IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Who is This?

Date: Sep. 27, 2015

Passage

Matthew 21:1-11 

The Triumphal Entry

21:1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 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. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,

5   “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.’”

6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 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!” 10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Daily Bread

Key Verse: Matthew 21:10

And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?”

First, Jesus is the Messiah (1-9). Whereas previously Jesus had strictly warned his disciples not to reveal that he was the Messiah (16:20), now he openly reveals this truth to the entire city of Jerusalem. And the crowds respond with cries of "Hosanna!", using messianic titles. Yet some, if not many, in these same fickle crowds will be crying for Jesus' crucifixion just a few days later.

Second, "Who is this?" (10-11) Jesus' disciples, his followers and the entire nation of Israel needed to know the answer to this question. We too, need to know - all of us: God "desires all men to be saved" (1Ti 2:4). The key to salvation is to understand that Jesus is God, that he came in the flesh as a man, that he went to the cross for our sins where he died and rose again, and that he will return to judge the earth and establish his kingdom. This is what we pray for every Sunday: "Thy kingdom come and thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Like the Jews in Jerusalem, there is a day for each of us when we must hear and we must heed what God is saying to us. "Now is the day of salvation" (2Co 6:2). Hear God now when he speaks to you. "Do not refuse him" (Heb 12:25). Repent, and believe.

Prayer: Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner. I am proud and arrogant. I have failed to fulfill your calling and purpose for me. I stumble and live in darkness. I am not worthy even to eat the crumbs from your table. Spare me, oh God - make me your servant.

One Word: Spare this evil sinner.

Daily Bread

God is Our Deliverer

Psalm 78:40-72

Key Verse: 78:65

Then the Lord awoke as from sleep,
like a strong man shouting because of wine.

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