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welcome back to free grace baptist church in a fresh welcome to visitors with us this morning we welcome you to free grace baptist church and pray that will be a blessing for you to be with us this morning for worship of our great god before we begin worshiping we just have one announcement and that is it's the luncheon again today so after this morning service everyone is welcome to go up to the luncheon hall for for lunch and that is everyone so if you're a visitor here today if you didn't bring food whoever you are you're welcome to go up to the fellowship luncheon hall after the morning service it's just right at the back and upstairs and if you do that just a reminder to line up against the far wall so that we don't block the entry door there so again everyone is welcome after the service for that let's begin our worship then if you'll turn in your Bibles with me to the book of Isaiah our call to worship will be a reading of Isaiah 62 verse 10 2 verse 12 Isaiah 62 beginning in verse 10 the word of the living and true God go through go through the gates prepare the way for the people build up build up the highway take out the stones lift up a banner for the people's indeed the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the world say to the daughter of Zion surely your salvation is coming behold his reward is with him and his work before him and they shall call them the holy people the redeemed of the Lord and you shall be called sought out a city not forsaken amen well let's all stand and sing together him 89 and your larger hymnal will stand and sing hymn 89 together you please be seated a number of things that we can pray for this morning a sick that was unable to join us we can pray for our fellow brothers and sisters in Paris France and in other places in light of recent attacks and can pray for the Christians around the world who suffer persecution in the face of such terrorism as well that those who witness and see such things would turn from their waywardness and their sin unto the living and true God well let's go to our God in prayer Heavenly Father we do rejoice now again that we can come into your presence in this place we thank you that we can gather as the Saints of Christ to worship our great God we do pray that you would help us to do so rightly and biblically and in good order we did with it we would do so of course cheerfully being able to come before you the living and true God to bring to bring our worship to bring our honor and our in our praises we do pray that you would help us to have hearts well prepared to approach you except ibly and with godly fear we do pray that your name would be hallowed and honored in this place that upon the lips of your gathered assembly would be your praises we do pray that this would be the case not only here but around the world that today that your Christians would gather together in churches to give praise to their God and to rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ we thank you Lord God that you did send him in the fullness of the times to come into this world sinners to save we know that truth that all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God we know that you are holy and just to punish those who have transgressed your holy law we do thank you though that there is a Savior the Lord Jesus Christ who came to bear who came to bear the sins of his people to live in obedience to your law in the place of all those who believe who died upon Calvary's tree so as to secure the salvation of a multitude that no man can number we thank you that he rose again in power and great victory and has ascended to your right hand where he lives 22 how to intercede for his people we do pray God that you would cause us to rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ today we pray that your Saints around the world would likewise do and that God you would make knew that you would make new worshipers this day by your grace and for your glory we pray that you would come upon the wings of Amazing Grace and cause those with hearts of stone to have a new hearts given by you that they might honor and praise the living and true God we do pray that this day Lord God you would open up many hearts of many minds to receive the things of your truth that they might believe truly in our God and rejoice in our Christ we do pray God that you would be with those who are unable to join us and those who are unwell God we think of our brother Don neufeld we would ask again that you would be with him that you would comfort his heart away from us that you would strengthen him in body you would give him relief from the pains and the discomforts and all of these things associated with his disease we just pray that you would strengthen him God caused him to note even gains in strength and in health Lord but we do pray in the midst of his suffering and affliction that you would comfort him with the things of your truth we know that the judge of all the earth does right by his Saints and that you work all things for the good of those who love you and we do pray that you would just comfort his heart and in the inner man cause him to rejoice in his God and to sing the praises of his Christ we do pray Lord that you would be with our brother John Proctor and we pray that you would strengthen and heal him as well we do pray that you would restore him to comfort and strengthen body we do pray though again as well for this brother that you would strengthen him in the inner man that he would be rejoicing this day in the midst of affliction in his God and in our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ we do pray that you would bless many others struggling and afflicted with disease and in malady we think of Shirley we think of the van shakes we think of dawn and Sandra and Enoch and many others Lord God who struggle daily with with a disease with injury with affliction we do just pray that you'd bless them physically that you would strength strengthen them in body we do pray again that in things though they would in spirit rejoice in their God that they would rejoice in salvation by such a savior and that you would cause them daily to be a joyful in the things of your truth we do pray that you'd be with each and every one of us as we can undergo struggles spiritually as we can undergo various trials in our lives we do pray that you would daily gert us up by your grace and for your glory that you would strengthen us to approach each day that we might do so in a manner worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ conducting ourselves according to your will and according to your word and we do pray God that you would give us opportunities in this crooked and perverse generation to hold forth the word of truth and to point sinners to the Lord Jesus Christ we do ask God that you would be with those in Paris France we think of many that we've often pray for the churches there and those that are your people in that city we do pray that you'd strengthen them and cause them in the midst of horror and terrorism and and these attacks to nevertheless be calling out to their God of all comfort that they would find strength and you knowing that the nations of this world are the nations of our God and of his Christ we do know that you have sovereign control over all these things and we do pray that your people would commit themselves to him who judges righteously and Lord God that you would bless them with peace we do pray that in the midst of such things that those who are opposed to you those who are your enemies those who would reject the living and true God and the glory of our triune God we do pray that you would cause them by your grace and for your glory to turn from the madness of sin and idolatry unto the living and true God we do pray God that you would bring an end to these terrorists and to terrorism we know that as we've already said that the nations of this world are yours we do pray that you would cause these who would oppose you and your truth and who would mindlessly and and madly bring violence upon people we do pray that you would put them down and cause them no longer to bring violence to the earth we do pray that in all of these things you would bring a knowledge of yourself through the gospel of Jesus Christ to those in need that many sinners cry out and that many sinners would bend a knee to the king of kings and to the Lord of lords