Palm Sunday: Do You Know About Jesus or do You Know Jesus?

Do you know about Jesus? Just knowing about Jesus is not enough

 

(ICB)  It’s Palm Sunday, five days before Jesus was crucified and then rose from the dead, which we celebrate the week following Palm Sunday, Easter, or a better term – Resurrection Day.

 

The Triumphal Entry

 

And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, and brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. Matthew 21:6-9

In these verses we see that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, this may seem to be no big deal, but it truly is.  In the Old Testament, kings rode on donkeys as a symbol of the fact that they were royalty.  When King David had his son Solomon declared king, the first thing he did was to have Solomon ride on his donkey in a procession before the people (1 Kings 1:33).  Riding a donkey also meant Jesus came in peace.

The people threw down palm branches before Jesus, and even their own cloaks.  The people welcomed and treated Jesus as royalty.

 

The Son of David – the King of Israel

 

Using the name Son of David meant that the people thought; and rightly so, that Jesus was the Messiah. 2 Samuel 7:12–16

From Got Questions:

Primarily, the title “Son of David” is more than a statement of physical genealogy. It is a Messianic title. When people referred to Jesus as the Son of David, they meant that He was the long-awaited Deliverer, the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies.

12 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. 14 And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, 15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt. John 12:12-15

In the above verses we see Jesus referred to as the “King of Israel” instead of the Son of David.  Both titles were no doubt used in reference to Jesus on that day.  Jesus as King of Israel is very significant.

Going back to the title of this article – do you know about Jesus, or do you know Jesus?  There is a very significant difference here.

If you merely know about Jesus, well basically – so what?  Of what use to you is knowing about Jesus?  Does knowing about Jesus save you?  No, it does not.  The demons all knew about Jesus, and obviously they are not saved.

23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24 saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. Mark 1:23-24

The people who cried out (some of them) “Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel…” were the very same people who mere days later cried out to Pilate, “crucify him.”  Why?

These people, in my opinion were disappointed, very disappointed.  They were disappointed and even angry – because Jesus did not perform to their expectations.  Jesus did not become the literal king, He was expected to become their king, and thereby save them from Roman oppression.  That of course did not happen.

These people knew about Jesus, they in no way knew Jesus.

From Enduring Word:

“Palm branches were a symbol of Jewish nationalism since the time of the Maccabees. The crowd looked to Jesus as a political and national savior, but not so much as a spiritual savior.

The King of Israel: This shows that the crowd, in shouting ‘save now!’ had in mind political salvation from the oppression of the Romans.”

 

Expectations unfulfilled

 

Other people on that day referred to Christ as the Son of David, meaning they thought He was the Messiah.  Some of these may have thought that the role of Messiah was to be “performed” that day or shortly thereafter.  These would have been severely disappointed as well, not understanding that the return of Messiah as King was a far off event.  They may have been among those who called for Jesus crucifixion in their disappointment and anger.

18 Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. 19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. Matthew 21:18-19

The fig tree represents Israel (actually all people), the leaves being a representation of the empty outward show of devotion, a devotion without meaning, sincerity and truth.  The barrenness of the fig tree represents the lack of spiritual fruit.  It was therefore no surprise that many who had praised Jesus one day, giving Him a king’s welcome – screamed for His blood a few days later.

Unfortunately, this very same thing continues today.  So many, even many in the Church, do not know Jesus, they merely think that they do (The Goats).  I am not trying to ruffle anyone’s feathers, but I will speak the truth.

Those pastors who teach “name it and claim it,” or the prosperity gospel, or teach that parts of the Bible are not true, or even those who refuse to teach parts of the Bible for fear of offending someone, and therefore losing donations and/or tithes – these do not truly know the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

What does Jesus say about the Word?

 

What did Jesus tell us to do?

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Matthew 28:19

The text does not command us to teach some of His Word, nor does it say to pick and choose what we think is true or not.  What we think is irrelevant.

 

What does the Bible say about His Word?


All scripture is given by inspiration of God
… 2 Timothy 3:16

This one ought to scare many of today’s pastors half to death:

My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. James 3:1

This text does not say some of God’s Word:

 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colossians 3:16

Not some of the Word, ALL of it:

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:17

Jesus speaking – EVERY Word, not some of it:

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Matthew 24:35

1Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Spiritual Warfare

This is war, so many in the Church today cannot see this, they are blinded by their own lack of knowledge. Hosea 4:1, Hosea 4:6

Churchgoers, those who simply believe, Church leaders, pastors, elders – cannot see the extreme spiritual warfare going on.  There is a battle being waged for the very heart of the Church, and most are on the losing side of the battle, many have no clue the battle is even raging, more simply don’t believe it even if they are told and shown this to be true.

If you doubt my words, just look at the state of this nation, and the world.  Why are things the way that they are?  Because the Church has backed down, the Church has largely forgotten how to fight – how to stand up for what’s right.

The Church is satisfied with their weekly meeting which includes the needed prerequisites: coffee, donuts, mindless talk, and a lackluster meaningless message.  Then it’s back to life as usual having done their duty by God.

How many have you seen or heard of renouncing their faith in God?  How many churches are ok with pastors, elders, deacons, and other leadership positions being filled by those who are of the LGBTQ?  How many influential people teach untruths about the Bible?  How many people are running around with a bunch of nonsense instilled in them by pastors and others who are clueless?

ALL of this happens because – people do NOT know God, they know OF Him.

So the question remains, do you know about Jesus, or do you know Jesus?

1This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 2 Timothy 3:1-5



Categories: BIBLE STUDY, EVANGELISM, FAITH FOR TODAY, FALSE DOCTRINE, THE WORD OF GOD FOR TODAY

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Luke 21:36 "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."

Discover more from Inspirational Christian Blogs

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

360 views 0 Shares
Share via
Copy link