Matthew 21:1-11

When most people read this section they read it like I usually do: we skim it because we've read this a million times.  Well, we have read this a million times.  We've read this and had the pastor ride in on a real or pretend donkey.  We've read this holding palm branches shouting "Hosanna!"  We've done all that so many times that we really stopped letting the Holy Spirit read with us long ago.  So, I encourage you to read this and ask the Holy Spirit to read with you like you would a passage that you feel you don't understand.

This story is the story of Palm Sunday.  Jesus tells the disciples to get a donkey for Him.  He then rides the donkey into Jerusalem while every one shouts "Hosanna to the Son of David!  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!  Hosanna in the highest!"  When this passage is read in church it sounds like a party, like a parade and it is.  It is a huge celebration and parade for Jesus.  However, the last two verses tell a surprising truth.

Verses 10 and 11- "When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, 'Who is this?'  The crowds answered, 'This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."

This is sad.  People are celebrating the arrival of Jesus but they don't know who He is, especially those that answer who He is.  They say that Jesus is a prophet and He was.  But they miss the true picture.  They should have answered, "This is the Son of God."

We do this too many times ourselves.  We allow people to celebrate Jesus for less than He is.  We allow people to celebrate Jesus the great example or Jesus the prophet or Jesus the peaceful protestor.  We let people hijack our Jesus and downgrade His job title. 

We do this for good reasons.  We don't want to offend people.  Well, they're on the right track.  Well, Jesus was good guy so let them learn some good lessons from Him.

NO!  Jesus is Lord!  Jesus is God!  Jesus is Savior!  He is nothing less than that and we Christians need to proclaim that.  Allowing people to believe in Jesus as less than Lord and Savior and God is damning to them.  We need to quit politely damning our neighbors.  We need to make sure people celebrate Jesus for who He is.  No more of this good teacher junk.  He is Lord.

So, put the name of Jesus back where it belongs.  Quit filing Jesus in the same folder as Ghandi.  Celebrate Jesus as Lord and Savior and God today.