Jesus's entry into Jerusalem

The order of events here is from . Luke and Matthew have similar accounts, but the exact order of events varies slightly.

Jesus and his disciples approach Jericho en route for Jerusalem in the spring of 30AD (see 1 on Map 11).

Mark 10:46 KJV 1900

And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.

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Map 11

Jesus approaches Jerusalem

Jericho

Situated on the floor of the Jordan Valley, Jericho (meaning, the ‘city of palm trees’) is a lush oasis surrounded by desert, watered by a spring that never runs dry. Consequently, it has lush vegetation in an otherwise dry and arid area.

It is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world, and excavation of the ancient tell, to the north of the modern city, has revealed twenty layers of civilisation dating back thousands of years to c.9000BC.

In Old Testament times, it is remembered as the city defeated by the Jewish people under Joshua, following their exodus from Egypt (see ).

A few years before the birth of Jesus, King Herod the Great built a winter palace and gardens here, and constructed an aqueduct to bring water into the town (see the feature on Herod’s Palaces in Section 2). The city had groves of date palms which brought Herod considerable income.

Passing through Jericho, Jesus meets Zacchaeus – a wealthy Jewish public official who collects taxes on behalf of the Roman government. Because he is too short to see over the crowds, Zacchaeus climbs a sycamore fig tree – a type of fig tree common in Palestine. Jesus calls up to him and is invited to stay in his house. Zacchaeus shows remorse for having cheated the poor, and promises to pay back four times the amount to those he has cheated.

Luke 19:1–10 KJV 1900

And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

On the way out of Jericho, Jesus heals a blind man – Bartimaeus – who is begging by the roadside as he is unable to work.

Mark 10:46–52 KJV 1900

And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

Jesus and his disciples climb up along the road from Jericho and approach Jerusalem from the east across the Mount of Olives (see 2 on Map 11). Before reaching the hilltop villages of Bethphage (meaning ‘place with young figs’) and Bethany (where Mary, Martha and Lazarus lived) Jesus sends two disciples ahead to collect a donkey from its owner. Jesus rides down the hillside from Bethany towards Jerusalem (see 3 on Map 11).

Mark 11:1–7 KJV 1900

And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples, And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither. And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him. And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt? And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go. And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.

Jesus weeps over Jerusalem

Jesus weeps as he looks down over Jerusalem. As the Pharisees in the crowd voice their opposition to Jesus’s teaching once again, Jesus is saddened that they cannot recognise what would bring peace to the city. He goes on to prophesy the siege and destruction of Jerusalem that occurred forty years later in 70AD (see the feature on The Romano-Jewish War in Section 21).

Luke 19:41 KJV 1900

And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,

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Roman soldiers looting the Temple after the downfall of Jerusalem in 70AD () (depicted on Titus's Arch in the Forum at Rome)

Luke 19:44 KJV 1900

And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem

The Mount of Olives – also called Olivet –

is a small range of four hills (the highest at 2750 ft / 838m above sea level) which reaches about 250 ft / 75 m above Jerusalem to the east of the Kidron Valley (see Map 11). The name derives from the dense woodland of olive trees that covered the area in Jesus’s time.

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Today, visitors to the Mount of Olives can look down over Jerusalem from the same place as Jesus did two thousand years ago. Walking down the hillside on the path followed by Jesus, visitors can enter the tear-shaped Chapel of Dominus Flevit (meaning ‘The Lord wept’) built in 1955 by the Italian architect Bertolucci on the site of a 7th century chapel. The four stone jugs on each corner of the building resemble ‘tear jugs’ in which the tears of mourners were collected at a Jewish funeral.

Dominus Flevit Chapel, Jerusalem ()

Luke 19:41 KJV 1900

And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,

The slopes of the Kidron Valley facing the Temple are covered by an extensive Jewish graveyard. Many Jews ask to be buried at this spot as they believe they will be the first to rise from the dead when the Messiah defeats his enemies on the Mount of Olives and judges them in the Valley of Jehoshaphat (the Kidron Valley) (see & ).

Joel 3:2 KJV 1900

I will also gather all nations, And will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, And will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

Zechariah 14:3–5 KJV 1900

Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, As when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, Which is before Jerusalem on the east, And the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, And there shall be a very great valley; And half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, And half of it toward the south. And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; For the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: Yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake In the days of Uzziah king of Judah: And the Lord my God shall come, And all the saints with thee.

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Looking across the Valley of Jehoshaphat towards the Golden Gate ()

Luke 19:41 KJV 1900

And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,

Beyond the grey onion domes of the 19th century Russian Orthodox Church of Mary Magdalene, visitors can look across to the Golden Gate (also called the Gate of Repentence). This gateway, rebuilt in the 7th century, is where Christians believe that Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey in order to fulfil the Messianic prophesies (see Map 12).