we do ask that you would be with people and many other nations God where there is such persecution and violence even unto murder against the people of Christ we do ask that you would strengthen them comfort the hearts of all of your people that they might in a sense look away from their persecutors and with great boldness and courage look with eyes of faith to the risen and exalted Savior and find strength in him we do pray God that you would be with us now as we worship we long to worship you in spirit and in truth we pray that we would be able to cast off anything that would intrude with the proper attention and with the proper a joyful focus upon the worship of our God so we would ask that you would let no thoughts intrude that would steal us away from the proper worship of our God help us to be focused help your gathered people today to be nourished and strengthened by the preached word we pray God that you would bless pastor Butler as he comes up to the pulpit to preach your word we pray that you would give him strength and give him what he needs as we know the ministers of your gospel do not rest upon the strength that is their own but they lean upon the strength that the triune God affords to his ministers and so we pray that you would grant him that that he would open his Bible and proclaim with great courage and boldness the things of your truth we pray again that your Saints gathered here would leave this place well-equipped yet again and well nourished by your truth and we would ask that you would do that mighty act of salvation in this place for any who entered in these two doors outside of Christ and damning unbelief Lord that you would bring them by your amazing and victorious race to a knowledge of the Savior that they might find in him they're all in all and it's in Christ's name that we pray amen let's stand and sing our next team is going to be if you turn to your red Trinity Salter the smaller red Salter in front of you you can turn to psalm 118 at psalm 118 and when you get there we're going to sing verses 17 229 so let's stand and sing psalm 118 verses 17 229 I you please be seated you can turn in your Bibles to Revelation chapter 9 revelation 9 that's our new testament scripture reading this morning for those visiting and a reminder each and every Lord's Day morning we do read consecutively through the New Testament moving from Matthew through to Revelation we're now at Revelation 9 here now evening services of course we read through the Old Testament a portion at a time usually a chapter this time we will we will read the entire chapter of Revelation 9 just a reminder there's much a language of symbology here John seeing these visions that pertain to divine judgment we see here a description of remember the Lord Jesus Christ promised that Jerusalem would be surrounded by armies and that its desolation would be near back in that first century and here we see a description of these armies that have surrounded to bring divine judgment upon apostate Jerusalem then the fifth angel this is revelation 9 beginning in verse 1 then the fifth angel sounded and I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth to him was given the key to the bottomless pit and he opened the bottomless pit and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace so the Sun in the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit then out of the smoke Lohse locusts came upon the earth and to them was given power as the Scorpions of the earth have power they were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth or any green thing or any tree but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads and they were not given authority to kill them but to torment them for five months their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man in those days men will seek death and will not find it they will desire to die and death will flee from them the shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle on their heads were crowns of something like gold and their faces were like the faces of men they had hair like women's hair in their teeth were like lions teeth and they had breastplates like breastplates of iron and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle they had tails like scorpions and there were strings in their tails stings in their tails excuse me their power was to hurt men five months and they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon but in Greek he has the name apollyon one was past behold still two more woes are coming after these things then the sixth angel sounded and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet released the four angels who are bound at the great river euphrates so the four angels who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind now the number of the army of the horsemen was 200 million I heard the number of them and thus i saw the horses in the vision those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red hyacinth blue and sulfur yellow and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions and out of their mouths came fire smoke and brimstone by these three plagues a third of mankind was killed by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths for their power is in their mouths and in their tails for their tails are like serpents having heads and with them they do harm but the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues did not repent of the works of their hands that they should not worship demons and idols of gold silver brass stone and wood which can neither see nor hear nor walk and they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts amen well a couple of things to observe here I think that are instructive beyond the situation in which these events originally took place and those things we find in verse 6 firstly in those days men will seek death and will not find it they will desire to die and death will flee from them see there is a clear and obvious application to those who will die in their trespasses and sins where there will be no death and in hell when those who are opposed to God are cast into the lake of fire reserved for the devil and his angels those who are disobeyed God day after day living and dwelling in their sin they will cry out for death they will seek it and will not find it they will desire to die and death will not flee from them we would pray that for all of those who are not in Christ rejoicing in his saving graces who are not safely in his fold to realize the reality of these words the horrible place to be where the where God is not necessarily absent but where a place where the absence of his goodness is clear and the torment will be such that you will cry out for death and not find it glory of the gospel comes to you and the summons comes believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved and you will have life life abundant in heaven with the Lord Jesus Christ praising God forever and ever as well there is something here that is no doubt connected you see divine judgment comes upon apostate Jerusalem remember the history of Israel we have them saved from bondage in Egypt the time of Moses they're redeemed from out of bondage in Egypt and yet they plunder themselves back into idolatry so God judges them he judges them throughout the history of Israel by various foreign foreign enemies in Canaan that they were supposed to dispossess of the land God brings eventually Assyria upon apostate and disobedient Israel his covenant people to judge them for their idolatry and for breaking his laws they return in a sense and yet again they fall into idolatry God brings Babylon upon them to judge them for their iniquities and for their transgressions and finally after falling again into apostasy and into disobedience to their God he brings the Roman armies upon them ultimately and finally bring an end to them he brings these Roman armies described here that surround the city saket and destroy it killing many and then we noticed though even in light of this verse 20 but the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues did not repent of the work of their hands what an amazing thing to see divine judgment coming upon you and yet still not repent of your misdeeds your evils and your sins this comes and it illustrates two things well it certainly illustrates one thing that is the hardness of man's heart regardless of God's revelation and creation and Providence regardless of his divine