November 28, 2021
Morning Service

Today we enter Jerusalem for the last time with Jesus.  He has warned us three times now of what is about to happen, but we have not fully grasped the reality of His words.  For us today will seem like the best day ever.  Jesus does not shy away from the attention and allows the people to openly praise Him.  In our eyes, we will see this as the beginning of a new era where Jesus begins to set up His kingdom.  That assumption is actually true, but it does not take the path we anticipate.  Jesus has something much bigger on His agenda.  Matthew writes at length with the many teachings Jesus brought forth in this last week of His life (the Passion Week).  We begin in chapter 21, but it is the 26^th chapter before the Last Supper occurs (Thursday).  Let’s begin our journey up to Jerusalem; things will never be the same again as we face a week of roller coaster emotions including heart wrenching grief followed by unbelievable elation.

Mat 21:1-6Now 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.

            Both Matthew and John include a reference to this prophecy that comes from Zechariah 9:9. They show how Jesus’ actions fulfill a prophet’s words (one of many) giving more proof that He is the long awaited Messiah.  By entering in this manner He affirmed His messianic royalty but in a manner consistent with the humility in which He modeled His entire life.  A conquering warrior would have entered with a large entourage riding upon the most beautiful and impressive horse available to display his victory and magnify his status.  Jesus enters alone riding a colt of a donkey, not as the conquering hero, but as the Savior of the world.  How do those who teach the “health and wealth” doctrine deal with Jesus’ humility in a moment like this?  We are called to live a humble, simple life that imitates the humility and simplicity of our Savior.

            I always wonder about the owner of the colt.  Did the Spirit speak to him and let him know that the Jesus would ask for his animal?  I want to be that in tune with the working of the Spirit that I can discern when He is moving and be willing to obey on the spur of the moment.  The disciples had to be a little leery of just taking it, but as we see they did as He commanded.

 

Mat 21:7-11 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."

            As the disciples, this is what we have been longing for.  No more walking in the shadows, but finally Jesus allows the multitude to openly shout His praises.  They cried out in verse 9 a quotation from the Book of Psalms that refers to the coming Messiah.  Hosanna means to “save us now.”  Many here cried out for them to be saved from the oppression of the Romans, but Jesus came to set us free us from something bigger; sin and death.  Luke records the exchange between Jesus and the Pharisees where they ask Him to rebuke those who are praising Him and He replies:

 

Luke 19:40But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out."

            This was His moment to receive the praise He so richly deserves and the people were faithful to respond and do so.  How about us?  Do we hold back at times when we should be openly praising our Savior?  Don’t let the rocks cry out for you, let your voice be heard singing out the praises of the One you have chosen to follow and put all your trust in.  According to the Roman Road to salvation (Chap. 10) two things have to be present; we must believe in our heart and confess with our mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord.  We must be unafraid to let our voice be heard by singing His praises and proclaiming our faith along our journey.  Peter instructs us to be ready to share your faith when someone asks.

 

1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

            Don’t be ashamed of the gospel message, but be ready to share it and your testimony when someone inquires of you.  When they ask, they are opening the door for you to share your faith; be ready.  It may help you to sit down and write down your own testimony, but the real key is being prayed up and in the presence of the Holy Spirit and allow Him to speak through you.

            Notice one more thing from the scripture in Matthew.  When asked “who is this,” they answered “This is Jesus the prophet from Nazareth.”  We again revisit the idea of the single most important question we will answer in our lifetime.  Peter boldly proclaimed Jesus to be “the Christ the Son of the Living God.”  The multitudes simply identify Him as a prophet.  This helps us understand why these same voices who proclaim His praises, shout out “Crucify Him” later on in this week.  They have not established within their selves who Jesus really is.  Their praise came from their lips, not from their heart as they soon turned on Him in a time of trouble; their foundation was weak.  Be sure your praise comes from your heart and it is true with who you believe Jesus is.  His identity is the foundation of our faith, without that we too can fail Him as well.  We will conclude with Jesus cleansing the temple.

 

Mat 21:12-17 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.'"  (14)  Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.  (15)  But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant (16) and said to Him, "Do You hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes. Have you never read, 'OUT OF THE MOUTH OF BABES AND NURSING INFANTS YOU HAVE PERFECTED PRAISE'?"  (17)  Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there.

            As Jesus entered the temple as saw the merchants and money changers there taking advantage of true worshipers, He got angry.  It was a righteous anger that arises when darkness enters into the light.  He adds actions to His words as He overturns the tables and sets right the wrong that is being done.  “My house shall be called a house of prayer” He cries out.  We must also guard our sanctuary and be sure we don’t ever “conform” to the world and the love of money to make His church something it is not.  Church is to be a safe haven for all to come and feel welcome and loved, not unwanted or used.  Love, joy and peace should abound inside these walls because this is Jesus’ house.  Too many churches today have lost sight of this truth and strive to entertain more than equip the saints; Lord help us. 

 

Heavenly Father, thank You for revealing to us who You are, build our faith and foundation even stronger.  Help us always to honor Your house and keep it as You have commanded us to.

 

As the disciples, today was a wonderful day, and it was.  The multitudes openly praised our Master and He did not shy away but accepted it.  We too must be ready to praise our Lord openly and share our faith boldly with all those who ask.  We saw Jesus display righteous anger as He set straight the wrong that was occurring in the temple.  We too must be ready to speak out and act when we see the same darkness creeping into the light.  Stay strong and be unafraid to proclaim the foundation you stand upon is Jesus that Son of the Living God and the Savior of the world!