What Changed in a Week? Text: Matthew 21: 1-11
1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. 3 And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: 5 “ Tell the daughter of Zion,‘ Behold, your King is coming to you,Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’”6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. 8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “ Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘ Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Hosanna in the highest!” 10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” 11 So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”
Jesus enters the streets of Jerusalem as men and women’s triumphant king, being worshipped as the people shouted “Hosanna!” The Hebrew word translated “Hosanna” means, “Save, I pray!” Before Jesus came to dwell among men the coming Messiah is hailed by the words of Psalm 118:26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We have blessed you from the house of the LORD. The people were waving palm branches and laying their personal clothes on the ground for Christ to ride over. That day, in their minds Jesus had come to give them a say and a seat in Rome!
The healer of the sick, the giver of great wisdom, and the soon coming Savior of the world is being adored by the masses! Vs.10 is a key verse 10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?”
Jesus’ week seemed to be going good, but then things changed quickly “ what went wrong?”
What changed the “Hosannas” to “Crucify Him?”
Jesus’ week changed as He told the people what they didn’t want to hear. You see Jesus had one single motive and that was righteousness through love; while all the people wanted Jesus just to move certain people out of their way so they could finally take over!
Look at Matthew 21:12-13 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’”
Crane Eater shall be called a house of prayer! If we are guilty of anything let it be because we hold unto the standard of prayer! Let us be found guilty of prayer with works! (Fruit)
Warren Read expected to find some skeletons in his family’s history when he started researching it. However, he wasn’t prepared to find that his great grandfather had instigated an infamous lynching. Three black men were killed on a trumped up charge and photos from the event were made into postcards. Rather than hiding what he found read apologized to the victim’s family and wrote a book about his experiences and the event. By acknowledging his family’s guilt in the event, read finds a measure of redemption for himself. We too can’t afford to just sweep sins under a rug.
We have to acknowledge our sins and ask for forgiveness, and then make the commitment to change our lives! I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Those men in the temple didn’t have to stay mad they could have told Jesus they were sorry with remorse and made the temple a house of prayer!
Secondly, Jesus taught the religious people that tax collectors and prostitutes would enter the kingdom of heaven before them!
Jesus gives a parable about two brothers in Matthew 21:28-31 “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ 29 He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. 30 Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.
You might say, “That’s a strong word, but Jesus is looking for those who will just do His will.” “He’s not looking for words only!”
In Matthew 22: 21Jesus told the people to pay their taxes! (This didn’t go over to well!)
In Matthew 23: 13-31 Jesus pronounced a series of woes against the religious leaders! Listen to just a little of Matthew 23:13-15 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. 15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.
Jesus wasn’t in town for a popularity contest. No, His task was to proclaim the truth and provide salvation even as it cost Him His life!
Max Lucado said in his book “Grace for the Moment” Jesus was born crucified. “ The force behind the hammer wasn’t an angry mob…the hand squeezing the handle wasn’t a Roman infantry man… the verdict…wasn’t decided by jealous Jews. Jesus himself chose the nails…Had the soldier hesitated Jesus himself would have swung the mallet.” That’s how much He loves you!
With every eye closed, think for a moment about the ups and downs of Jesus’ week in Jerusalem, but then I want you to allow Him to give you a new Spirit of praise, a new spirit of joy and hope and a new attitude and outlook because of Jesus’ perfect love for you. It took Him to the cross to save you and change you forever!
Remember, “The nail-pierced hands of Jesus reveal the love-filled heart of God the Father!”
