Introduction: Excitement filled the air as the Jews from all over Israel and the rest of the Roman Empire headed to Jerusalem to observe Passover – the Day to remember their deliverance from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 12). Perhaps many were wondering if their promised Messiah had come in the person of Jesus to deliver them out from under the heel of Rome.
For three years Jesus had been performing many miracles to validate His claims to be the God-man, the Promised Messiah, and their rightful King.
And yet, there was much confusion in the minds of many Jews as He rode into Jerusalem on the back of a small donkey (Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:5). Consider what others were saying about Him.
Scripture – Matthew 21:1-17
The Common People
He’s one of the prophets: John/Baptizer, Elijah, Jeremiah. Matthew 16:14
He’s our physician and welfare King. John 5:18; 6:15; Isaiah 9:6, 7
The Self Righteous Religious Leaders
He’s an illegitimate child, a blasphemer, and a liar. Matthew 9:3
He’s demon possessed. John 7:20; 8:48-52
The Lord’s Half Siblings
He’s a deranged lunatic. Mark 3:21, 31-35; Isaiah 53:4
Unbelievers until His resurrection. John 7:5; 1 Corinthians 15:7
The False Teachers
The various cults: LDS, JW, RC, et al. 2 Corinthians 11:3, 4; 2 Peter 2:1 ff
Modernists: Not a virgin born, sinless Savior. Matt. 1:23; Hebrews 4:15
The Lord’s Twelve Disciples
Peter’s proclamation, failure, and restoration. Matthew 16:16; 26:34, 75; John 21:15-17
The confusion in their minds. Matthew 16:20-23; John 14:1-6
Conclusion: It’s not enough to know and believe the facts of the Gospel that Christ died for our sins…and rose again bodily on the third day. We must transfer our faith from ourselves and our good works over to the Christ of the Scriptures alone if we are to be saved from hell to heaven.
When we do this, we enter into God’s family and our new life begins. God wants all His children to have assurance of their salvation (Romans 8:16; 1 John 5:13), to grow consistently (2 Peter 3:18), to serve God and others with love (Galatians 5:13; 1 Corinthians 13), and to reproduce themselves (Matthew 28:19, 20). If you’re saved, how are you progressing? Are you “a carnal Christian,” “a convenient Christian,” or “a committed Christian”?
Application – What action steps do you need to take today? (James 4:17)
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Which Jesus Saves? https://kelseypeach.wordpress.com/2015/01/07/which-jesus-saves/
Why They Hated Jesus –
https://kelseypeach.wordpress.com/2015/08/25/why-they-hated-jesus-part-2/
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