Matthew 21:10-11 (KJV) 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.

Preached at Riverview Baptist 798 Santa Fe Pike Columbia Tn on June 18, 2017

Who Is This?

The City of Jerusalem turned out to see Jesus. The Bible tells us that “all the city was moved”.

Some were moved to worship Him.
Others were moved to despise Him.
But everyone asked “Who is this?”.

Who is this Man that can move a city, move a country, move a whole world?

Who is this Man Who commanded His disciples?

Matthew 21:2-5 (KJV) … Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an {donkey} 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 {donkey}, and a colt the foal of an {donkey}.

As Jesus and His disciples entered Bethphage (the House of Figs) He ordered two of His disciples to go retrieve a donkey and her young colt. If there was any objection from the owner they were to say

THE LORD hath need of them; and straightway he will send them

Jesus would enter Jerusalem riding not on a white horse, but on a donkey. In fact, the Scripture says that Jesus said …

Mark 11:2 (KJV)… ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.

Jesus would ride into Jerusalem on a young donkey, but the colt would not be separated from its mother. Jesus did not go to Jerusalem to hurt nor to harm anyone, not even the lowly donkey. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem the crowds went wild, cheering and applauding Him. Most of the commentaries call this the “Triumphal Entry of Christ”, though it is no where called this in the Bible. “Triumphal” in the dictionary is an adjective that means “to carry out or celebrate a great victory or achievement”. People were excited because Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. This man had done many great works.

Matthew 11:5 (ESV) … the BLIND receive their sight

and the LAME walk,
LEPERS are cleansed
and the DEAF hear,
and the DEAD are raised up,
and the POOR have good news preached to them.

The thought in the minds of many in the city was that Jesus had come to overthrow Rome and restore Israel to its former glory. They saw Jesus coming to restore God’s people.

They thought that His Millennial Reign had come.

Psalms 24:8 (KJV) Who is this King of glory?

The LORD strong and mighty,
the LORD mighty in battle.

The Romans – world conquerors – they would finally get their comeuppance. Caesar was supposed to be a god, Rome a nation led by Gentile gods and goddesses. But here comes the Solution – it is Jesus.

They believe that Jesus will cast down the evil.
They believe that the valleys would run red with blood.

Oh Beloved, Jesus is coming again. The first time He rode into Jerusalem on a young donkey. That is not what a conquering King would ride. John the Revelator saw the return of Christ – and He is coming again – and wrote:

Revelation 19:11-15 (KJV)… behold A WHITE HORSE; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and IN RIGHTEOUSNESS HE DOTH JUDGE AND MAKE WAR. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and HIS NAME IS CALLED THE WORD OF GOD. 14 And the ARMIES WHICH WERE IN HEAVEN FOLLOWED HIM UPON WHITE HORSES, CLOTHED IN FINE LINEN, WHITE AND CLEAN. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

John saw the Conquering Jesus, the Jesus Who will establish His Kingdom. He is coming again. When He comes again He will be on a White Horse, and the armies of Heaven will follow Him. But now He heads into Jerusalem on a young donkey. He does not come to conquer the world, but to save the world. The world doesn’t know it, but here is our Savior!

Isaiah 63:1 (KJV) Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.

Riding into Jerusalem He comes, not to kill and conquer, but to be killed so that He can conquer sin and death. He is on a donkey because He comes in fulfillment of prophecy.

Who Is This Man Who Fulfilled Prophecy?

The Word of the Father says …

Zechariah 9:9 (KJV) Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; LOWLY, AND RIDING UPON AN {DONKEY}, AND UPON A COLT THE FOAL OF AN {DONKEY}.

Jesus was riding into Jerusalem in fulfillment of prophecy.

He was born of prophecy.

He lived to fulfill prophecy.

He was born of a virgin to fulfill prophecy. Christ Who “was in the beginning with God” entered this world at the request of His Father. Matthew quoted Isaiah 7:14 when he wrote:

Matthew 1:22-23 (ESV) All this took place to FULFILL WHAT THE LORD HAD SPOKEN BY THE PROPHET: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

God would come to walk amongst us. The Word would become flesh and dwell with us. He was not coming to Jerusalem to overthrow Rome. He was not there to war or make war, but He was coming for another reason. He was coming to bring salvation to the world.

As Jesus rode into Jerusalem the city celebrated. It is said that a broke clock is right twice a day, and periodically even the lost will get something right. They worshiped Jesus as He entered Jerusalem.

Matthew 21:8-9 (KJV) …. a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strewed 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.

The crowd recognized this Jesus as “the son of David”. Only the descendant of King David can sit on the throne of Israel. Herod, an Idumean, now sits on that throne. The crowd cries out “Hosanna to the son of David” which literally means “save us, oh Son of David”. Again they wanted Jesus to conquer, to overthrow. They cried out “Hosanna in the Highest”, meaning “God save us!”. God was going to save us, but not how we thought.

Could Jesus have conquered Rome? Yes, He could. He said in another place:

Matthew 26:53 (ESV) Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?

If Jesus had but whispered “Father, save Me” twelve legions of angels – 12,000 invincible warriors – could have come and destroyed this earth. But Jesus did not come the first time to destroy, but to save. He did not come to make war, nor to tell us to make war. Jesus came to bring PEACE. If human government has taught us anything it has taught us that man is utterly corrupt. If Jesus had cast down Rome, and let unregenerate man rule, it would not have been long before there was another ROME, another HEROD, another CAESAR.

