Jesus...Who We NEED Him to BE...

Matthew 21:6-11 New International Version (NIV)

6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna[a] to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[b]

“Hosanna[c] in the highest heaven!”

10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” Tue. August 25 - Matthew 21:6-11 As I write this the Democratic National Convention has just wrapped up and as you read this the Republican National Convention will be in full swing. While these conventions are quite different than most years, they are still filled with celebration, excitement and celebration. “Look! Here comes our hero!” I highlight our current political situation not to take sides, but to illustrate the mood in the city of Jerusalem when Jesus rode in on “Palm Sunday.” “Who is this?” say the crowds. “The prophet, Jesus!” Our hero! He has arrived. “Haven’t you heard the amazing things he has done? Or the way he teaches with far greater power and authority than any of our other religious leaders?” (See Matt. 7:29). But we know that Jesus did not live up to the hype. Later in the week this same crowd turned on him and cried out for his crucifixion. Jesus is not who we want him to be. He is who we need him to be. He is our Lord who dies for us, forgives us, and gives us a new life.