judgment visited time and again upon disobedient people's men in the hardness and the deceitfulness of their hearts still say no I will not bend a knee to this King I will not have this one to rule over me they follow after their own lusts their own idols their own murders sorceries and sexual immorality xand they do not bend a knee to the one who is absolutely holy who is most loving most kind most gracious most good the reward of those who diligently seek Him this comes to you hopefully unbeliever and we pray that God would use this to draw you to himself that you might believe the gospel of Jesus Christ and be found safely in the one who died for sinners and who rose again well let us pray Heavenly Father we thank you for your revelation we thank you for your word we rejoice in the scriptures as your revelation from on high to men disclosing the glory and the salvation of Jesus Christ our Lord we thank you for the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments we know that they are not just to haphazardly slap together the tome of dusty truth but rather the living and true Word of the living and true God and that page after page chapter after chapter they point to Christ Jesus the Lord working out the salvation of men we do pray that you would cause us to rejoice in our Christ to sing the praises of our Savior and that those again who entered in this place outside of Christ this morning in unbelief would leave singing the praises of our glorious behaviour and leave singing along with us hallelujah what a savior and it's in Christ's name that we pray amen our last him then before the preaching you can stand with me again and turn to 240 that's 240 let's stand and sing that final him together please be well please turn with me in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 21 as we continue our exposition of Matthew's Gospel Matthew 21 our text this morning is verses 1 to 11 the triumphal entry when our Lord Jesus enters into Jerusalem we will cover this under three considerations all announced after we read and we pray so beginning in Matthew chapter 21 at verse 11 I'm sorry at verse 1 here now the word of the living and true God now when they drew near Jerusalem and came 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 and a Colt with her loose them and bring them to me and if anyone says anything to you you shall say the Lord has need of them and immediately he will send them all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet saying tell the daughter of Zion behold your king is coming to you lowly and sitting on a donkey a Colt the foal of a donkey so the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them they brought the donkey and the Colt laid their clothes on them and set him on them and a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road others cut down branches from the from the trees and spread them on the road 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 and when he had come into Jerusalem all the city was moved saying who is this so the multitude said this is Jesus the Prophet from Nazareth of Galilee amen let us pray our God and our Father we thank you for this lord's day we thank you for the privilege to gather in the name of our blessed and holy God we ask that you would forgive us now for our transgressions and our sins as we as your people look to your law we see how far short we have fallen nevertheless we are so grateful and so thankful for the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ that cleanses us from all sin we pray that even now you would wash us and purify us and make us fit to stand in the presence of the the holy and righteous God and we pray that you would send forth your spirit now that he would guide us and lead us and instruct us that father you would take these words and apply them to our hearts God for any and all who have come here outside of Christ we pray they would learn from this passage that he not only came in the first but he'll come again in glory to judge the living in the dead we ask our Lord that you would give us zeal for the truth of Holy Scripture give us ears to hear and hearts to receive and help us to take every thought captive to the obedience of our Lord Jesus and it's in his name that we pray amen well this is a packed section of Holy Scripture many respects we'll just try and summarize the main teaching of this particular text but in verses 1 to 11 the section covers several themes that have previously been dealt with in Matthew's Gospel up until this point the first place the fulfillment of prophecy Jesus rides on the donkey according to verse 4 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet as well Jesus since Matthew 16 is announced that he would come to Jerusalem or go to Jerusalem that he must go to Jerusalem because it's there that he would ultimately die and give his life a ransom for many as well there are certain things highlighted here about the Lord Jesus himself that Matthew has already told us his meat pneus that's what's emphasized in the quote from Zechariah 9 behold your king is coming to you lowly and sitting on a donkey again Matthews already recorded this concerning our beloved Savior also the various titles apply to Jesus in this particular passage we see Jesus as king we see Jesus as son of David we see Jesus as the coming one as a prophet and ultimately as Lord as well this section demonstrates that what some have called the Messianic secret is over in other words there are occasions and instances in our Lord's ministry when he cautions his disciples from making known the things that he is doing again some have called that the Messianic secret Jesus keeps his mission secret until this particular time make no mistake about it what Jesus does here is enacted parable a symbolic action that what the Prophet Zechariah wrote Christ fulfills and in doing so he publishes or proclaims re demonstrates that he is the Messiah promised by God the Father to the people of Israel and not for them alone but also for Gentiles in order to save them from their sins i have read nonsense from modern-day preachers who suggest that Jesus never claimed to be the Messiah that is patently false and demonstrated through the fact that Christ rides this donkey he is publishing that he is the Messiah ordained by God to save his people from their sins also I've read or I've heard these modern preachers suggest that Jesus was a messiah only to Jews no he is Messiah to jew and to Gentile there is one Savior and his name is the Lord Jesus Christ so let's look at this passage as I sent him to three considerations in the first place the destination of the Messiah verse 1 secondly the preparation for the Messiah vs. 225 and then in the third place the reception of the Messiah in verses 6 to 11 but note first verse 1 now when they drew near Jerusalem as I've said he's already announced this beginning in Matthew 16 at verse 21 he's reiterated it in Matthew 17 verses 22 and 20 three and then again in matthew twenty is seventeen to nineteen what we find is that jesus does this or he must come to jerusalem specifically to fulfill that purpose for which he was sent the gospel record matthew specifically starts off with this announcement you shall call his name jesus why for it is he who will save his people from their sins how is he going to do that through a social media campaign how is he going to do that by having tea and and cookies with sinners he is going to do that by giving his life a ransom for many and he underscores that in matthew twenty verse 28 even as the son of man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom that means a payment price specifically the death of our Lord Jesus Christ that is the payment price in order to provide that ransom for his people so we've arrived at the destination he is drawing near to Jerusalem they come to bethpage which would be included we might call it the greater Jerusalem area bethpage is very close to where Jesus to where Jesus is going and then specifically the Mount of Olives is highlighted that's east of the valley of Kidron which overlooks the city and i underscore this to tell you that jesus has walked a long way you notice that throughout the narrative that we have studied in the past Jesus has walked a lot it's not the case that Jesus is so tired that he needs a donkey now it's not the case that he's so worried that he needs a donkey no the point is to publicly affirm and declare what Isaiah 