March 25th 2018
"But What About You?" Jesus Asked. "Who Do YOU Say I Am?"
Matthew 21:6-11 (NIV)
The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them.
A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest!"
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?" The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."
One day of glory expressed from the people, but indignation from the current religious leaders. Jesus Triumphal Entry was very short lived, or was it? Our celebration of this special event is also short lived, until we experience a Good Friday, which is a much different event. However, let us deal first with this great earthly experience for Jesus with His earthly friends! Can you imagine how happy His disciples must have been during this Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem on that day?
After the Triumphal Entry Jesus went to visit the temple, and He was discouraged by what He saw there. It looked like a place of business, instead of a place of worship. On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. (Mark 11: 15-16) When you attend the church of your choice, how do you think about Jesus? Are you there to worship Jesus The Son of God, or as some interesting character you heard about?
Notice when Jesus is teaching, immediately following the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, He refers to the temple as "My house.” Jesus did not say my Fathers house, but He said My house! And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: "‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers’." (Mark 11: 17) When the temple teachers heard this they were disturbed. The big question is; were they disturbed because they considered His words to be blasphemy, or did they fear His words were truth? Were they concerned about God’s name being taken in vein, or that their business was going to be stopped?
Next we read that the chief priests were so upset they decided Jesus must be killed, because He was a threat to their religious money making business! The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching. (Mark 11: 18). Now we can see how the chief priests felt about Jesus, and maybe what they believe about whom Jesus really is, or at least that He is a threat to their livelihood, and thus, what actions they plan to take!
It makes me wonder who His disciples think He is by now. They have seen Him perform many miracles, but there still seems to be some doubt about who Jesus really is, and what His mission on this earth is! Remember when Jesus stilled the storm, how it made them express wonder about whom He is? He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" (Mark 4:39-41) In this account the storm is over, but it says, “They were terrified.” His disciples were terrified of Him, or in other words, they were terrified of Who Jesus is!
Only the Creator of the universe could control the elements the way this man named Jesus did, and thus, it was frightening to be with Him! He was their friend too! At least, Peter knew who Jesus was, as he answered the question Jesus asked him correctly, on a previous occasion. "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. (Matthew 16:15-17) Notice Jesus tells Peter that this knowledge is not a human type of knowledge, but it is of God.
This Sunday we will celebrate Palm Sunday, and in some ways refer to Jesus Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. This is in preparation for our entry into Holy Week, which will climax at Good Friday, as we again observe the death of Jesus, as He dies for your sins! The use of Your in the previous sentence is not a mistake, as we all need to think about Jesus dying for you! He died for all the sins of humanity, but He died for YOU! You have a personal relationship with Jesus, because He died for YOU! Your salvation is assured, if you know who Jesus is!
Let’s not spend much time on the triumph, Jesus didn’t dwell on this one success, He was back at work, the work of His Father in heaven. Let us be like Jesus too. Remember this, Jesus stands at the door of your heart knocking, and asking, "But What About You?" "Who Do You Say I Am?" Remember He died for YOU! Think about this through this coming week, until we all experience Good Friday again, and thus, prepare to start the real celebration! However, we must wait until next week to celebrate, for we know He will die, but He will not remain in the grave!
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "The Christ of God." (Luke 9:20). What will be YOUR truthful answer to this question from Jesus?
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Matthew 21:6-11 (NIV)
The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them.
A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest!"
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?" The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."
One day of glory expressed from the people, but indignation from the current religious leaders. Jesus Triumphal Entry was very short lived, or was it? Our celebration of this special event is also short lived, until we experience a Good Friday, which is a much different event. However, let us deal first with this great earthly experience for Jesus with His earthly friends! Can you imagine how happy His disciples must have been during this Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem on that day?
After the Triumphal Entry Jesus went to visit the temple, and He was discouraged by what He saw there. It looked like a place of business, instead of a place of worship. On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. (Mark 11: 15-16) When you attend the church of your choice, how do you think about Jesus? Are you there to worship Jesus The Son of God, or as some interesting character you heard about?
Notice when Jesus is teaching, immediately following the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, He refers to the temple as "My house.” Jesus did not say my Fathers house, but He said My house! And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: "‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers’." (Mark 11: 17) When the temple teachers heard this they were disturbed. The big question is; were they disturbed because they considered His words to be blasphemy, or did they fear His words were truth? Were they concerned about God’s name being taken in vein, or that their business was going to be stopped?
Next we read that the chief priests were so upset they decided Jesus must be killed, because He was a threat to their religious money making business! The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching. (Mark 11: 18). Now we can see how the chief priests felt about Jesus, and maybe what they believe about whom Jesus really is, or at least that He is a threat to their livelihood, and thus, what actions they plan to take!
It makes me wonder who His disciples think He is by now. They have seen Him perform many miracles, but there still seems to be some doubt about who Jesus really is, and what His mission on this earth is! Remember when Jesus stilled the storm, how it made them express wonder about whom He is? He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" (Mark 4:39-41) In this account the storm is over, but it says, “They were terrified.” His disciples were terrified of Him, or in other words, they were terrified of Who Jesus is!
Only the Creator of the universe could control the elements the way this man named Jesus did, and thus, it was frightening to be with Him! He was their friend too! At least, Peter knew who Jesus was, as he answered the question Jesus asked him correctly, on a previous occasion. "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. (Matthew 16:15-17) Notice Jesus tells Peter that this knowledge is not a human type of knowledge, but it is of God.
This Sunday we will celebrate Palm Sunday, and in some ways refer to Jesus Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. This is in preparation for our entry into Holy Week, which will climax at Good Friday, as we again observe the death of Jesus, as He dies for your sins! The use of Your in the previous sentence is not a mistake, as we all need to think about Jesus dying for you! He died for all the sins of humanity, but He died for YOU! You have a personal relationship with Jesus, because He died for YOU! Your salvation is assured, if you know who Jesus is!
Let’s not spend much time on the triumph, Jesus didn’t dwell on this one success, He was back at work, the work of His Father in heaven. Let us be like Jesus too. Remember this, Jesus stands at the door of your heart knocking, and asking, "But What About You?" "Who Do You Say I Am?" Remember He died for YOU! Think about this through this coming week, until we all experience Good Friday again, and thus, prepare to start the real celebration! However, we must wait until next week to celebrate, for we know He will die, but He will not remain in the grave!
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "The Christ of God." (Luke 9:20). What will be YOUR truthful answer to this question from Jesus?
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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