Sermon: He is who he says he is. (2)

Jesus must be defined as he defines himself, the messianic prophet-king.

Sermon Intro

Good Morning - Welcome, I appreciate you having me out and allowing me to share God’s word with you today.

Today , the world is struggling with identity. The world struggles to understand who we are as people, as humans. There is a popular Christian song titled “Who you say I am.” I find the message of this song helpful. I believe it so many of our societal issues would be fixed it we all just believed the truth from the song which is that our identity is fixed and created by God. The line repeats several times throughout the song . “I am who you say I am.” You here, being God. O what an easier time our society would have if, instead of looking for our identity in so many places in creation looked to the Creator.

Today we are going to do just that but not with our identity. But with that of Jesus.

Turn To Text

Matt 21:1-11

Scripture Introduction

This was a dark period of time for the people of Jerusalem. They continued to endure a Roman occupation and were surely wishing for freedom. No doubt the soon to come Passover celebration in Jerusalem held them in an air of hope. As the people remembered God’s gracious and loving provision to remove his people from the oppression of the Egyptians. It is into this scene of hope in the midst of oppression that Jesus walks, or rather rides into.

Jesus had thus far been very slow to make himself known outside of his circle of disciples. He had even at times warned other not to tell of him because it was not yet his time. Our test today is the turning point for Jesus’ revelation of himself to Israel at large. Here we see Jesus’ intention actions to show who he was. As we work through this test today I would ask you, “Who is Jesus? Who do you define his as? Or do you stand back and allow Jesus to define himself?”

Restate Scripture Address

Matt 21:1-11

Read Scripture

Matthew 21:1–11

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ ” The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Pray For Illumination

Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not selfish gain.

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your word.

Unite my heart to fear your name.

Satisfy us with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

Who does Jesus say that he is? (v 1-7)

Our story today is one that is familiar. We have heard historical account before and we typically enjoy listening to And hearing about Jesus being praised in Jerusalem, although it was a very short time-frame.

This story is one that reminds me a lot of an excellent artist that I knew growing up in the church. Her name was Dawn Scott, and she was unique. She used her artistic abilities in worship and would create some truly amazing pieces of art. At times she would paint a portrait while a song played. Or one of my favorites was when she would have an overhead projector and would cover the screen with sand and then draw in the sand to create incredible scenes and images that would burst forth in the light of the projector. If fact many of these images would have big reveal moments where we would sit there guessing what it was until the last moment and then it would become abundantly clear as she laid her last brush stroke. That is what Jesus is doing here. He is laying some of the last brush strokes of his earthly ministry that will put who he is into sharp focus for everyone, not just his small group of disciples. This is the time that Jesus chose to reveal himself to Jerusalem. So let’s dive back into the text to see who he reveals himself to be.

Matthew 21:1-3 “Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.””

We see here that Jesus is coming to Jerusalem. For what will the be passion week. Bethphage would have been on the outskirts of Jerusalem. Close enough for Jesus to walk to daily during the week across the Kidron valley. The mount of olives would have provided a beautiful view of Jerusalem.

It is here that Jesus gives important instructions to two of his disciples. They are to go and get a donkey and a colt (young donkey). If they are discovered untying them Jesus gives instructions on what to say. Now this very well could have been a prearranged deal like the usage of the upper room later on, or it could have been a divinely appointed miracle. Either way, we know that it is something Jesus planned on happening to fulfill scripture and in a couple of verses they go and do what he says. In fact, I can’t think of any place in Scripture where Jesus rides instead of walks (except here and Revelation). This is a deliberate choice. Scripture says,

Matthew 21: 4-5 “This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ ””

Matthew gives us the direct comment on why Jesus gave these instructions, which was the fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Zechariah. This is primarily from Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

When studying the Bible the best way to interpret prophecy is to let other scripture interpret it for you. We know just from looking at society and history that many will wrongly claim that prophecy has been fulfilled. How great a moment then, to have the inspired words of Matthew telling us that this is the fulfillment of this text in Zechariah.

This is quite the statement. Matthew is here saying that Jesus is King! “Behold, your king is coming to you” O Israel! The one you have waited for, the Messiah has come!

He is a king who is humble and riding a donkey. Not, something unheard of for kings to do, as David did when returning from fleeing during Absalom's rebellion as he returned in peace (2 Sam 15:30). Fitting for the prince of peace. But perhaps odd to those expecting a decisive defeat of their Roman rulers.

I do want to take a moment with Paul to encourage you church. Looking at his conversation with King Agrippa we see his thoughts on the prophets. Paul was speaking to him and speaking to persuade the king of the gospel and the good news revolving around Jesus’ identity and work. Paul asks him Acts 26:27 “King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.”” He asks this because one of the most reasonable and logical conclusions for someone to come to when they look at the writings of the prophets. Is that Jesus is who he revealed himself to be.

Jesus is the messianic king that came to make peace., Jesus is the suffering servant who submitted himself to death. Jesus is the one who was marred beyond human semblance. Jesus is the one who was despised and rejected by men. Jesus is the one who bore our griefs and carried our sorrows. Jesus was smitten by God. Jesus was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. (Isa 52-3)

Church I ask you today do you know who Jesus says that he is? Do you know who he has revealed himself to be?

Do you know that on him was the chastisement that brought us peace? That with his wounds we are healed? If you do not church repent and believe. Believe in the Jesus, not of the world, but of Scripture. As we see him present himself in this final revealing brushstrokes of his ministry.

