Who is This?

Intro:

In this day and hour we have to grapple with a new reality in a new era and deal with a new normal. I will admit that I am perplexed in that we are still having virtual church instead of full on church. I am perplexed that after the CDC comes out with directives many leaders have refused to follow them, and claim to being led by Jesus or a Spirit? I am frustrated because I miss my church mothers, frustrated because I miss the hugs, the smiles, the fellowship, the love, the haters, and the fakers. I miss them all, but just as Jesus does in our text today we must move on. There are times in our lives that God will choose to use someone who is not of the norm or not of the approved. Many times when God chooses such a person we often times minimize their existence or question their validity. Other times those who are in authority will even work to tear down their reputation and or marginalize their miracles. Isn’t it funny when a football star comes from a school that is not of the popular ranks is often times criticized in saying he isn’t really that good I don’t know why all of those coaches are even looking at him. Isn’t it funny that even sometimes on a team where they are often times minimalized to make someone else look good? Even in basketball if he or she isn’t from a certain neighborhood they don’t get respect, or if they didn’t attend a certain school in a certain city they aren’t as good as advertised. How about church? How many times do we see a truly talented person often thrown to the back because another person’s family runs the church. How about a preacher? If he or she is not connected to a large ministry with a popular pastor or bishop they often times get overlooked and disregarded. In all of these instances no matter how much people try to suppress their gifts and abilities as the old saying goes “cream will always rise to the top”. Often times we skip over the blessed people that God has placed in our lives, because we ask a simple question Who Is This? Often times we miss it because we are worried about who they are instead of whose they are! We miss God because we are concerned about where are they going instead of seeing who sent them. Can I help about two or three people listening to me today, and tell you to stop asking Who is This!

The Question:

One of the questions that I see in this text is who is this. Who is this Jesus that causes us to pause this palm Sunday and examine what many theologians call the Triumphal entry. This Jesus, who many were in awe of, was first low meek and humble. As the story begins Jesus is entering the outskirts of the Holy City of Jerusalem. The text says as he came to Bethphage, the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples who must have been gangsters to go take someone’s donkey colt that had never been ridden before, and bring it back to him. Then he instructs if they ask you anything tell them the Lord hath need of it. Church let me pause for a moment of warning don’t try that today unless the Lord has truly instructed you because folks now are packing. Many of them care less of who you are serving, because they shoot first and ask questions later, but that’s another argument for another time. In this the disciples did what Jesus asks. They go get a colt which had never been ridden before, which lets me know that Jesus not only had insight but also had onsight in that he knew where to send them and that resources where already there, because Matthew wrote all of this was done to fulfill the prophecy of Zechariah when he said, “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.’ ” Thank God that He knows where to place resources in your life. See Jesus could have easily walked into Jerusalem, but the prophetic utterance issued a declaration of the messiah’s entrance. When God says something it will come to pass. So who is this man Jesus? Coming into to town and folks are getting excited. Who is this that takes someone’s donkey in order to ride into Jerusalem. Who is this mane as they would say in Memphis? Who is this dude? Who is this guy? Somebody ask your neighbor Who is This?

Another Question:

Ok we are asking good questions this morning, but I have another question why did he come into the city this way. Can I give you context of the text. See if you read and understand history. There were two parades going on at the same time. Notice in the text they laid down palm branches and clothes in the road signifying that Jesus was royalty. Coming into Jerusalem. On the other side Pontius Pilate and his royal brigade where coming into to town too. Watch this now. Pontius Pilate and his brigade came in with a full royal regalia on stallion horses with armor, swords, and soldiers at his disposal. This represents the world, because the world is more concerned about showing authority and power than humility and peace. The soldiers were there to make sure no one got near the Roman government official. The regalia resembled their wealth, and the horses signified their power. They knew who Pilate was, but what about Jesus here he is on a donkey, but he is the king of Glory wrapped into flesh. Yet Jesus on a donkey represents humility. They put palm branches and clothes in the way, because they didn’t have red carpet to roll out nor roses to throw. One represented the government and his rule, and Jesus represented a messiah who could be touched and seen by his people. A savior that was in touch with his people and not untouchable by his people. Church we have to be careful who we follow, because if we are not careful we may be at the wrong parade. Sometimes we lean more to a political persuasion than hearing what the spirit is saying to the church. We need to pay attention to how people come in. Are they arrogant or are they humble? Are they prideful and pompous or are they peaceful yet corrective? Are they evil and oppressive or are they righteous and liberating? Not only do you need to pay attention to who they are you need to know how they came! If they don’t come like the word says then you need to ask yourself Who is this?

Close:

As I move toward my close today. I have one last question that I need to ask the church. Why did they praise? The text says the crowd according to Matthew said“Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!” which is a kings introductory praise! I must be honest in church sometimes the crowd begins to praise, but some in the crowd don’t know who He is. In church sometimes we are taught more how to praise than we are who we are praising. Can I help the church before I go? Make sure you know why you are shouting and who you are shouting for! Don’t hobo on someone else’s praise, but praise Him for who he is to you! See the reason some began to yell Hosanna to the Son of David was because they were looking for the same Messiah that raised Lazuras from the dead. All the miracles Jesus did in the hood did not impress those in Jerusalem, because they were better than those poor folks from Nazareth and Galilee, but when Jesus walked into Bethany the literal backyard of Jerusalem and raised someone from the dead folks really to notice. I got news from someone listening to me today many folks may ask who you are right now, but God is about to put you on a stage in which folks will have to take notice of your anointing! What perplexed me about the text is that after Jesus came into the city there were folks who missed him. They asked the other folks who is this, and the multitude answered This is Jesus the prophet from Nazareth. As I close I have to admit that at first I was confused, because the scripture says the prophet uttered that the King was coming! So he was the King. His humble actions said he was a humble Messiah, but they gave him a kings praise? And when asked about him they called him a prophet. Can I tell you who something church He is all of that. When they ask who is this He is the King of Glory strong and mighty. He is the humble messiah wearing a suit of flesh in order to be with his people. He is a prophet, because his lips of clay spoke the articles of Heaven! Who is this This is Jesus the one and only Son of God, and he is still on the throne today. So no matter what is going on in this world you need to know Who He is!