62 11 and what Zechariah 9 proclaim that the Son of God the Lord Jesus Christ is the king of Zion coming to them via this particular donkey now I should also say before we move on that we find ourselves in what's called the passion we basically from chapters 20 21 to 28 all of these events take place within the self same week now here the triumphal entry takes place on Sunday the sunday prior to the over on friday or two good friday when the Lord Jesus Christ would die so all of the events from here on are all in this one week span now notice in the second place the preparation for the Messiah vs. 225 Jesus gives instruction to his disciples verse 2 says Jesus sent two disciples saying to them go into the village opposite you and immediately you will find a donkey tied and two Colt with her loose them and bring them to me and if anyone says anything to you you shall say the Lord has need of them and immediately he will send them now as I said what Jesus does here is a public declaration it is a public act 80s and Allison say the following instructions which reflect the Kings Authority indicate that writing the ass will be deliberate symbolic act it's similar to what the prophets in the Old Testament would do sometimes they would act out a particular message that Yahweh had given to the nation of Israel you see this in say for instance Hosea his marriage to a harlot what does that symbolize or what does that picture but God's relationship to Israel who is a harlot as well we see it in the prophet Isaiah see it in the prophet Ezekiel sometimes the prophets engaged in symbolic actions to communicate the word of the Living God and that's what's happening in this particular instance now notice specifically concerning these donkeys we have to comment on donkeys this morning so our Lord God most I saw the importance of this section the Lord God most I saw the necessity of bringing these things out we need to spend just a moment to consider first of all the number of donkeys why does Matthew tell us there are two donkeys mark and Luke tell us there is one donkey what we have seen many times that Matthew sees too often he saw two demoni acts he sees two blind men prior to this particular passage I think in many instances these highlight for us that Matthew was indeed I witness to this reality but in terms of the number of donkeys it reflects the reading of Zechariah 9 and verse 9 as well there is probably an illusion here in an illusion isn't a direct quotation so I said there's so much going on in this section I mean if we wanted to be here for hours and hours and hours and equal Chile we could well I mean I don't know if I could do that but there's certain men out there that could do that they could draw out all of the illusions that Matthew gives us in this passage so an illusion isn't a direct quotation but it is something that is spoken that is consistent with what we find in the Old Testament fact the book of Revelation for instance is one of the most Old Testament ish books in all of the New Testament and here specifically what many see is the Shiloh prophecy of Genesis 49 10 and 11 where it speaks of this coming king who has a cult that is tied to a vine so we see there are many things going on in this particular passage as well on a real practical level both mark and Luke teach us or tell us that nobody ever rode this cult now I'm not a farmer I'm not the son of a farmer I don't deal with donkeys I don't deal with cults but this much I do know that if a cult has never carried a man i can't imagine that it's an easy thing to not only carry the man but to be in the midst of throngs of people shouting again i suggest to you that a donkey would be spooked by such a thing our Blessed Lord brings the mother along with him so that this little one doesn't get spooked again on a real practical level a second thing we ought to consider is what i'll call the dignity of donkeys i'm sure you probably didn't think this morning we're going to hear a message that referred to the dignity of donkeys but we think of donkeys is just these you know terrible beasts of burden you know these ignoble creatures I think that's the proper word can't ignoble is proper these low the base things but if you look in the Old Testament Moses rode on donkeys see us Solomon rode on donkeys David rode on donkeys several of the Royal leaders are the figures in the book of Judges rode on donkeys donkeys were fit for a king but what gong keys underscore is the peaceful nature of the king in other words Jesus doesn't come on a royal scallion with guns blazing Jesus comes as one who preaches peace and this donkey represents that or this donkey indicates that and as we see in the passage this is specific that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet and then notice Jesus counters that somebody might ask why are you taking my donkeys for those of you who are concerned about what appears to be an apparent theft Jesus doesn't steal the Lord he refers to in verse 3 is himself he has absolute authority to requisition these donkeys but mark does tell us that they are returned after Jesus rides into Jerusalem but notice Jesus says in verse 3 and if anyone says anything to you you shall say the Lord has need of them and immediately he will send that so you see what Jesus says is that these are for me in this particular instance i love what Spurgeon does you've all heard the term hypostatic union if you haven't you should come to the confession study then you would learn what hypostatic union means it means that there are two natures two natures in the one person of Christ he is both human and divine yet one person and it seems to me that Spurgeon looks through the lens of that hypostatic union at this particular scene and he says beautifully he says Jesus without laying aside and sovereignty had taken a nature full of needs notice what he says in verse 3 the Lord has need of them but I thought he's the son of David I thought he is the coming one I thought he is the Lord I thought he is the God of heaven and earth and yet he says the Lord has need of them Spurgeon says without laying aside his sovereignty he I without laying aside and sovereignty had taken a nature full of needs yet being in need he was still the Lord and could command his subjects and requisition their property agustin that early father spoke concerning the Trinity with reference to our Lord he says certain things are true of our Lord according to the form of God according to the form of a servant in this passage according to the form of a servant our Blessed Lord SAT astride this particular donkey according to the form of God he was the Lord who owned them he was the Lord who used them he was the Lord who ultimately created that Davies and Allison also suggests this idea the Messianic beast belong to Jesus because he is the Lord Messiah who recovers the lordship of Adam over animals remember that jesus does that as well it's not only fulfilling what Israel failed the deal he's fulfilling what Adam failed to do and while Adam couldn't continue in this bath of exercising dominion over the beasts our Lord Jesus says bring the donkey's to me so that I can ride one into the city of Jerusalem now notice with reference to this preparation we see the reason this is done versus four and five all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets a tell the daughter of Zion behold your king is coming to you lowly and sitting on a donkey a cult the full of a donkey the fulfillment of Scripture that's what's going on here I love what Spurgeon says here Matthew is always reminding us of the Old Testament as well indeed he may for our Lord is always fulfilling it this was done that it might be fulfilled this occurs several times in Matthew's Gospel in Chapter one twice in chapter two chapter four chapter eight chapter 12 chapter 13 chapter 21 chapter 27 chapter 27 again in the TR what does Matthew want us to understand that you wretches who are in your sin you wretches who are undone because of your father Adam you wretches who drinks in like its water and that describes each and every one of us there is hope for you in God's Son there is hope for you and the one the prophets wrote off there is hope for you and who in the one of the Moses wrote over and over and over again Matthew highlights the reality that this fulfilled the scripture this is the one you're looking for when we get to the end of the reception in the city by the people we see