, I encourage you to get right with the Christ by seeking his forgiveness and renewing your commitment to living for him by taking time in prayer during the singing of the closing song.

Maybe someone is here who needs to accept what Matthew said and profess Jesus as the Messiah and commit their lives to living for him for the first time. I want you to know before you do, that you don’t have to go it alone. Each and every one of us are here to help you grow as a disciple. We’ll do it together. If you’re ready to step out in faith to acknowledge Jesus as the ultimate authority in your life and start a life of living for him I would love for you to come forward during the singing of the last song and kneel at the prayer railing cupping your hands. Doing so will be a sign to me to lead you in a prayer of acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah. And if there is anyone here today who is has not made the vows of membership but would like to do so in response to the word, then please come and stand here in the middle during the singing of the last verse and we’ll receive you into membership before the benediction.