Who is THIS Indeed who was Called Prophet Jesus from Nazareth? (Matthew 21:1-11)

(This sermon is delivered on Palm Sunday at Phulbari Sewa Mandali on 25th March, 2018)

Jesus lived about thirty three-plus years on the earth – thirty years in obscurity and three-plus in public ministry. Now Jesus is going to end all HIS earthly ministry and earthly journey. Every step of Jesus towards Jerusalem sounds the song of salvation and climbs the steps of ladder of glory. Jesus was born, lived and even died in humble. HE never looked for to fulfill HIS own will rather HIS sole purpose was to live and to fulfill the very will of God.  In John 17:1, Jesus prayed this way: “… Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you.” Matthew also mentioned in Matthew 26:39 – “And going a little further he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from ME; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

It was the time of Passover and Jews from every corners of world had been flooded into this city. Historically, Jesus has entered into the city, not to celebrate the Passover but as the Lamb of the Passover. The day Jesus entered into Jerusalem traditionally called Palm Sunday and it is the beginning of the Holy Week, also called Passion Week. During this week, we focused on the Cross which symbolizes the death of Christ. Matthew 21:1-11 describes the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. All writers of Gospel have mentioned it in their Gospel (Mark 11:1-10, Luke 19:29-38 & John 12:12-15). It narrates that how Jesus entered the city riding on the colt, and the prophecy spoken by Old Testament fulfilled literally, and crowds followed HIM shouting ‘Hosanna’. Jesus wherever HE went, HE preached, taught the Word of God, and healed, and presented to the Jews the credentials of the King. And in the same time, HE was moving towards Jerusalem knowing the time to get ready to die. It was HIS final manifestation of kingship to Jews, which was rejected by them. They praised HIM, but didn’t acknowledge HIM as their King. This was the same crowd who shouted with praise in Sunday, but also shouted saying ‘crucify HIM’ in Friday. In other words, they worshipped Jesus in Sunday and asked to crucify HIM in Friday. What is about me and you? Worshipping on Sunday and crucifying on Friday? Just think about our loyalty to Jesus.

ENTRY OF THE KING (vs. 1-3)

Vs. 1 – “Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,” Moving towards Jerusalem, Jesus came to a place called Bethphage to the Mount of Olives. Bethphage is a Hebrew word means ‘house of unripe figs’. There is no archaeological evidence of its actual location. Most of Bible Scholars agree that it was a village on the Mount of Olives which was situated the nearby North west of Bethany as it is mentioned by Mark and Luke (Mark 11:1; Luke 19:29).  When Jesus reached in Bethphage, HE sent two disciples. Matthew didn’t mentioned of their name, neither other writers of Gospel did. Therefore there is no idea whom  Jesus sent.

Vs. 2 – “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.” What Jesus said to two disciples demonstrated HIS divine attribute omniscient. HE knew very well where a donkey was tied with her colt.

Vs. 3 – “If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” Jesus also knew that when disciples would untie them, the owner would ask. Therefore Jesus also gave them a password saying, you shall say, “The Lord needs them.” The knowledge of Christ didn’t even tell the disciple where they would find the donkey, but HE told what the owner will say and what you should reply him. It conveys some important facts about Jesus. HE controls everything, not even the circumstances, also the hearts of men. Through this event, Jesus wanted to demonstrate the world that HE is not the victim of the circumstances. Every sound of tick in the watch is controlled by HIM and nothing could happen without HIS sovereign knowledge. The Jesus was preparing the stage for HIS triumphal entry in Jerusalem; HE demonstrated that HE is King, not an ordinary king, but the King who controls perfectly everything reigns generation to generation.

EXACT PROPHECY ABOUT THE KING (vs. 4-7)\

Vs. 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.’” The fulfillment of prophecy regarding the Messiah is another crucial credential. From the beginning of the Gospel, we could read again and again the phrase – “…this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet…”  In the same way, here also we can see the prophecy which proved the kingship of Jesus Christ.

About 600 years ago, Prophet Zacharias predicted. In Zech. 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.” It has taken place exactly what Zacharias had predicted.  

Vs. 6-7, “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.” We all know that when a king comes, he comes with great splendorous. He comes on the horse and exhibits all kinds of powers and honors. But during Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, there was nothing these kinds of royal exhibition. HE humbled HIMSELF the way no king in this world desires. In our culture, donkey is considered as stupid animal. It is used to carry the burdens. But in the Middle east, when a king during war, came riding upon a donkey, it was the sign of the peace. During Jesus’ time, there was an expectation among Jewish people for the Messiah. They expected that HE would come riding on horse with sword and overthrow the Roman Empire. But our Lord Jesus came upon the donkey and showed that HE did not come to make war with Rome, but make peace with God. HE showed that HE came to give life, not destroy the life and to help, not to condemn. HE is the King who wants to rule with grace, not with Law.