some of them Jerusalemites more than likely ask the question who is this I don't think they're wondering what's his name I don't think they're wondering you know who are his parents I think the question is more akin to this what kind of a man is this similar to what the disciples asked back in Chapter eight when they see the Lord Jesus Christ speak to the wind and the waves and they stop blowing and swelling they are struck with the reality that they're standing before a man who has power over nature and they say what man is this or similar to Matthew chapter 9 when they lower that paralytic down through the roof and Jesus says on your sins are forgiven you and the Pharisees and the scribes are thinking to themselves who does he think he is God alone as the authority to forgive sins all this to say if you are here this morning and you've never asked that very good question who is this Jesus you've never before voiced that particular statement may I encourage you to listen because the profits because Moses because all of the Bible points us to this picture points us to this son of David this coming one this Messiah this king who saves not through military might not through revolution I mean how about disarming the Roman government again Christ doesn't come in with bandel arrows wrapped around and shot guns blazing Jesus comes on a donkey he cannot be perceived as a threat to the moral order of the Roman Empire as well consider the reality Jesus is a prophet from the north from Galilee and he's come down into Jerusalem or Judah when we get to the reception brethren when we get to the people crying Rosanna Matthew wants us to understand it isn't necessarily the Jerusalemites the judah heights that are crying Hosanna now John tells us in 1213 that some did come from the city to meet him but remember it's Passover it's Galileans that come down with Jesus they are going to the city the throngs are praising Christ and it is primarily those from the north this could be perceived to be a threat a profit from the north speaking judgment to the south this isn't good but Jesus disarms at all by riding on this lowly cult if you've not asked the question who is too who is this man I hope to answer that this morning and i hope by god's grace you believe that answer because if you do not believe you will die in your sins it's the interesting thing about Christianity Christians don't go to heaven because they're excellent people Christians go to heaven because they believe in an excellent Savior right you're not going to go to heaven because you paid your taxes you're not going to go to heaven because you've never had a godless thought you're not going to go to heaven because you're the best husband on your block you're not going to go to heaven because your children are the most behaved in whatever social context you find yourself you're not going to heaven for those reasons you're going to heaven because the son of man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many you see if your children or your conduct or your ethics that somehow a new access to heaven in Christ died in vain and the scripture won't let you go there Paul says in Galatians 2 I do not nullify I do not set aside the grace of God for if Christ or if righteousness comes through the law in Christ died in vain brethren be very careful about how you advertise your Christianity if people think you're a Christian or people think you're going to have it because of your performance you are not speaking truthfully we are going to heaven in spite of our conduct in spite of our ethics in spite of the madness that we've engaged yet because Jesus blood cleanses us from all unrighteousness now that's not to say go live like the devil and say well Jesus has cleansed me that's wickedness to you see brethren we can advertise that reality that we're going to be with God because we wear suits and ties and show up in church on Sunday if that's why we're going to heaven in the cross was in vain you need to know who this Jesus is let's look back at the text notice what Matthew does he conflates texts that means he brings two together now before you start to believe that Matthew somehow is violating our protocol in the 21st century Matthew didn't care about our protocol in the 21st century he didn't subscribe to the Chicago style of manua style manual this is a common practice in the biblical narrative it's common in the church fathers it's common reading theologians they'll bring text together that speak concerning the same thing and what Matthew does it ascribes it to the Prophet again a common occurrence is take see Isaiah 62 11 and Zechariah 99 tell the daughter of Zion behold your king is coming to you lowly and sitting on a donkey a cult the full of a donkey so it's essentially what we have is that both texts addressing Israel concerning salvation the Zechariah 9 text starts off with ree joints you see as Jesus comes into the city of Jerusalem it is to die to be sure but another overarching theme and the entirety of the section if Jesus controversy with religious leaders Jesus condemnation of the holy city so to come and say rejoice would not fit well with the message of condemnation that he's certainly going to speak at all of that when he says that the temple is going to be destroyed so he takes from the prophet Isaiah 62 11 tell the daughter of Zion and then he moves to Zechariah 99 behold your king is coming to you lowly and sitting on a donkey occult the full of a donkey now he leaves out something from the Prophet Zechariah again don't say well he can't do that I mean some of us probably chasing our children if they don't recite the memory verse just like they're supposed to write I think kids are going to be empowered today I didn't get it exactly right but neither did Matthew Matthew left out something from Zechariah Matthews a theologian and he has a reason why you not spending the time studying your memory verses that's not on the same level so children study memorized as it is written but Matthew specifically does not quote the portion he is just and having salvation no that's not because Matthew doesn't believe that the emphasis again is on the character of the Messiah as the lowly one he certainly is just and he certainly does have salvation and Matthew is going to take pains to indicate how those things are fleshed out and the life and the Ministry of our Lord but this is the particular emphasis he wants us to see the lowliness of our Lord Jesus but as we consider the tax that he quotes it doesn't hurt us to have some understand of what's going on in Zechariah the Prophet there are specifics that the Prophet says concerning Jesus in Zechariah 9 verses 9 and 10 underscores his character he is lowly they're beautiful it's not glorious isn't that what one of the reasons why sinners are just drawn to Jesus I suppose that Jesus understands this because in Matthew 11 28 he says come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest he says take my yoke upon you he says my yoke is easy my burden is light there's a meekness and a gentleness about our Lord Jesus Christ that is very attractive isn't it you as a center here the reality that you have offended a holy God but there is this lowly Savior who wrote up donkey to go about his task it's approachable isn't he again we don't want to over emphasize that to the neglect of the picture we get revelation 19 where it is on that white horse where he does I have the sword that proceeds from his mouth where he does ride prosperously because of truth humility and righteousness but we ought not to minimize the reality that God the Son took on our flesh thought the Sun came in the likeness of men not the Sun as he walked about earth did not come to be served but he came to serve to give his life a ransom for many gotta tell you if I was in my sin and I still am but it's a different sort of relationship than it used to be I'd want to know who is this that rides on a donkey instead of a warhorse that makes peace not through military might but through the blood of his cross how do we make peace today through large bomb drops I'm not here as a pacifist to say that's never necessary certainly I wouldn't say that you know me better that estimate tells us that got the Lord sanctions war in instances but our blessed Jesus comes in this lowliness what is the profit described or how does the profit describe him in Isaiah 53 he has no appearance he has no visits he has no a look