Who Is Jesus? A Message For Palm Sunday

2023.04.02.Sermon. Palm Sunday. Who is this Jesus?

William Akehurst, HSWC

Matthew 21:10 Who is this…Jesus?

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED: Matthew 21:1-11, Matthew 16:13-16, John 11:25-26, John 20:24-31, John 3:16-18, Isaiah 9:6, Revelation 19:11-16

GOD’S DIVINE POWER IN US

Galatians 4:6 (NLT) And because we are HIS children, GOD has sent the SPIRIT of HIS SON into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”

So let’s call upon HIM together.

Matthew 6:9b-13

9b Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

BIG IDEA: Each of us must answer one important question in this life. WHO IS JESUS?

And the answer is not just head knowledge, it must also be heart changing. All mankind either accepts or rejects GOD's Plan of Salvation through JESUS CHRIST.

WHO IS THIS?

JESUS THE PROPHET OF NAZARETH OF GALILEE

Matthew 21:1-11 (NKJV)

1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,

2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.

3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.

4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,

5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,

7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.

8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.

9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?

11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

Hosanna means Save Now. Literally the people were calling out to JESUS, “Save now” to the Son of David. “Save Now” in the highest.

RIDING on a donkey.

There are 2 types of ride, that a king would take through the city.

On the way out to battle, the king would ride high on a white stallion and race with the army through the city, displaying power, leadership, strength, and might.

After a victorious battle, the king would return on a smaller pony, closer to the ground, closer to the people, to receive the praises of the people.

JESUS entered the gates of Jerusalem upon the colt of a donkey, a lowly animal where he was in touch with the people. This displayed victory and grace and the people responded by paving his path with palm branches.

An interesting fact about the donkey. Young donkeys have a specific marking on their backs from head to tail and shoulder to shoulder. This marking, is the sign of a cross. While on older donkeys, that marking can fade away, isn’t it interesting that the Messiah, rode into Jerusalem upon a cross, and days later, would carry a cross out of that same city, to take his place on our behalf.

In scriptures, it says that anyone hung upon a pole, or tree is cursed by GOD. JESUS was nailed and hung upon a wooden cross, for the curse of yours and my sin, long before we were even born. Our forgiveness and salvation are all based on HIS Body and HIS Blood upon that Cross. When Pilate said he could find no fault, he asked the crowds what to do with JESUS, to which they replied, Crucify Him, and let HIS Blood be upon us. Their statement of Let HIS Blood be upon us, was them saying, let the blame be upon us, but, in reality, those same words are for everyone receiving HIS SALVATION, as we MUST be Covered by HIS Blood, so that FATHER GOD will see the SACRIFICE of HIS SON covering our sins, and making us righteous.

Covered by HIS Blood. In the tabernacle, once a year, the high priest would take the blood of the annual sacrifice into the HOLY of HOLIES, and sprinkle the blood upon the Bema Seat, the lid of the Ark of the Covenant, with the Angel wings turned to each other. In the Ark was contained items such as the tablets of the 10 commandments, the rod of Aaron, Manna and other items. All representing the sin of mankind. The blood was applied so that when GOD the FATHER looked down, HE would see the Blood covering, and then inhabit that HOLY PLACE.