EXALTATION OF THE KING (vs. 8-9)

Vs. 8 –“Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.”  In 2 Kings 9, when one of Elisha’s disciples went and anointed Jehu as the king of Israel, when his friends came to know that he has been anointed as a king, they immediately put their garments under him on the steps. It was the symbol of their submission to new king. In same way, most of the crowds had done. They acknowledged Christ as their king and showed their total submission by spreading their clothes on the road. And others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.  Branches of tree were cut from the palm tree as John 12:13 indicates. Revelation 7:9 tells us that a great multitude out of every tribe, every nation, every language is stood before the Lamb with Palm branches in their hands. It is symbol of joy. There was great joy while Jesus entered into the Jerusalem riding on a donkey. Because people knew who HE is and what HE has taught. They also knew that HE has healed people and raised the dead. Therefore the crowd moved with great excitement and threw their clothes on the road and waved the Palm branches.

Vs. 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!” Whole crowd cried out saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” The word ‘Hosanna’ has lost its real meaning. Most of us think that it is the cry of praise especially to God. But its original meaning is ‘Save Now’.  Therefore essentially it is a cry for deliverance and for help in the day of troubles. People from every corner of world had gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. Passover is celebrated to remember the deliverance of Jewish out of the bondage of Egypt. Jewish were well aware of how God sent Moses and delivered whole nation of Israel out of the slavery of Pharaoh. They also knew that Messiah will be born out of David family who will restore the kingdom of David and bring back the lost glory of Israel. So they shouted saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”  They believed that HE is their Messiah, but they couldn’t understand the nature of HIS Messiahship and HIS kingdom. They wanted a worldly king and earthly kingdom. They wanted to deliver from the Roman bondage, but Jesus wanted to deliver them from their sin. That is why Jesus came and offered them an opportunity to make peace with God. Today world is just like that. World wants a Jesus who may give them all kinds of material blessings, but they don’t want Jesus who demands repentance from their sins and asks to pay the cost for following HIM. As soon as HE confronts the sinfulness of the world, they have turned their back to Jesus.  This crowd represents the people who worship HIM only with their lips, but their hearts are far from HIM. Their focus is the things of earth, not of heaven.

EXPOSING THE PREJUDICE ABOUT THE KING (vs. 10-11)

Vs. 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.” The crowd was following HIM shouting, “Hosanna or Save Now, O Son of David!”  There was great anticipation among the people and they asked saying, “Who is this?” and they said, “This is the prophet Jesus, form Nazareth of Galilee.” Nazareth had bad reputation and no one could expect good from this place. When Philip said to Nathanael, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:45-46) That’s kind of attitude pious Jewish people had about Nazareth. Therefore some of religious leaders had prejudice about Jesus. They were right about what they said. Jesus was a prophet and HE brought up in Nazareth. HE was well known among Jewish as Jesus Nazarene. But they had missed the most important thing about the Christ. What they knew, it is just a one side of coin. In other words, they knew only a historical Christ who was born in Bethlehem and brought up in Nazareth, but they had no knowledge of Christ who reigns all generations.

CONCLUSION / APPLICATION

Still question is before us: Who is this indeed who was called Prophet Jesus from Nazareth? It is very possible to worship HIM in whole life and still having no idea who HE is indeed. Matthew 21:1-11 tells us that crowd received Jesus like a king, but refused HIM as their king. Why? For they had rejected HIM as their Savior. Jesus came to die for our sins and HE saves everyone who believes in HIM. But one day this offer will be withdrawn. The Lamb scarified for our sin will become the Lion will judge all who rejects HIM as savior.

In Discover Yourself in the Psalms, Warren Wiersbe recalled a story told by an evangelist: “A horse bolted and ran away with a wagon that had a little child in it.  Seeing the child was in danger, a young man risked his life to catch the horse and stop it. The child who was rescued grew up to become a lawless man, and one day he stood before a judge to be sentenced for a serious crime. The prisoner recognized the judge as the man who, years before, had saved his life, so he pled for mercy on the basis of that experience. But the words from the bench silenced all his pleas: ‘Young man, then I was your savior; today I am your judge, and I must sentence you to be hanged.” [Our Daily Bread, 2011 Annual Edition (RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, Michigan: USA) January 21] 

In same way, today Jesus is the Lamb of God who died on the cross for our sin. But if we reject HIM now as our savior, one day HE will stand before us as the Lion of Judah who will judge us. HE will say, “On earth I was your Savior, but you didn’t believe. Now behold I am your judge and you have been judged with everlasting punishment in the hell.”  

So decide today!

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