to him that would draw us you know Jesus when he walked around didn't have this halo on his head didn't have this white glow about him he looked like a normal regular man that lived and worked in Galilee and yet this one gave himself for the sins of all those who by God's grace believed in him who is this Jesus he is a meek and lowly and yet a powerful and sovereign Savior we need to get that and that's what the Prophet Zechariah highlights and Matthew wants to bring out and as well it teaches us concerning his activity is just and having salvation that's what Christ is that's what Christ does he is just and having salvation does that make you long for heaven brethren just about a week in this world when you see the injustice you see the inequity you see the wickedness I mean person sitting in a cafe and they're shot to death persons at a concert well you know it was a bad group that was performed in the concert they were at a concert they're not enemy combatants they're not hard targets they're not carrying weapons and their shot dead doesn't it make you long for that place where in righteousness dwells where there will be justice and equity you know tonight we're going to look at Paul's caution to Timothy concerning perilous times and the perilous times are such not because of climate change no matter how many times they may tell us otherwise that's not our problem the perilous times are such not because of poverty you say well that's easy for you to say your middle class okay the perilous times are not do because of bad political leaders the arles times are because of men in general you see we want to locate our problems out there rather than in here but let me tell you when you locate them in here there is hope there is redemption there is blood atonement there is blessing to be had in all those or by all those who come by faith to the Lord Jesus he is just he has salvation and then it tells us concerning his Dominion or the rain that he will undertake I will cut off the chariot for me frame i'm reading zechariah at nine ten and the horse from jerusalem the battle boats shall be cut off he shall speak peace to the nation's his Dominion shall be from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth Oh certainly Matthew knew that remember that when a man quotes a particular passage of Scripture he doesn't stop at verse 9 he sanctions the entirety of the passage so Matthew is preparing us the reader in this regard that our King has come into Jerusalem that our King is going to be victorious that our King is going to exercise Universal Empire and sovereignty of Dominion all things that transpire in Matthew now it's a different way than we would have imagined we certainly wouldn't have thought it would be through execution through blood through thorns a crown of thorns plunged into his head we wouldn't have thought it would be via the cross but nevertheless the Lord Jesus accomplishes this and how does he end Matthew's Gospel he says all Authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth he has Universal Empire Universal ray and universal Authority and that's what Zechariah prophesied concerning him and again the people who saw what was going on understood this we know from the crowds reception that they knew what Jesus was doing when he wrote on that donkey they weren't scratching their heads what's going on in this particular instance they knew their profits they knew Zechariah there was a messianic expectation in the first century they were looking they were trying to find and here comes Jesus on this little donkey it's truly beautiful the lack or rather the arrival of the Messianic King in accordance with the Old Testament prophets which the people rightly interpreted now notice thirdly his reception the disciples comply with his instruction verses 6 and 7 so the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them they brought the donkey and the Colt laid their clothes on them and set him on them now some take this is almost a carnival act set him on them got two donkeys that's not what's in view they put their clothes on the doggies and set Jesus on the colt I'm serious some of the commentators suggest that he somehow managed to ride both donkeys into the city that's not what's in view no saddle they take the clothes off they land on the donkey their outer clothes they're not naked and lay it on the donkey they set Jesus on the donkey and off he goes into the city now notice verse 8 and a very great multitude again probably the bulk of which are Galileans the bulk of which are those from the north were coming down to the south to celebrate the Passover Feast in Jerusalem now when we look at the book of Revelation it tells us a third of the city of Jerusalem with 7,000 threader of the city with 7,000 so that might put the number of Jerusalem at the time around 70,000 persons now at feast time that would drastically increase you'd get double that during a feast because there were mandated feast when the Israelites were supposed to come to Jerusalem to obey to comply to celebrate and to undertake so when we see that word or that statement that it's a great multitude he ain't kidding there's a lot of people there there's hordes again primarily northerners primarily Galileans as they come you know at the same time rather they didn't come with Jesus it just so happened they they coincide at Jericho and we saw the healing of the two blind men in the previous section there's a lot of people in in this particular scene now remember most pilgrims would walk and that was required I think at least one of the person say that says that it was required that they want so the fact that Jesus is sitting on a donkey in and of itself with draw attention be like if everybody you knew was walking and miserable and you were driving down the road and you're you know Humvee or whatever you had here honking your horn looking at him like you know too bad for you so the fact that he's writing on the donkey would be something that was out of the ordinary the fact that he is the commenting one the fact that he is the Messiah the fact that he is the son of David again the fervor the furor rather of this crowd that is looking for their Messiah notice how they respond to him in this particular instance says they spread their clothes on the road others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road we might ask why would they do that well it's kinda like rolling out the red carpet isn't it we want to pave the way for the king we want to honor the path of the king we want to make sure that the King has ready access and we're going to lay down our clothes and some with branches on the road as well there's an interesting connection to King Jehu in second Kings 913 then each man hastened to take his garment and put it under him on the top of the steps and they blew trumpets saying jail is king Davies and Allison suggested clothes represent the man don't they your King you wear a king's robes if you're whatever you wear whatever so taking off those clothes oats and laying them down at the feet of another as a sign of submission isn't it that's what these people are doing that's what this crowd sees is fit and appropriate now I'm not saying every one of these are Christian I'm not saying every one of these are believers every one of these are disciples but I am suggesting this that the bulk or mass of these people at least understood this much that Zechariah 99 is taking place before our eyes and the legitimate response is to praise to adore to honor and to submit to this one who is king now note their cry verse 9 Hosanna to the son of David blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord hosanna in the highest now you know why we sang psalm 118 because this is a direct quote from psalm 118 verses 25 and 26 the word Hosanna has the meaning save we beseech you but over time went from petition save we beseech you to praise be similar to our statement god save the queen every time we say that are we actually petitioning God to save the queen or is it a description of praise is it a way to show honor is it a way to highlight this distinctiveness of that person we identify as queen god save the queen goes from petition to praise this word Hosanna does the same thing it goes from petition to praise they're praising Jesus they're praising the Zechariah 99 man that's sitting on this donkey they are praising the Zechariah 99 man that comes in lowliness they're praising