Jesus enters the city on a donkey

Jesus enters the Old City of Jerusalem riding on a donkey – a symbol of meekness – to fulfil the Old Testament prophesies about the Messiah – the Christ (see ). The crowds assembling for the Passover festival spread palm leaves on the road and greet him by singing a popular pilgrim song “God bless the One who comes in the name of the Lord!” () (see ). Jesus’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem on 2nd April 30AD will be commemorated by Christians over the next two thousand years as Palm Sunday.

Psalm 118:25–26 KJV 1900

Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord: We have blessed you out of the house of the Lord.

Mark 11:9 KJV 1900

And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:

Zechariah 9:9 KJV 1900

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: Behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; Lowly, and riding upon an ass, And upon a colt the foal of an ass.

Mark 11:8–11 KJV 1900

And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest. And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.

After a brief visit to the courtyards of the Temple, Jesus and the twelve disciples spend the night at Bethany (see 4 on Map 11).

The Triumphant Entry

From Exaltation To Rejection

I. Introductory Remarks.

John 12:12–13 KJV 1900

On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

This is a picture of the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem a week before His crucifixion and resurrection from the dead.

In this message I want to look at the life of Jesus during the week of His crucifixion and how He came into Jerusalem as an exalted King in the hearts of God's people and then a week later was rejected and crucified by these same people who had earlier exalted Him as King. What happened during that week that caused so many to turn from Him, only to mock and ridicule Him?

II. The Eventful Week.

The week that Jesus was crucified began in tremendous exaltation and prophetic understanding in the eyes of the people who had been acquainted with Him for the last 31/2 years. He was being fully recognized and heralded as the fulfillment of the coming Messiah. In their eyes they had now fully received Him as the coming King who been prophesied by the prophets.

By the end of this week though, the majority of these people would reject, mock, ridicule and crucify Him as an imposter. What happened in the course of this week that would so drastically turn the hearts of many of these people away from their promised King? Not only would many of their hearts be turned away, but one of his disciples would betray Him and another would deny Him.

Are there lessons about human nature for us to learn that will keep us from falling away after having received the prophetic vision of who Christ is? Are these same elements in our world today that caused these people to turn their backs on their beloved King?

1. His Triumphant Entry Into Jerusalem.

Jesus comes riding into Jerusalem in humility on a donkey's colt, while the people are going before Him praising God and proclaiming with a loud voice for the wonderful works Jesus had been doing.

Luke 19:28–40 KJV 1900

And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem. And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them. And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? And they said, The Lord hath need of him. And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

In this picture we find Jesus being adored, praised and proclaimed as the King of Israel, to the extent that the Pharisees tried to make Him put a stop to it.

2. He Cleanses The Temple.

Luke 19:45–47 KJV 1900

And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves. And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,

Jesus is not earning points with the religious leaders of the day. The house of God had been turned into a place where people were merchandising God's people. I'm sure a lot of the more common people of the day were involved in this practice as well. They were beginning to see that what Jesus had to offer had the potential of destroying their present security and income. "Is this really what we want?"

3. He Uses A Parable To Speak Against The Chief Priests & Scribes.

Luke 20:19 KJV 1900

And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.

Jesus is going out of His way to draw a clear distinction between what He has to offer the nation of Israel vs. what has been offered to them by their religious leaders. He obviously did not read the book, “How to win friends and influence others”.

4. Jesus Spars With The Pharisees & The Sadducees On A Number Of Issues.

at they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor.

Luke 20:20 KJV 1900

And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.

Again, we find Jesus pointing the way to what real truth is as opposed to the religious traditions that were being taught and practiced by the religious leaders of Israel.

The truth is continually driving a deeper wedge between what Jesus has to offer and what they had to offer. The religious leaders see no other alternative than to find some way of getting rid of Jesus. They are being threatened!

5. Jesus Issues A Warning To All Of The People Concerning The Scribes.

Luke 20:46 KJV 1900

Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;

The scribes were Pharisees who had become the zealous defenders of the law and the true teachers of the common people. By N.T. times they held undisputed sway as the recognized exponents of the law and the revered representatives of Judaism. They received the deep respect of the people, as indicated in the honorable term rabbi, meaning "my master, or teacher." Proudly they claimed the positions of first rank, sought the public acclaim of the masses, and dressed in long robes like the nobility.[1]

What is happening is that there is a major tug of war going on in the hearts of all these people. These were a people who had been taught and trained by the scribes and now Jesus is coming along and challenging them with the truth and real authority. Their loyalties are now divided and they are susceptible to being pulled in either direction dependent upon the current situation of the moment.

