Sunday, March 25, 2018

What More Should He Have Done?

What More Should He Have Done?


The end was near. Knowing His humiliating death by crucifixion was coming on Friday, Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem on Sunday.

On Palm Sunday, with their very words echoing the Messianic prophecy of Psalm 118 (vs 25-26), the multitudes lined the road to Jerusalem. They laid down palm branches and their coats on the road before Him as they cried out, begging Him to save them.
  • Matthew 21:9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:

“Hosanna to the Son of David!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
Hosanna in the highest!”


Then, on Good Friday, as pawns to the corrupt religious leaders, and as slaves to a distorted version of the Law given by Moses, the very same multitudes who acknowledged Jesus as Messiah just five days before, now chose to have a murderer released instead of Him. Now the cry was for Him to be nailed to a Roman cross.
  • Matthew 27:22 Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him,

“Let Him be crucified!”


But why the drastic change? Why would the cheering crowd turn into an angry mob so quickly?

The fact of the matter is, Jesus came to die. His death was, and is, the payment for the sins of the world. And that payment is made in full for any person who surrenders all that they are to Jesus and trust Him as Lord and Savior. And just as with so many other aspects of His life, the truth about Him was plainly declared for those who were (and are) listening.


Jesus’ Birth Declared by Angels
The time for Emmanuel (‘God with us’) had finally come. The long-awaited prophecy of the Hebrew Savior King was being fulfilled. Father God sent heavenly messengers to proclaim Jesus’ birth.
  • Luke 1:31 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.
  • Luke 2:10-11 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Jesus’ Father Declared His Pleasure in Him
The voice of God thundered His approval of Jesus’ humility and obedience. The perfect plan for the redemption of man was now unfolding.
  • Matthew 3:16-17 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
  • Matthew 17:4-5 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”

Jesus’ Identity Declared by His Words
Far from being illusive or vague, Jesus plainly stated who He was and why He had come. Using language every Jew would recognize, Jesus stated that He existed before Abraham and even called Himself Jehovah (‘I AM’, the most sacred name of the Sovereign LORD).
  • John 4:25-26 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”
  • John 8:57-58 Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

Jesus’ Deity Declared by His Miracles
Jesus’ genuine miracles drew gigantic crowds – many needed healing and many wanted to see the miracles. In private and in public He performed countless miracles. He did this out of love. He performed miracles to help the hurting and to openly profess who He was (the very human incarnation of the One and only eternal God).
  • Luke 6:17-19 And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases, 18 as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed. 19 And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.
  • John 20:30-31 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

Jesus’s Death Declared to His Disciples
Three times Jesus plainly told His disciples that He would be killed and then rise from the dead. His death was part of the plan – God’s plan from eternity past to make a way for sinful man to reconciled to Him. The very sins that led to Him being killed on a cross were among the countless sins of humanity that He gave His life for.
  • Matthew 16:21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.
  • Matthew 17:22-23 Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful.
  • Matthew 20:17-19 Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, 18 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, 19 and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.”

Jesus’ Humility and Love Declared by His Crucifixion
Jesus willingly went to the cross for you and for me.
  • Philippians 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
  • Hebrews 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

What more should He have done? Nothing. Jesus gave it all! And He gave it all to pay for our sins.


Palm Sunday – Triumphal Entry 

Good Friday – Redeeming Death 

Silent Saturday – Desperate Disciples


But hold on, Easter Sunday is coming. And He did do more!! Much more!!


Prayer

Father God, thank You for Jesus. Thank You for loving us all so much that You sent Your Son to die for our sins. I pray that Your love and truth will change hearts and save souls. I pray this in Christ’s holy name. Amen.