this man and notice how they ascribed to him the reality VD is the son of David the son of David blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord hosanna in the highest what a son of David suggest suggest 2nd Samuel heaven when God the Lord promised that from David's lied there would be a key who had reign forever that's this one that's this Jesus the idea that he is the one who comes in the name of the Lord Jesus is called the coming on other places in Matthew as well the father sends the son to his messianic task to his mediatorial task to his role as the one who would save his people from their sins you see this crowd understood at least the application of Zechariah 99 to our beloved Lord Jesus Christ they acknowledged the kingdom the fact that he says in the quotation behold your king is coming to you mark rounds this out for us in 11 10 blessed is the kingdom of our father David that comes in the name of the Lord you see that the circumstances brethren do you see what's happening I read recently that when they installed the Prime Minister I think 2,500 people showed up for that now you may say that small you may say that's large you may say whatever you want to say but it is the case when an official takes their position persons come to celebrate it don't they that's what we have going on Jesus has entered the holy city Jesus has entered upon his task Jesus has come to his destination the cross has always been before the Son of God the cross has always been the reason why he came persons ask this today they said why did jesus god was it to start a new religion was it to be a revolutionary was it just to be a new teacher you know all those things might have their place and some explanation concerning the mission of our redeemer but there is nothing more pointed nothing clearer than what Matthew 121 tells us in Matthew 20 28 he will save his people from their sins and the way that he saves his people from their sins isn't through teaching it well it is through teaching the gospel by the power of the Holy Spirit not like just how to be a better use sort of teaching he doesn't do it by rebel being a revolutionary does it through the blood of his cross there is an excitement about this event they cried to him Hosanna to the son of David blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord they say hosanna in the highest you ever read Psalm 103 and after David rehearses the reasons why he ought to bless the Lord David creature that he is calls upon the angels to bless the Lord what is the implication David what is the implication from these Galileans Blessid a hosanna in the highest they are calling on the entire created order to praise this Christ because he is this glorious because he is the son of David because he is the coming one because he is the one who will bring to pass salvation and justice that brings us to consider finally under the reception of the Messiah the specific entry into Jerusalem and verses 10 and 11 and when he had come into Jerusalem all the city was moved and we're talking about a lot of people here this is where we get the word seismic I don't think there was an actual physical earthquake though the word will be used later in Matthew to indicate that there was an actual physical earthquake it's used previously in Matthew 3 I think the idea is it was disturbed it was stirred up they were shaken up what's happening in our city we're supposed to gather here for the feast of the Passover we certainly didn't think somebody would ride on a donkey in accordance with Zechariah 99 into our fair city and have all the multitudes cry out Hosanna to him notice when he had come into Jerusalem all the city was moved saying who is this bharti said this is enough what's his name it's a what manner of and is this what kind of a man is this we know who his parents are well the Matthew Mark and Luke only give us one journey to Jerusalem John tells us that there were more and in Matthew's Gospel it hints out or indicates that there were more visits to Jerusalem by our Lord Jesus so it wasn't the case that he was unknown look at 827 I've already referred to this I want you to see it because I hope that by God's grace you'll ask the same sort of question so the man marveled saying who can this be that even the winds and the sea obey Him who can this be I guarantee you if you walked outside right now and told that rain to stop falling it wouldn't obey you and if it did happen to stop just at that time I wouldn't believe it obeyed you that would be the textbook definition of a fluke you see what the disciples enigma is they've just seen a man speak to waves they've just seein seen a man speak to win if we saw something like that we think the man was a little out of his mind until we saw that the wind and the waves obeyed him consider as well that the Lord Jesus I mentioned the practicality of having mother donkey with the cold I'd imagine a mother donkey would get a little freaked out in that kind of a crowd as well all screaming at the top of their lungs Hosanna to the son of David and yet the one who has the power to still the waves and the one who has the power to still the wind has the power to keep these beasts of burden under perfect control while he walks into their city you've asked the question what manner of man is this what kind of a man is this who is this that does such things that's the emphasis in verse 10 the Galileans have a ready response this is the profit this is the profit you know what I think lays behind their statement is Deuteronomy 18 15 to 18 when Moses said there would be a day when God would raise up from among your brethren a prophet like unto me and yet a profit not like unto me you see all of these descriptions all of these titles all of these these things are given to Jesus for us the reader for they the hearer to understand that we're not dealing with a common man we're dealing with God's man we're dealing with the Messiah prophesied of old we're dealing with the son of David who will sit upon that throne and his rule and his reign will have no end that's the emphasis the overtones concerning the Messiahship of our Lord Jesus Christ is what Matthew wants you to get he wants you to understand that he's the Zechariah man the Isaiah man he wants you to understand that he's the Deuteronomy 18 man he wants you to understand that he's not just another teacher he's not just another rabbi he's not just another theologian but this is the son of God who came into this world sinners to save and the means by which he does this as a means that we would have never ever thought of it is through the blood of his cross that beautiful Christ will achieve peace the end of this week won't he that's not the way we would have imagined we would never imagine peace being achieved by a crowd of faurence being embedded into a man's head you don't think peace then do you you don't think peace when Roman soldiers take the hands that he made and slap him on the face you certainly don't think peace when a man takes his own spittin and flings it upon the creator of the universe you're not thinking peace in that moment you're not thinking peace when the crowd probably some of who are crying Hosanna to the son of David here who four days later will say away with him away with them but crucify him when they will ask for Barabbas and say that Jesus the Christ should be crucified you certainly don't think p do you do you ever without having known the story when he is ultimately enthroned not upon a throne but upon a cross when you seeing see him there broken bro bruised and battered and bloodied from all of the things that he went through is the message in your head at that point peace no it isn't it is for us because we know the end of the story but in this particular instance this one will usher in peace through the blood of his cross slit glorious that's why the gospel is good and who's it's good news for sinners good news for those of us who have violated the law of God it's good news for us who have transgressed the law of God those of us who have made a mess of everything it's good news because Jesus came and lived a life of obedience to the Father and died as a sacrifice of a substitute on Calvary and he rose again in glory on the third day brethren Jesus has come to town well in conclusion we learn something concerning the fulfillment of scripture concerning the Messiah Jesus sets forth excuse me his Messiahship in unmistakable terms you ever