Who does the crowd say that he is? (v 8-11)

Now we must look at how the people respond. As Jesus is coming into town along with a stream of pilgrims coming for Passover, what do people do? Who do they say that he is? Let’s look at the text.

Matthew 21:8 “Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.”

The tradition of spreading cloaks, points back to Jehu (2 Kings 9:13) as he was anointed king of Israel. This was to celebrate the coming king to roll out the red carpet of sorts.

They also spread out branches which John identifies in his account as palm branches (where we get palm Sunday). The people did this when Simon Maccabeus liberated Jerusalem in 165 BC. So we have this scene of worshipers coming to the city of Jerusalem getting caught up in celebration as they recognize the prophecy, as they recognize the sign of the king that is being carried out in front of them.

Matthew 21:9 “And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!””

The people are shouting Hosanna! Hosanna which is a Hebrew term. It appears in Psalm 118:25 “Save us, O Lord!”. At this point it is being used as a shout of praise to God. So the people are shouting Gad save or praise be to the messianic king!

The Son of David, calling to mind the same phrase that the blind men identify Jesus as in Matthew 20. This is the recognition by the people that Jesus is fulfilling God’s covenant promise to David (2 Sam 7). God is sending the king from his line that will can and “wield the sons of Israel like a warriors sword.” Zechariah 9:13. They are looking for a king whose “rule shall be from sea to sea” Zechariah 9:10.

You can imagine that this would be quite a commotion. The people of the city were taking notice. So that.....

Matthew 21:10-11 “And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.””

This crow asks the right question. And gives an answer that is not so much wrong as it is incomplete or inadequate. If the have the meaning of those from John 7 in mind, that speak of Jesus as the prophet, the one that was to come like Moses spoken of in Deuteronomy 18, they would have been on to something. Indeed them go on to identify him by the region that he grew up in. Indeed we have seen that prophet is inadequate. In Matthew 16:13-16 we read:

Matthew 16:13–16

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Here we see the true answer, the one commended by Jesus himself. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

The people of the crowd recognize Jesus for the traits and role that they desire him to be. They are excited and worked up to be free. But not free from their bondage of sin. Free from their Roman occupiers.

How do we do this church? How do we hit the nail on the head with some aspects of who Jesus is and miss the mark with others? What does this even look like?

To give some examples,

Anyone who looks at the grace of Jesus will see it in abundance. They will see one who gives it freely and abundantly. But when our response to that grace is, “well, let us continue in sin so that we can see better this abundance of Gods grace.” A response that Paul would shout that we should by no means have. We are missing the seriousness that Jesus holds sin to have.

How could we read Matt 18, and Jesus said it would be better to go through life crippled by cutting off a hand or a foot than to go on sinning and be thrown into Hell, and think that we could keep on purposefully sinning because we know Jesus is graceful.

Anyone who tries to force the kingdom of God to appear or to take ground on their terms instead of being obedient to his actual commands is missing the picture. When we try to force, Constantine, Crusades, or some at the Capitol we may see, Jesus the victorious ruler and judge of Revelation 19, but are they keeping in view the Jesus who said “all who take the sword will perish by the sword”? The kingdom of God extends through his means, gospel proclamation, not force, coercion and the sword.

Who do we say that he is? (Conclusion)

So church, who do we say that he is? Who do we say that Jesus is?

To answer this question we must be willing to submit ourselves and our understanding to the word of God.

We are in a unique time of patience of the Lord. Peter tells is (2 Pet 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise (of judgement and the destruction of the ungodly) as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” ) We are living in a time that God has given for more to come to him because he does not wish to perish but all to repent.

We are living in a time when we have a chance to share God’s good news with others. Where they have a chance to repent and believe. Church let us tell of the one who came humble and mounted on a donkey. The king that chose to come down from heaven, die, and be resurrected that we may believe in him and have forgiveness of our sins.

For we know that the day of judgement is coming. And on that day Jesus will not be returning on a donkey. But coming down from heaven upon a white horse, and he will be called Faithful and True, not despised and mocked. He will come to make war and judge, not to submit to a human government even to death. (Rev 19)

On that day the anyone who asks, “Who is this man?” will know that he is the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

May we be there with the great multitude, palm branch in hand (Rev 7:9) crying out “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!

And on that day may everyone know, who Jesus is.

Closing Prayer

Most gracious heavenly Father, I thank you for his church. A church that is centered on the solid foundation of the word of God. We thank you for your creation, we thank you for your redemption through Christ Jesus, we thank you for your faithful perseverance of all those that are here today. And we thank you for the sure promise of your coming kingdom.

Lord we pray for the United States, we pray for our president as you call us to Lord. We pray that he would lead and make decisions influenced by you and not enslaved to the world. Lord we pray for other nations, we pray for Canada and Mexico, or geographic neighbors. We pray for the gospel to spread there like wildfire. That many would come to you and that much would be made of your name Lord.

We pray for our local government Lord, that they would view people as you view people and would care for those that they help to govern. We pray that they would make decisions based on your truth and your word.

We pray Lord for other local congregations, Lord. WE pray that they would teach your gospel and teach it truly in accordance with your word. We pray Lord, that all of the churches in this area would be overflowing, would be brimming over with those that want to sing praises to your name.

John 1:1–5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Amen