6. Jesus Begins To Prepare His Disciples For His Second Coming.

In the midst of all that is transpiring during this important and very crucial week of Jesus' ministry to mankind, He now begins to expound on His second coming and the events that will precede it.

Luke 21:25–27 KJV 1900

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

Jesus is looking beyond the importance of this day and into the future of all believers who would come to know Him. The fascinating thing about Jesus is that He simply continues to speak the truth and the things that are necessary for our salvation without being sidetracked by the scribes. He does not allow their attacks or disputes steer Him away from what His real purpose is.

7. The Plot and Sentence To Kill Jesus.

The Jews are now fully aware that Jesus has gained the hearts of the people and that they are losing control of their nation. Their jealousy and self protection are keeping them from receiving the revelation that Jesus is the Messiah. Their only recourse is to have Him put to death. In order to do this they must do it in a deceptive enough of a way to avoid mass hysteria. ()

Luke 21:38 KJV 1900

And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.

Luke 22:1–2 KJV 1900

Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.

From this point on the plot is worked out on how to seize Jesus at the perfect moment without causing an uprising. Judas goes on to betray Jesus in the Garden and Jesus is taken before the Sanhedrin, which is the highest Jewish council during the Greek and Roman periods. During this time Jesus is mocked and beaten, and Peter, who once had the great revelation of who Jesus was, denies Him. Jesus is experiencing one of His greatest moments of rejection. He is also handed over to Pontius Pilate, then to Herod & then back to Pilate, who issued the sentence that the Jews had requested.

Matthew 27:20 KJV 1900

But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.

Matthew 27:22–23 KJV 1900

Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.

III. Concluding Thoughts.

What was it about Jesus that caused the scribes and chief priests to reject Him? Was it because they were losing control and weren't willing to let go? Jesus challenged all of their pre-conceived ideas and philosophy. The truth that He spoke challenged their security and the very foundation of their spirituality.

How many are out there today who reject Jesus simply because you are afraid to let go of your past and present securities?

How was it that the Scribes and the chief priests were able to sway the multitudes to reject Jesus after following Him and even receiving Him as their Messiah? They understood and practiced the manipulative tactics of swaying a people.

Luke 23:23 KJV 1900

And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.

What is happening in today's world that would have the potential of drawing Christians away from their Lord? There are many voices through our political system, the media, education system etc., who are trying to sway the multitudes from the truth that Jesus Christ has to offer. Just as they mocked Jesus and what He stood for, we shall be mocked and ridiculed. Was this why Peter denied the Lord? Will we let the sound of the world drown out the voice of Jesus or will we embrace Jesus and His suffering? Let us not allow the many screaming voices in today's culture to weaken our faith in Jesus Christ!

LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED?

Noel Merrick Gth, Pastor/Teacher

I. Introductory Remarks.

On the week before the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, He came riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. For the early followers of Jesus, this was a week that began with tremendous excitement and expectation.

They had been followers of Jesus now for approximately three and one half years and had witnessed Jesus performing extraordinary miracles, healing the sick, casting out demons and even silencing the religious leaders of the day with the authority in which He answered their questions and challenges.

They had come to believe He was the coming Messiah that all of the prophets of the Old Testament had spoken of. And now they are ready to crown Him as their King and to live and rule with Him forever. All of Jerusalem was looking towards this great event with anticipation and hope.

John 12:12–15 KJV 1900

On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.

· From Exaltation to Rejection

Again, this week began with tremendous excitement and great expectations. As the week progressed the people, including the disciples, went from exaltation to dejection, from excitement to disappointment and discouragement, from hope to disillusionment and from belief to unbelief.

They began the week proclaiming Him as King and ended the week rejecting Him. You might say, it was a week in which dreams were shattered and their belief in Jesus as the Messiah was destroyed.

At the end of the week these same people who began the week proclaiming Him as King of the Jews were now rejecting Him and sentencing Him to crucifixion on the cross.

His disciples who proudly argued with one another about who was going to be the greatest and sit next to him in the kingdom were now forsaking Him. And Peter, who once proclaimed Him as the Christ was now found denying Him three times. Their belief in Christ was so shattered that even after His resurrection they were slow to believe.

John 12:37–38 KJV 1900

But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?

· Failed Belief Systems

All of these people and situations are classic examples of failed belief systems. What was it that caused their belief to fail in the moment of crisis and to say they had no king but Caesar?

The goal of this message is to discover what it is that causes us not to have the strong belief system that we think we do. We don't want to be caught in the same web of deception that these people were to the extent that they fulfilled the Prophet Isaiah's prophecy concerning, "Lord, who has believed our report?" Peter and the other disciples were deceived concerning their belief and faith. Peter never thought it possible he could deny the Lord. The others never imagined abandoning Him in His moment of crisis. What about you? Do you know how strong your belief system is?

