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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.

Jerusalem was filled with people. The time of the Passover Feast was once more upon Israel, and every faithful Jew was to go to the Temple to honor God their Savior. As families prepared to sacrifice a lamb without spot or blemish following the commandment of God another crowd descended on the city.

This new crowd of people are merely called “the multitude”
“a very great multitude”.

This crowd is going in front of a Man . This Man is sitting on a white donkey and being followed by a donkey’s foal. As the Man rides into Jerusalem the very great multitude is treating Him like He is a Conquering King. We read:

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

This is a lot like a ticker tape parade – something we rarely do anymore. People are pulling off their overcoats and laying them on the ground before this Man and His strange party. They are cutting branches off of trees and laying them before Him. The people are shouting:

Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord;

Hosanna in the highest

“Hosanna”! Is from the Hebrew “HOSHI’A NA”, and is a prayer from…

Psalms 118:25-26 (KJV)  Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.  [26]  Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.

“HOSHI’A NA” is a plea for salvation and prosperity. It is a cry out to God that His people be saved, that His people be freed from that which has bound them. As the multitude shouts “HOSHI’A NA” the city of Jerusalem asks a very important question. They ask:

Who is this (Man)?
Who is this Man?
Who is this Jesus?

This is the most important question you will ever answer.
Jerusalem asked the multitude “Who is this Man?”
They are asking the wrong person.
How do I know this?
The “multitude” tells Jerusalem …

This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

The Multitude Does Not Know Jesus

That’s not Who Jesus is. Jesus grew up in Nazareth, but though He was daily in that small community Nazareth did not know Him. Right after His baptism by John our Lord Jesus went back to Nazareth to the Synagogue to teach. As Jesus taught them the Word of God the Nazarenes began to question Him.

Mark 6:2-6 (KJV) … many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? 3 IS NOT THIS THE CARPENTER, THE SON OF MARY, THE BROTHER OF JAMES, AND JOSES, AND OF JUDA, AND SIMON? AND ARE NOT HIS SISTERS HERE WITH US? AND THEY WERE OFFENDED AT HIM.4 But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. 5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. 6 And he marveled because of their unbelief….

Jesus grew up in Nazareth, but those that grew up around Him did not know Him. When He returned to Nazareth to start ministering those who saw Him daily did not know Who He was. Even His closest friends – people He went to school with – did not know Him. The Bible says …

Mark 3:21 (KJV) … when his friends heard of {His ministry}, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.

Jesus is NOT the Prophet of Nazareth.
If you want to know Jesus, you need to ask God to reveal Him.
God the Father knows Jesus.
God the Spirit knows Jesus.
And Jesus is a Great Prophet – but not from Nazareth.

Jesus Is The Promised Prophet Who Replaced Moses

Last week we studied Deuteronomy 18.
I don’t have time to preach this again.
If you missed out, COME TO CHURCH!
Be regular. God is giving His Word to you as you come!

Moses is not going into the Promised Land with God’s Israel. But the Lord has told Moses that He would give His people ANOTHER PROPHET. Moses told the people:

Deuteronomy 18:15 (KJV) The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

God Himself affirmed this, saying:

Deuteronomy 18:18-19 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

Who is this Prophet? He is JESUS!
He is the Replacement for Moses.
“The Law came by MOSES …
Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17)

This Man on a Donkey leading a foal is the Promised Messiah. He is the One Who would stand between God and His people as the Prophet, the Mediator. Moses stood before the people of God and spoke what God told him. Now Jesus comes before the people. Jesus is the Mediator. He is the Prophet. He is the Fulfillment of the Law, the Savior and Lord of those who come to Him. God told Israel “Believe and follow Moses”. God tells His Church “Believe and follow Jesus”!

Those Who are saved believe in Jesus. Jesus told those who listen:

John 6:36-40 (KJV)  But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.  [37]  ALL THAT THE FATHER GIVETH ME SHALL COME TO ME; AND HIM THAT COMETH TO ME I WILL IN NO WISE CAST OUT.  [38]  For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.  [39]  And THIS IS THE FATHER’S WILL WHICH HATH SENT ME, THAT OF ALL WHICH HE HATH GIVEN ME I SHOULD LOSE NOTHING, but should raise it up again at the last day.  [40]  And this is the will of him that sent me, that EVERY ONE WHICH SEETH THE SON, AND BELIEVETH ON HIM, MAY HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE: AND I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY.

Jesus will take His people into that Promised Land called Heaven, and will bless His people with His Presence on this earth. But we must follow him. The Pharisees would not follow Him, because they were blinded by sin.

John 6:41-45 (KJV) The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.  [42]  And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?  [43]  Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.  [44]  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.  [45]  It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

The Father will tell you of Jesus.
The Spirit will tell you of Jesus.
Oh, that you would hear God’s Voice!

There is ample proof that our Jesus is the Messiah sent from God to replace Moses. Moses led an obstinate people, but Moses never raised the dead.

The Multitudes Saw Jesus’ Raise The Dead

This crowd called “a great Multitude” is following Jesus because they saw Him raise the dead. Just before the Passover Jesus’ friend Lazarus had died. We read:

John 12:1, 9 … Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, WHOM HE RAISED FROM THE DEAD. 9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.

Lazarus had been dead for four days when Jesus came to Bethany. Jesus knew that Lazarus was dead. Jesus told them plainly, Lazarus is dead (John 11:14). Everyone saw Lazarus was dead. His sister Martha wept, and told Jesus:

John 11:21 (KJV) …. Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died….

Jesus tells Martha – and us:

John 11:25-26 (KJV) … I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:  [26]  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.

Believest thou this?

