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by Sandy Shaw
So many people do not know who Jesus is. I have heard of all kinds of versions of Jesus.
Turn to Matthew Chapter 21and verse 10 – The setting is Jesus Christ riding into Jerusalem a week or so prior to his being crucified. It is a highly emotional scene. It is a highly emotional season as the Passover approaches.
A massive and serious question arises in the minds of many – and we have it in this verse – “Who is this Jesus?” The whole city asked it then – and many people continue to wonder – “Who is Jesus?”
Who is this Jesus – and most get it so wrong! It was a highly relevant question then and in 2022it continues to remain a highly relevant and vital question.
Many have never heard clearly and specifically as to who Jesus Christ is.
The early church focussed up Jesus Christ – the apostolic preaching and teaching emphasised the centrality and importance of Jesus Christ crucified and risen.
When the risen and living Lord Jesus Christ poured out the Holy Spirit it was to give the disciples power – ‘dunamis’ – dynamite – dynamic power – and they were to be witnesses of Jesus.
One of the major purposes of the Holy Spirit is that we become witnesses of Jesus – and we are to continue this ministry – and one of the things Jesus said at that time of his Ascension was that he was coming back.
Yes – Jesus Christ is coming back – with or without ‘climate change’.
Only when Jesus Christ comes again – only when Jesus Christ returns – only then, will this world experience peace. He will bring about an end to all physical and political and spiritual fighting. No priest or pastor or preacher or president will ever be able to do this – only Jesus Christ will bring about this miracle.
So do not panic – do not worry – do not fear – do not become alarmed. Know that God is in control. Everything we are experiencing in these times is leading up to the coming again of Jesus Christ.
The coming of Jesus Christ onto the world’s stage was a watershed. So much has been leading up to this moment when our Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, faces everything that week was to throw at him – confrontation after confrontation – and yet with the opportunity to teach his disciples.
Our passage in Matthew 21 is leading us towards one crucial moment when Jesus went to the cross and shed his blood to wash away our sin – offering us forgiveness.
That forgiveness is on offer today – and means that every past sin can be forgiven by a righteous gracious merciful loving God. Know that today before we go on and look at these verses in Matthew Chapter 21 .
“Almighty God, our gracious loving heavenly Father – as we read Your Word and as we pray – please make Jesus very clear to us – to each of us – to all of us. Thank You for sending Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, into the world to be our Saviour – the one who forgives sin – the one who saves us from our sins – the one who rescues us from faults and failings and flaws – the one who heals and restores and renews. Father – thank You for Jesus. We pray and worship in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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