Wrong Perspectives On A Familiar Story
What if I told you that some of the familiar stories of the Bible might be misunderstood? I hope you would look at me with one eyebrow cocked and say, “Prove it!” Like the Bereans, we ought to go back to the Bible to evaluate any new claim about Jesus, God, the Bible, or the gospel. This last Sunday, many churches preached about, sang about, and possibly even acted out the story known as the Triumphal Entry. The account we used in our church this week was from Matthew 21:1-11:
“When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me. “If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “SAY TO THE DAUGHTER OF ZION, ‘BEHOLD YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU, GENTLE, AND MOUNTED ON A DONKEY, EVEN ON A COLT, THE FOAL OF A BEAST OF BURDEN.’ ” The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their coats on them; and He sat on the coats. Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road. The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!” When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.”” (Matthew 21:1–11, NASB95)
I want to suggest that there are three wrong perspectives in this story. While many of us use this passage as the people finally understanding who Jesus is and even a model for how Jesus will return and be worshipped in the future, there are some problems.
First, the people thought Jesus was a great representative FOR God. “Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord.” (Matthew 21:9, NASB95) We cannot forget that Jesus did not come as a representative FOR God. He came as God in the flesh. John said, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1, NASB95) “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14, NASB95). Jesus is God’s Son, but He is also God, the Son.
The second wrong perspective is that Jesus is someone special, but not really sure who or what. “When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, ‘Who is this?’” (Matthew 21:10, NASB95) Many people think Jesus is someone special and worth some attention, but they are not willing to confess Him as Lord and live it out. How do I know? Because the cries of, “Hosanna!” on Sunday became, “Crucify Him!” on Friday. Jesus has to be more than someone special or habits will only change for a while, but no real-life change will happen.
Another wrong perspective is seeing Jesus just a great teacher or prophet. “And the crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.’” Many people have Jesus t-shirts, coffee mugs, and bumper stickers, but don’t actually submit to His leadership over their lives. They may even go to church each week, but they leave the experience at the church house and will not think about, read about, pray to, worship, or talk about Jesus until the next Sunday. They would say He is an important religious figure, but not someone worthy of putting their full weight on.
So, what is the right perspective? “Behold, your King is coming to you…” (Matthew 21:5a, NASB95) The only right perspective on Jesus is to recognize Him as God the Son and to accept the righteousness He lived for you and the death He died for you so that you could become part of God’s family. Do you know Him that way?