Do you believe Jesus is “the Resurrection and the Life”?
Do you believe Jesus has defeated sin and death?
Look yonder at Lazarus’ opened grave.
Lord, he’s been dead 4 days – he stinks!
There is no hope, death has claimed him.
The Jesus says,

Lazarus, Come Forth!

and Lazarus comes forth! There is ample proof. And yet, the people do not believe. Why? They are asking the wrong Source. They are looking to the Pharisees for answers. There are no answers from the Pharisees. Why? Because the Pharisees are not looking to honor God.

Jesus The Messiah Is Rejected Of The Pharisees

As the multitude shouted “HOSHI’A NA” – Lord, Save Us! Jesus goes into the Temple.

What does Jesus find in the Temple? Are people praying? Are people worshiping the Lord? NO! Jesus goes into the Temple and finds GREED, and POLITICIANS, and BLASPHEMY.

Matthew 21:12-13 (KJV) … 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.

What does Jesus find in His Church today? If Jesus were to ride into Columbia and walk into any Church – perhaps our Church – what would He find? God let Israel get away with doubting Moses, but has said “Whoever will not hear MY PROPHET shall give account”. What would God find in our Church? What would He find in our hearts? Whatever is not honoring of God His Father the Messiah CASTS OUT!

He CASTS OUT those who make merchandise of His people.
He CASTS OUT the shepherds who will not feed His sheep.
He CASTS OUT traditions that are godless.
He CASTS OUT the wolves in sheep’s clothing.
He CASTS OUT sin, and those who would lightly regard sin.
He CASTS OUT Pharisees, whoever will not follow Him.

and CASTING OUT that which dishonors the Father our Lord Jesus sits down, opens wide His arms, and ministers to those in need.

Matthew 21:14-16 (KJV)  And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.  [15]  And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; THEY WERE SORE DISPLEASED,  [16]  And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

As the children and the multitudes cried out:

“HOSHI’A NA” – Lord, Save Us!

Jesus gives them the witness of the Scripture. Jesus Christ is the FOUNDATION of the KINGDOM OF GOD. He is the only Way to Heaven. He is the Moses to his people –
and we WILL FOLLOW HIM!

Matthew 21:42 (KJV)  Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?

This is a direct quote from Psalm 118, the same Psalm that “HOSHI’A NA” – Lord, Save Us! Is found.

Psalm 118:22-23 (KJV) The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. 23 This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

The Prophet Who rode into Jerusalem on a donkey leading a foal tells those who WILL NOT believe in Him:

Matthew 21:43-44 (KJV)  Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.  [44]  And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

The Pharisees thought they were privileged because of their birth. The Chief Priests thought they were privileged because of birth. No Beloved, the birth that matters is the New Birth.

You must be BORN AGAIN. (John 3:3, 7)
You must come to Jesus.
You must let Him conquer your sin.
You must believe on Him.
You must hear what God tells us about Him.
He alone is Lord and Savior of His people.

Oh God, Open Our Eyes So We Can See

I do not want to myself try and convince you to give yourself to Christ. The multitudes that praised Jesus on Palm Sunday would – just a few days later – be led of the Pharisees to crucify Christ. We read:

Matthew 27:20-23 (KJV) … the CHIEF PRIESTS AND ELDERS PERSUADED THE MULTITUDE that they should ask {for the release of the murderer} Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. 22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, LET HIM BE CRUCIFIED. 23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, LET HIM BE CRUCIFIED.

The “multitude” celebrated and praised Jesus on Palm Sunday.
The “multitude” cursed Him and cried out for His Crucifixion.
From Matthew 21 to Matthew 27 everything changed.
Why? Because the “multitude” was not listening to God.
But to MAN.

Who are YOU listening to? Jesus asked His disciples one day:

Matthew 16:13 … Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

After hearing several answers as to what the “multitudes” thought of Jesus, our Lord then asked:

Matthew 16:15 (KJV) … But whom say ye that I am?

Who do YOU think Jesus is? How you answer this question determines how you live your life – and where you will live in the AFTER-life.

• If you think that Jesus is just a ticket to Heaven then you will walk in the same darkness that the world walks in. There will be no difference between you and the average Joe on the street. You will live your life just like everybody else. Nothing will change.
• If you think that faith in Jesus PLUS your good works will save you then you will not walk with confidence as a Christ follower. YES we do good works because we who are saved are Christ’s Children. But NO, I did not save myself. Jesus saved me. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:5-7)
• If you think that Jesus is just a Healer then you will come to Him only when you have a need. At all other times you will live your life as if He doesn’t matter. He is your safety net. Nothing more, nothing less. He will not benefit you beyond this life. He said in John 10:10 “ I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
• If you think that Jesus is both Lord and Savior of all, the King of the Kingdom of God then you will live your life in a different way. If you see Him as God the Father and Spirit presented Him – as both Lord and Savior – then you will live so as to please Him. You will apply what He says not just while in Church, but outside of the Church. Jesus declared in John 10:27-28 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”

Here is where satisfying life is – the palm of Christ.
He is our Moses.
He rode into Jerusalem to give Himself to God for our sins.
He died on Calvary, but rose three days and three nights later.
He conquered death (Matthew 12:40).
He conquered sin.
He conquered satan.
And I for one will follow Him now, and until I get to the Promised Land!

Psalm 3:8 (KJV) Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

Psalm 62:1 (KJV) Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.

As Jesus rode into Jerusalem the people saw a prophet,
but God sent a Prophet.
The people saw a teacher, but God sent a King.
The people saw a healer, but the Father sent His Son.
The people saw a revolutionary, but the Father sent a Redeemer.
He is the Lamb of God Who saves us from sin.
He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords that triumphs over sin.

Oh that you would come to Him! “HOSHI’A NA” – Lord, Save Us!