This morning we finish our series on Jesus’ “Teachings on the way to the cross,” because we are almost to the cross. This coming Thursday night is Jesus’ arrest and the morning of Good Friday is Jesus’ crucifixion. Next Sunday we gather for the most important day in the calendar for us as Christian believers, the resurrection of Jesus.
As we get into Jesus’ last teaching let me ask you this, does it matter what you believe about Jesus, or worded another way, does it matter who you believe Jesus is? I think most of us here recognize that we need to believe in Jesus, after all we have passages like John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” But does it matter what we believe about Jesus, or who he is? In my conversations with people over the years who don’t really practice their faith, I have heard comments like this quite often, “I believe in God and Jesus and all that stuff, and I think that is all God wants,” and usually the conversation is over. They don’t want to talk about their faith or beliefs. I am glad people claim to believe in Jesus, but what do they believe about Jesus? Or even better, does it really matter? Do we believe that Jesus was just a Rabbi or teacher like many of the Jewish faith, or do we believe Jesus was a prophet like the Muslims, or perhaps that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, or do we believe he was even more than that?
On that Palm Sunday road almost 2000 years ago, as Jesus rode from Bethany over the Mount of Olives into Jerusalem on a colt, the crowd believed something about Jesus. There was a reason they laid their cloaks on the ground along with branches of palm trees shouting: Matthew 21:9 "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest!"
Luke 19:38 "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
They did these things because they believed Jesus was the Messiah, a new king descended from the line of King David, and as the OT prophesies suggested, he would be a king who would rule over the nation of Israel forever. Laying down their cloaks and branches was a ceremony for a king. The crowd cheered on their king who they hoped would help alleviate their suffering under the occupation of the Roman Empire.
The religious leaders believed something about Jesus too. They believed he was a fraud, and a threat to their religious traditions. Jesus actually placed himself on level with God by forgiving people’s sins and he routinely violated the Sabbath day by healing people. Jesus was a rabble-rouser and they planned his death.
Jesus’ disciples believed something him too. One day, early in his ministry, Jesus confronted his disciples with this question, “who do the crowds say that I am.” In other words, who do the crowds believe I am? The disciples replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life." But then Jesus got to the heart of the matter and he asked the disciples point blank, "But what about you? Who do you say I am?" Jesus wanted to know not if they believed in him, but who they believed he was. Peter answered on behalf of all the disciples, "You are the Christ of God."
I think Jesus directs the same question at us, who do you say that I am? What do we believe about Jesus?
Jesus Teaches the Religious Leaders He is Lord
On this particular occasion from our Scripture reading this morning, Jesus confronted the religious leaders and the crowds during his last week on earth on their belief about who he was. Jesus realized they hadn’t figured out who he was, at least not completely so Jesus gave them a riddle using one of David’s Psalms.
How many of you like riddles? A riddle is something like this:
What is black and white and red all over? A newspaper.
Jesus gave this riddle to the religious authorities: How can the Messiah be the Son of David, when David himself said in Psalm 110, “The LORD (that is God) said to my Lord (Adonai), sit in honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.” Since David calls him Lord, how can he be his son at the same time?
The reason this was a riddle was because it was impossible for King David to call one of his own descendants his Lord, a title of superiority, even if he was the Messiah. So how can the Messiah, this king, be a human son or descendant of David and yet at the same time David can call him Lord (his superior) and place him at the right hand of God? It doesn’t make sense…unless [snap fingers like an “aha” moment] the Messiah was going to be more than just an earthly king.
Jesus was implying that he was more than just the Messiah, he was and is Lord. Jesus was the same “Lord” David referred to in Psalm 110 who would sit at the right hand of God almighty. In fact, the earliest Christian declaration of faith was “Jesus is Lord.”
Paul wrote in Romans 10:9
“If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For early Christians it was very important what they believed about Jesus. He wasn’t just the Messiah and a descendent of David, he is Lord and currently sits at the right hand of God the Father; the place of honor, the place of power, and the place of authority and judgment. In fact this Psalm of David’s was so important for their understanding of Jesus it was quoted more often by the writers of the NT than any other OT passage.
Because they believed Jesus is Lord and raised to God the Father’s right hand. It meant several things to them:
By sitting at God’s right hand it means:
1) Jesus’ death was not the end of his mission, it was his mission because God honored Jesus to his right hand.
If Jesus was just a great teacher or prophet, his death would be the end. Sure, his teachings would carry on, but his death was the mission so we could be forgiven of our sins, and united with God.
Heb. 10:12 But [Jesus] our High Priest offered himself to God as one sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down at the place of highest honor at God’s right hand. 13 There he waits until his enemies are humbled as a footstool under his feet. 14 For by that one offering he perfected forever all those whom he is making holy.
In other words because God the Father accepted his Son Jesus’ sacrifice and received him to his right side, we are forgiven and perfected forever in God’s sight.
2) Jesus intercedes for us before God the Father.
Similarly, because Jesus is at his Father’s right hand, it means Jesus continues to plead our case before him. Like a lawyer arguing our case before a judge, Jesus argues our case, only there is no argument or deliberation because Jesus paid all of our punishment before we even committed the crime with our sin.
NLT Romans 8:34 Who then will condemn us? Will Christ Jesus? No, for he is the one who died for us and was raised to life for us and is sitting at the place of highest honor next to God, pleading (interceding) for us.
NIV Acts 5:31 God exalted him [Jesus] to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.
Because Jesus is Lord, he was raised to God’s right hand where he can plead on our behalf before God the Father, and offer repentance and forgiveness of sin.
What We Believe About Jesus Matters
It’s great to believe in Jesus, but who you believe Jesus is makes a difference and affects your life. Remember what the people in Jesus’ day believed about him and how it affected their actions. The religious leaders believed Jesus was a fraud and a threat to their way of life, so they tried to kill him. The crowds believed Jesus was a king who would bring them safety and security under a new nation, but when Jesus didn’t meet their expectations, do you know what they did, they turned on him. It was the crowds, possibly even the very same people, who were shouting “Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,” as Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, yet five days later were shouting “crucify him, crucify him!” when he was on trial before Pilate. The disciples believed Jesus was the Messiah too, but when he was arrested they fled for their lives and hid. In Peter’s case he denied any relationship with Jesus. What you believe about Jesus makes a difference.
Like the crowds and the disciples, when life gets tough our true beliefs about Jesus begin to surface.
Do you believe Jesus is at God’s right hand to forgive you of your sin, or do you carry around guilt? Do you get anxious and worried about many things, do you believe Jesus at God’s right hand has been given complete control and authority over your life?
What We Believe About Jesus Affects our Eternal Destiny
Lastly, Jesus makes it clear in John’s gospel that what we believe about him affects our eternal state.
NLT John 8:24b “unless you believe that I am who I say I am, you will die in your sins."
To die in your sins means you die without being forgiven of your sins by God. It means you are separated from God and do not receive the gift of eternal life with God in heaven because you do not believe Jesus is who he said he is, God’s Son sent by God to die in your place, for your sins. A professor in seminary pointed out that when Jesus was saying, “unless you believe that I am” Jesus was referring to the OT name God used of himself, “I AM.” When Moses asked God who he was supposed to tell his people sent him, God said, “tell them I AM has sent you (Ex. 3:14).” To Isaiah God said, “believe me and understand that I AM. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me (Is. 43:10).” In other words Jesus is saying unless you believe he is God, “I AM,” you will die in your sins.
Jesus is very clear that it does make a difference what you believe about him because it affects our eternal destiny.
Jesus is asking you, who do you say that I am? Who do you believe Jesus is?
