The Gospel According to Matthew - Week 28

Awake Us Now

Matthew 20:17-34, Matthew 21:1-11, Exodus 12:3, Isaiah 62:11, Zechariah 9:9, and Psalm 118:25-26.

Jesus lets us know that He is the fulfillment of all the Hebrew Scripture had predicted and all that the Father had dictated.

Until we receive Jesus as Lord, this is only head knowledge. The disciples had heard Him speak what was coming multiple times, but they just did not grasp what Jesus was saying about Him being the long awaited Savior. They didn’t understand what was ahead for Jesus in the next weeks. Jesus shares the sacrifice He’s going to make explaining what is coming: suffering, death and rising on the 3rd day.

It’s at this point in the Matthew narrative that there is a story of Jesus’ Aunt wanting her sons to be on each side of Jesus in heaven.

But Jesus uses her request to teach us we are to be individuals that reflect the heart of our heavenly Father who reflect the life of our Lord Jesus Christ, and reflect His example and sacrifice.

We are to put aside the things that the world so greatly treasures and instead embrace the values of God and the Holy Scriptures. We are to serve not be served.

It’s important that we today grasp the truth of who Jesus is as heart knowledge, not just head knowledge.

The next vignette Matthew shares is the story of two blind men who Jesus had compassion on and he heals their sight. This story contrasts how the blind man knew Jesus was Lord and asked for his mercy as opposed to the religious people who could not see Him for who He truly is.

As we head into chapter 21 is the story of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on the 10th Day of Nissan, the exact day of that thousands of year old male lambs were being brought into the city and that will be set aside until the day of the Passover sacrifice on the 14th of Nissan.

Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey as a set apart sacrificial lamb who will die on the cross during Passover on the 14th day of Nissan….

…This is not coincidental… As thousands of lambs come into the city for preparations of Passover in rides the Lamb of God.

Jesus fulfilled what was prophesied in Isaiah and Zechariah when He rode into Jerusalem on the donkey, “See your Savior comes, lowly and riding on the foal of a donkey.” (Paraphrased)

If a king rode into a city on a donkey it was a sign He was coming peace, but if a king rose into a city on a horse he was coming for war. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. He came as the Prince of Peace, the One who will suffer for the sins of the world and lay down His life for us all. He came in peace knowing full well what was ahead of Him.

Jesus is accepted and cheered for as the Savior as He enters Jerusalem to the cheers of “Hosanna to the Son of Dave. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” But in just a few days another crowd will be cheering, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

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