Ephesians 2:13-16 (ESV) But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

Jesus rode into Jerusalem to conquer sin and death on the Cross. The crowd that now cheered Him and worshiped Him would in just a few days despise Him and misuse Him. The cries of “Hosanna to God, glory in the highest” would change to “Crucify Him. Release Barabbas, but Crucify Jesus!”

Who Is This Brazen Man?

The people cheered Jesus, but He did not ride to the Palace to cast out Herod but instead rode to the Temple. Who is this BRAZEN Man, who fearlessly goes into the Temple?

Matthew 21:12-13 (KJV)12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Jesus went into the Temple where God should be worshiped, but the Jews had made that place into a commercial establishment. Which was God angrier with?

Was He angrier at Rome and her lost citizens for worshiping false gods?
Or was God angrier at His people who forsook worship top worship money?

God was angrier at His people. He was angry at the leaders of the Temple that forsook His Word and turned His worship into a money making scheme. Israel was suppose to come to the Temple to offer sacrifices and offerings to God. The people were to bring lambs without blemish and doves without blemish to be sacrificed, their blood temporarily atoning for their sins.

Apart from the shedding of Blood there is no remission of sin.
Apart from the shedding of Blood your sin is not covered.
The animals sacrificed were but a temporary teaching tool.
Until Someone Better came.

Jesus entered the Temple and in righteous anger, and as His disciples and the crowd incredulously watched, He toss money changers and tables to the floor. He chased out sacrifices that were being sold for profit. And as He did so Jesus quoted:

Isaiah 56:7 (ESV) these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL PEOPLES.”

Religion had made a business out of God.
But God’s Business was to save souls.
The Temple was to be “a house of prayer for ALL PEOPLES”.
It was to be a place where all people have access to the Father Who loves them.
It was not a place where you had to pay admission.
It is not a movie theater, a Disney World, or base entertainment.
The Temple as well as the Church is a place where God is accessable.
Where God can be approached.
Where everyone, regardless of race or background, can come to love and be loved.
God was angry. God the Father was angry. God the Son was angry.

My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

God is angry at the Jew who defile the Temple. He is angry at the Christian who defiles the Church. This, dearly Beloved, is a place where we gather to worship our Father, to seek answers, to gain a life of purpose and eternal life. Christ will cast out the impurities and return the Father’s House to a place where we can all gather and commune with Him.

Who is this Man Who enters the Temple and casts out the evil? He is the Son of God. Begotten of the Spirit, He was born in a manger. Worshiped by angels, Shepherds, and wise men, Jesus came to do His Father’s Business. He came to bring us to God, to restore mankind to communion with God, to cover our sins with His own Blood shed on Calvary.

Who Is This Man Who Lowers Himself?

Matthew 21:14 (KJV) And the BLIND and the LAME came to him in the temple; and he healed them.

Who is this Man Who fiercely ran off the blasphemers, but to whom it is said “the blind and the lame came to Him”? Jesus has both strength as well as compassion. A slave trader – responsible for killing thousands in the slave trade, stacking them like cord wood in his ship, met Jesus blinded by sin. This same man later wrote:

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

Sin blinds us and robs us of our joy. I saw a Church sign the other day that read:

Sin Wouldn’t Be So Attractive If The Wages Were Paid Immediately!

The blind and the lame came to Jesus and He healed them all. Jesus will heal you, too, if you will come to Him. Who is this Man? He is Jesus. He is the Son of God made flesh. He is the One Who came to be our Savior. Jesus rode into Jerusalem to die for you and I. Peter declares:

1 Peter 2:22-25 (ESV2011) {Jesus} committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

This Man Jesus rode into Jerusalem to stand in your place and mine. He is the Good Son Who gave His life a ransom for many. Jesus was not drug to the Cross, but willingly went, layiong His life down for you and I. Why?

Because we are sinners.
Because we are guilty.
He bore my penalty for me.
Who Is This Man TO YOU?

Returning to our focal text we read:

Matthew 21:10-11 (KJV) 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.

Who is Jesus TO YOU. To the world, to the multitudes He is “Jesus the Prophet of Nazareth of Galilee”. I had a friend once who told me that “Jesus is Prophet, Priest, and King”. I told him that I disagreed with him. Jesus never claimed to be a prophet. Let me say that again:

Jesus never claimed to be a Prophet!

Jesus said of John the Baptist “Luke 7:28 (KJV) …. Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist …

The multitudes – the world – sees Jesus as a Great Teacher, a Great Prophet, a Great Preacher. Jesus is Great. But He is not a prophet from a small town named Nazareth. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is the Savior of the world. He is the Messiah, or as Peter once declared:

Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God

Believing Him to be a great Teacher or Preacher is fine, but that is not what will save the soul. What saves us is that we receive Him as Lord and Savior. What saves us is that we believe that He paid our sins on Calvary. What saves us is that we believe what He said:

Luke 19:10 (KJV)10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Jesus rode into Jerusalem for you. Jesus was beaten for you. Jesus was nailed to the Cross for you. Jesus suffered and died for you. Jesus bore your sins – and mine – and paid them all. Is this what you believe? How do you answer “Who is this Man?” I know how I answer.

He is My King and my Redeemer!

Once I was walking with my face toward the sun. I looked behind me, and my shadow followed without me doing the least thing to cause it to do so. When you are walking through this life with your face toward the Son of God, peace, joy, and blessing like a shadow follow you. But if you turn from Him you walk in darkness, not in light.

May God lead many to salvation through this His Word.