2023.04.02.Sermon. Palm Sunday. Who is this Jesus?
William Akehurst, HSWC
Matthew 21:10 Who is this…Jesus?
SCRIPTURES REFERENCED: Matthew 21:1-11, Matthew 16:13-16, John 11:25-26, John 20:24-31, John 3:16-18, Isaiah 9:6, Revelation 19:11-16
GOD’S DIVINE POWER IN US
Galatians 4:6 (NLT) And because we are HIS children, GOD has sent the SPIRIT of HIS SON into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”
So let’s call upon HIM together.
Matthew 6:9b-13
9b Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
BIG IDEA: Each of us must answer one important question in this life. WHO IS JESUS?
And the answer is not just head knowledge, it must also be heart changing. All mankind either accepts or rejects GOD's Plan of Salvation through JESUS CHRIST.
WHO IS THIS?
JESUS THE PROPHET OF NAZARETH OF GALILEE
Matthew 21:1-11 (NKJV)
1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,
2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.
3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.
4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,
5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,
7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.
8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.
9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?
11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.
Hosanna means Save Now. Literally the people were calling out to JESUS, “Save now” to the Son of David. “Save Now” in the highest.
RIDING on a donkey.
There are 2 types of ride, that a king would take through the city.
On the way out to battle, the king would ride high on a white stallion and race with the army through the city, displaying power, leadership, strength, and might.
After a victorious battle, the king would return on a smaller pony, closer to the ground, closer to the people, to receive the praises of the people.
JESUS entered the gates of Jerusalem upon the colt of a donkey, a lowly animal where he was in touch with the people. This displayed victory and grace and the people responded by paving his path with palm branches.
An interesting fact about the donkey. Young donkeys have a specific marking on their backs from head to tail and shoulder to shoulder. This marking, is the sign of a cross. While on older donkeys, that marking can fade away, isn’t it interesting that the Messiah, rode into Jerusalem upon a cross, and days later, would carry a cross out of that same city, to take his place on our behalf.
In scriptures, it says that anyone hung upon a pole, or tree is cursed by GOD. JESUS was nailed and hung upon a wooden cross, for the curse of yours and my sin, long before we were even born. Our forgiveness and salvation are all based on HIS Body and HIS Blood upon that Cross. When Pilate said he could find no fault, he asked the crowds what to do with JESUS, to which they replied, Crucify Him, and let HIS Blood be upon us. Their statement of Let HIS Blood be upon us, was them saying, let the blame be upon us, but, in reality, those same words are for everyone receiving HIS SALVATION, as we MUST be Covered by HIS Blood, so that FATHER GOD will see the SACRIFICE of HIS SON covering our sins, and making us righteous.
Covered by HIS Blood. In the tabernacle, once a year, the high priest would take the blood of the annual sacrifice into the HOLY of HOLIES, and sprinkle the blood upon the Bema Seat, the lid of the Ark of the Covenant, with the Angel wings turned to each other. In the Ark was contained items such as the tablets of the 10 commandments, the rod of Aaron, Manna and other items. All representing the sin of mankind. The blood was applied so that when GOD the FATHER looked down, HE would see the Blood covering, and then inhabit that HOLY PLACE.
Are you, Covered by HIS BLOOD?
WHO DO MEN SAY THAT I, THE SON OF MAN, AM?
BUT WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?
Matthew 16:13-16 (NKJV) (compare Luke 9:18-20)
13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
WHO IS THIS JESUS?
Who is HE to you? Is HE your LORD and Savior? Do you understand what HE has done for you?
Jesus as HE looked over the city before this day, wept for Jerusalem, for HE knew that the people would not understand WHO HE truly is. They would see HIM as a political ‘saviour’ to free them from the oppression of the Roman government. They would not see nor receive HIM as LAMB of Sacrifice.
On Palm Sunday, Jesus showed himself as that LAMB. ONE, and the only one for EVERY HOUSEHOLD!
It was lamb selection day. And over the course of the next few days, this LAMB of Sacrifice would be inspected, questioned, and examined by the Jewish Council and Roman Leaders. And the resulting word from Pontius Pilate would be that there could be found “No fault in him”. Jesus is the one and only unblemished Lamb, fit for the sacrifice and payment of our sins by HIS body and blood upon that cross of judgment. By HIS death, burial and resurrection, WE who are ‘being saved’ can see the path we can follow, if we only believe, trust and FOLLOW HIM!
DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?
John 11:25-26 (NKJV)
25 Jesus said to her (Martha), “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HAVEN’T SEEN, YET BELIEVE
John 20:24-31 24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”
So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
26 …Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
When Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”. This was a turning point for Thomas. No longer was JESUS a great teacher or prophet, but now Thomas sees HIM as HE truly is…his LORD, and GOD.
PROMISES AND HOPE FOR WHOSOEVER BELIEVES
John 3:16-18 (NKJV)
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
WHOSOEVER BELIEVES will have everlasting life.
Whosoever does not believe, will perish.
Whoever believes, has been saved from, escapes condemnation
Whosoever does not believe, is condemned already.
What’s the difference?
To Believe, or Not to Believe.
That is the question of our lifetime. Not just for this world, but for all eternity.
Who is JESUS to you? LORD and SAVIOR? REDEEMER? FRIEND?
Or just a prophet or teacher?
Will you believe in JESUS?
Do you believe in JESUS?
WHO DO YOU SAY JESUS IS?
Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV)
6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Savior, Redeemer, KING of kings and LORD of lords
Revelation 19:11-16 (NKJV)
11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.
Here we see heaven opened, revealing JESUS upon a white horse, a great stallion, ready to “judge and make war.” He is called Faithful and True, and in Righteousness to judge. In vs. 14, we see the armies of heaven, following HIM on white horses, going to battle.
Following CHRIST means that we who believe and follow HIM, will also follow HIM with heaven’s armies. We must follow “after and pursuing” HIM, so as not to be “before” HIM, as the object of HIS Wrath and Judgment.
So, who do you say that JESUS is?
Who do you say that I AM?
And thou shalt
call His Name JESUS.
Prince of Peace. Mighty GOD.
Wonderful. Counselor. Holy One.
Lamb of GOD. Prince of Life.
LORD GOD Almighty.
Lion of the Tribe of Judah.
Root of David. Word of Life.
Author and Finisher of our Faith.
Advocate. The Way. Dayspring. Immanuel.
LORD of All. I AM. Son of GOD.
Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls.
Messiah. The Truth. Savior. Redeemer.
Chief Cornerstone. Righteous Judge.
Light of the World. My Salvation.
Head of the Church. Morning Star.
Sun of Righteousness. Chief Shepherd.
Resurrection and Life. Horn of Salvation.
Governor. Faithful and True.
The Alpha and Omega
KING of Kings. LORD of Lords.
Our LORD, Our SAVIOR, Our Soon Coming KING.
JESUS CHRIST
Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
Benediction
1 Chronicles 29:10b-14(NLT)
10b “O LORD, the God of our ancestor Israel, may you be praised forever and ever!
11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things.
12 Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength.
13 “O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name!
14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us!
Blessed be the name of the LORD. Amen
Be blessed and be a blessing!
Bill
