Who Jesus Is

I have really enjoyed the last six weeks, going through different characteristics of Jesus. There is something about focusing on who Jesus is and how he demonstrated God on Earth🌎 that draws you closer to Him simply because of the great Love he has.

Jesus is Righteous Judge: 1 Corinthians 1:30

1 Corinthians 1:30 ESV

And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

Jesus is the teacher of truth and is Truth:

John 14:6 ESV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Jesus is a servant leader:

Mark 10:45 ESV

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus is Forgiving:

Ephesians 4:32 ESV

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Jesus is the friend of sinners and salvation from sin:

Luke 19:10 ESV

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Jesus, was obedient to the perfect will of God:

Philippians 2:8 ESV

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

I am grateful for who Jesus is, but the Jesus was know is not the Messiah that Jews during Jesus’ time had expected or been anticipating.

Those of you who are parents will understand how difficult it can be to have a picky eater. Well Ezra is a picky eater. She is so picky that I bought her these strawberry breakfast bars because I knew she would like them. So when the time of day came for her to ask for a snack, she was expecting me to pull out her crackers, or cheese, or grapes to give her. But instead I tried to give her these new bars, knowing that she will like them. But as soon as she saw it and it was something she was not expected or familiar with she turned her nose up at it and said, “No I don’t like it”. And I was like Ezra you don’t know that you haven’t tried it…

Needless to say she did not try the breakfast bars until four days later and when she finally did try it she loved it and ate the whole bar super fast.

SOMETIMES JUST BECAUSE THINGS ARE NOT WHAT WE EXPECT DOESN’T MEAN IT ISN’T WHAT IS BEST.

Most Jews during Jesus’ time were poor. Few of them held land and wealth, while many lived day to day, heavily taxed by both the Romans and the Temple system.

WHAT JEWS EXPECTED FROM MESSIAH

These Jews were awaiting a Messiah who would tare down the oppression they felt from the Roman government and life.

Scriptures like Daniel which says...

Daniel 7:13–14 ESV

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

Scriptures like these were taken by the Jewish people and viewed in their limited prospective. Causing them to expect a military leader who would take reign over the earth...Little did they know or understand that Jesus’ dominion would go far beyond their comprehension or our world.

Sometime the struggles right in front of us block us from the person of Jesus Christ and magnificent plan of God.

As many of you know today is Palm Sunday. The day that kicks off the week leading up to Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice of dying on the cross.

TRIUMPHAL ENTRY

Turn with me to Luke 19 starting with verse 30....

Luke 19:30–40 ESV

saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’ ” So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

In this scene we have Jesus humbly enter into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey. Many may know that if a person road in on a donkey that symbolized that he came in peace and not war.

And as Jesus rides into Jerusalem the crowds shout, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest”.

The people are so excited about this Jesus! They have heard about the miracles he has performed, raising the dead, healing the blind and lame, casting out demands. This is the Messiah who they have been waiting for.

All True.

But just a week later we see a very different tune towards Jesus, by some of the same people mixed in with the religious leaders.

A DIFFERENT TUNE TOWARD JESUS

Luke 23:21–23 ESV

but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed.

What happended, why did Jesus go from being praised to being crucified?

In the days that followed:

Jesus didn't rally an army or fight Rome

He confronted the religious leaders, not the Roman rulers

He cleansed the temple, upsetting the status quo

He spoke of suffering and death, not political victory

He challenged hearts, not systems

This disappointed or even confused many people who had cheered for Him.

The Religious leaders, who saw Jesus as a threat to their authority caused doubt to stir in the hearts of those who hoped for a different kind of Messiah.

1 John 2:15–17 ESV

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

The religious leaders, those who shouted crucify, even Jesus’ disciples allow for worldly things to lead them away from Jesus:

Pride, Selfish desires, fear...caused the worldly powers to overshadow the person who was right in from of them.

JESUS KNEW

The amazing thing about the person of Jesus Christ is that he knew as he road in on the donkey to Jerusalem what would happen to him...

He knew the praises would turn into angry shouts.

Right after he is praised and called a King he looks up at Jerusalem, knowing that the city would face destruction soon and more than that, knowing his own body (the temple of the Lord) would also face destruction.

Luke 19:41–42 ESV

And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.

So much a contrast to the joy displayed by the people:

They thought that Jesus would save the Jews and Jerusalem...

Jesus knew it would face destruction but also knew his purpose was much greater...

Jesus came into this celebration seeing people smiling and praising but knowing that they did not understand what true peace is...that is not peace in this world but peace of eternity.

Illustration

Jesus keeps his character through it all. His righteousness, his servanthood, his friend to sinners, his mercy, and his forgiveness:

Even though enemies came against him, even though his followers did not understand him, even though those he loved sinned...His mercy was still precent.

The Friday after his entry into Jerusalem is known as Good Friday, the day Jesus’ full character is displayed.

This day he does not condemn his enemies,

This day he does not disown his followers who turned away from him,

This day he does not use his power to get back at the people whose hearts are not right..

Good Friday is the day that Jesus,

In his humility, servanthood, and love for all (even though we are unworthy people who have fallen to sin), chose mercy and forgiveness.

Luke 23:32–46 ESV

Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.

As he still faced ridicule from the guards and crowds he chosen forgiveness.

As he talks to the two criminals, one who has faith and one who is focused on selfish things he dies for the sins of both of them.

As he surrenders his spirit back to the Father he does this thinking of the unity it will allow for God and those who accept his gift of life.

Conclusion:

And as Jesus hung on the cross he thought of you and of me.

He took on the times we have turned from God.

The times we have doubted,

the times we have sinned against him and against each other. He died so that once and for all our sins could be forgiven.

There may be times when what we expect from God is not what he gives us...

There may be times when He does not give the miracle we desire or

answer our prayers how we would have liked.

DO NOT LOOSE FAITH, DO NOT LET GO OF YOUR LORD.

He is the same today, yesterday, and forever...

Even when we do not understand...like those who praised Jesus on Palm Sunday.

Even when we doubt God’s will.

Jesus is merciful and his forgiveness is real.

Micah 7:18-19 “Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity… He will again have compassion on us… You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.”

When we accept the forgiveness in Christ we are a new creation, God does not remember or hold our sins against us.

We are free and pure in his eyes.

Today I hope it is one were we praise Jesus for who He is despite who we are.

Praise him for his goodness, for his mercy, for his compassion, for his forgiveness.

And

Surrender our doubts, our selfish desires, our will to Him who is worthy and has the authority to make us into who he wants us to be.