II. Causes Of A Failed Belief System.

1. False Concepts and Lack of Understanding.

Jesus tried on many occasions and used opportunities as well to prepare His disciples and the multitudes for this time of crisis. But they all failed to grasp the significance of what He was trying to tell them. Right up until the end they had false concepts of Jesus and His kingdom.

John 12:32–34 KJV 1900

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die. The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?

How many times do we fail to hear things because we already have an idea of what someone is trying to tell us?

The people of Israel in that day had a strong concept already fixed in their minds as to what was expected from the Messiah and how He would rule. They are still trying to see Jesus and His kingdom through a distorted lens.

Because of this their hearts could not grasp the full significance of what Jesus was saying to them. As He was sharing with them, they were already beginning to lose faith in Him. "Lord, who has believed our report?"

· Jesus' closest disciples had this same problem.

Matthew 16:22 KJV 1900

Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

Here we find Peter, who had just received the revelation of who Christ was, still holding to his false conceptions and preconceived ideas. They were preventing him from seeing the full picture of how Jesus' kingdom was to be revealed.

As a result his belief in Christ was not able to be strengthened beyond his limited perspective. This contributed to Peter's weakened condition in his moment of trial and crisis when he denied knowing Jesus.

He missed an opportunity for his faith and belief to be strengthened because of his preconceived ideas. As a result he was dull of hearing. He and the other disciples allowed their false conceptions to harden their hearts to the hearing of truth. They were selective in what they heard.

What happens to us when we are trying something new out and a difficult situation comes our way? We revert back to the old and tried way, even though it may be wrong or ineffective. This is why it is important to strengthen our belief system immediately. eg. parable of sower.

Peter as well as the other disciples had been taught the distorted view of the coming of the Messiah since early childhood days. They were false concepts that had been built very strongly into their belief system and this is what they reverted back to when they saw Christ failing them. As a result their excitement turned into discouragement, their hope into disillusionment and their belief to unbelief. They were shattered in their faith.

How many of us have allowed other things besides the word of God to shape our belief system such as negative experiences, preconceived ideas, philosophies, traditions of men or empty deceit.

Colossians 2:6–8 KJV 1900

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

2. The Fear of Man Brings a Snare.

There are many who have had a wonderful glimpse of the truth concerning Jesus and His kingdom, but because of the fear of man and the fear of being rejected by peers and their traditions they never fully confess what they believe and the truth never gets fully planted in their hearts.

Proverbs 29:25 KJV 1900

The fear of man bringeth a snare: But whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.

John 12:42 KJV 1900

Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

I believe one of the issues Peter faced when denying Christ three times was the fear of man. Peter had never really conquered this area in his life and as a result in a moment of doubt and uncertainty, he gave in to the fear of man.

We must be able to boldly confess what we believe. The apostle Paul said, "I believed and therefore I spoke". We must do also, even in the face of opposition.

3. There is an Unwillingness to Pay the Price.

John 12:42–43 KJV 1900

Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

Many people do not fully hear what God is saying, because they are afraid of what it will cost them. Many people, even pastors, remain in bondage to traditions, because of fear of losing their reputation and friends when the Holy Spirit reveals further truth concerning Jesus Christ and His kingdom. As a result the belief system is weakened rather than strengthened.

III. Concluding Remarks.

My purpose in this message has been to make us aware of how dangerous and damaging it is for us not to strengthen our belief in Christ and His work while we have the opportunity. It is only as we move forward in Him that we grow from faith to faith. Otherwise we are allowing these areas to weaken our belief and trust in Christ and His kingdom. There is another dark hour that is coming prior to Christ's second coming. Just as the darkness that came over the land during His crucifixion caused many to stumble, the same shall happen in the latter days.

There is a great falling away coming before Jesus is revealed at His second coming in all His glory. Just as the people succumbed to the pressure of the crowd in the days of Jesus to deny Him, the same shall happen in the last days. Because many of Christ's followers shall have poorly established belief systems, many shall fall away. Now is the day to strengthen yourself in Christ.

Hebrews 12:26–28 KJV 1900

Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

A number of years ago a story appeared which told of a man who picked up a beautiful rock from a North Carolina stream bed and used it as his cabin doorstop. Years later, a geologist who was hiking in the area stopped at the cabin and noticed the doorstop, which he immediately recognized as a huge lump of gold. In fact, it proved to be one of the largest gold nuggets ever found east of the Rockies.

Like the man who failed to recognize gold when he held it in his hands, the disciples failed to recognize the true nature of the Lord ‑ even after more than three years with him. What about you? Do you know who He is?