hear anyone say jesus never claimed to be the Messiah take him to the donkey take him to the donkey this is as loud and ascription of his Messiahship as if he would have stood in their midst and said hey guess what I'm the Messiah these were people that knew Zechariah these were people that knew the Old Testament when they saw him on the donkey they knew what he was claiming the second place we ought not to leave without concerning the various descriptors concerning this Messiah his titles we've seen that the game the son of David the coming one the Lord this one is indeed the Messiah sent by God to save his people from their sins his character he is lowly he rides on a donkey doesn't calm on a Humvee in a Humvee doesn't come with guns blazing as well his activity he executes justice and he executed salvation their salvation nowhere else to be had this is the grieving thing about living in the 21st century people look for salvation in all the wrong places they look for salvation by a drug or alcohol and they look through it look forward via Sachs or they look through look for it through some experience they look for it with cult leaders they look for it with false religion they look for with a whole host of things that will never satisfy there is one in the history of the world that that has salvation and his name is the Lord Jesus Christ Peter tells us there is no other name given under heaven among which by which we must be saved it's Christ alone jesus said in John 4 of 14 6 I am the way and the truth and the life no one comes to the Father but through me I submit that's one of the most frightening things about Christianity to everybody who's not a Christian they probably don't mind that we sit here on a Sunday and sing some songs I don't think that's offensive to really anybody if it is they got bigger problems than I ever imagined it's probably not the reality that you know we worship this one called God and we come through the Lord Jesus it is the exclusivity of it it is the particularities out it it is the fact that we claim that every other way ends in hell there is one way to heaven do you realize that Christians in the early part of the Roman Empire were the atheists Christians were called atheists in the first century why because they didn't subscribe to the pantheon they didn't subscribe to all these other gods so they were a theory the fact that they worship Jesus isn't this what wild everybody up in thessalonica isn't this what the problem was when when the Apostles went there they said we have another k Jesus that was the threat of the Roman Empire that was the threat to the unbelieving Jews was this devotion and devotion alone to the Lord Jesus he's the only one that had salvation remember I mentioned that in the Prophet Zechariah indicates something of his Universal Empire and universal dominion and universal sovereignty turned to john's gospel in chapter 12 to see John pick up on this theme from Zechariah in a uniquely johanan way what does jon jon and his gospel want us to know several places in several times that Christ loves our that Christ came to save the world john three sixteen god so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life no one we asked the question what does John mean by the world he doesn't mean every single human being because that would be universalism and the Bible patently declares that that is false John what for John the word world oftentimes connotes Jew and Gentile he's not just a Jewish Messiah is not just to the tribes of Jacob that he comes that will give you a light as a light unto the Gentiles the prophet Isaiah 49 notice how Jon brings this out in his parallel account to the triumphal entry verse 17 of John 12 therefore the people who are with him when he called Lazarus out of his tube and raised him from the dead bore witness for this reason the people also met him because they heard that he had done this sign the Pharisees therefore said among themselves you see that you are accomplishing nothing look the wall has gone after him is that something of Zechariah's universalism isn't that something of Zechariah's Jew and Gentile Dominion is under the reign of this beloved Savior now don't stop reading verse 20 now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast then they came to Philip who was from sada of Galilee and asked him saying sir we wish to see Jesus you see both Jew and Gentile under the universal sway of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ he has comprehensive dominion power and authority given to him and he sits enthroned at the right hand of god most high as we see there in john's gospel and as we see as we move on in Matthew's Gospel and as Mark and Luke indicate as well not everybody received him this way not everybody cried Hosanna not everybody ascribed to him the title son of David but there were Pharisees and scribes and those under their sway that would oppose him that would reject him they would ultimately deliver him up to be crucified before we leave you need to ask yourself who is this and am I rightly related to him because you see there are those who receive him and cry Hosanna there are those who reject him and despise him you want to leave us with this I think powerful observation would like to say you know I came up with it on my own or just trafficking in the commentaries there's a lot of prophecy in the Old Testament isn't there not all prophecy but a lot of prophecy such as echo Ryan I'd such as Micah 52 such as Isaiah 96 there's a lot of prophecy concerning the first coming of our Lord Jesus now as I call your attention to this lowly one riding on a donkey into Jerusalem you need to understand the reality that by doing this Christ fulfilled what was written previously and I want to leave you with this thought that there is prophecy in the New Testament as well and it tells us that he will come again in glory to judge the living in debt and the self same price to fulfilled prophecy concerning his first Advent will be the same Christ who fulfills prophecy in his second Advent so the donkey track into Jerusalem meets and you can take this home and think through it it means that one day you will stand before this Christ you will see him as he is you will give an account of deeds done in the body whether good or ill this ought to terrify you it ought to cause you to flee to Christ he fulfilled the prophecies concerning the first he will fulfill the prophecies concerning the second I can't just wish this away I just can't pretend it doesn't exist I can't just hope it will go away we're sharing with a brother recently I used to work with this particular fellow and we would talk about religion a lot we would talk about the gospel we would talk about Christianity and he was a man that pretty consistently rejected the things of God remember this one particular night he asked me this question he says Jim what if tomorrow or what if you die tonight and then you wake up and you see that everything you have believed wasn't true it seemed pretty obvious to me I said well in the first place if everything I believe isn't true i'll have no consciousness whatsoever I won't wake up and be able to contemplate that things I thought were true weren't true so it's really a moot point but I said to him what will you do when you die and you realize that everything I have said to you is true what will become of you on that day you see the point brethren isn't that I was able to respond to a question from an employer what are you going to do when Jesus comes again in glory to judge the living and the dead what are you going to do in light of the reality that the one who fulfilled the prophecies concerning the first is the one will fulfill the prophecies concerning the second that he is coming again that he is going to judge you that he is going to hold you accountable that he doesn't just look away when you said when you violate the law when you transgress when you take your body and do things with it that God says not to do when you don't do the good things that God the Lord says you know that the Lord just doesn't say well you know I just never saw that I don't notice that I never realized that he is coming again in glory the only hope the only safety the only refuge is Christ is to believe the gospel it is to come to him it is to lay hold by God's grace of the one alone who is able to save you meet him as Savior now so that when he does come you will be safe you will be in a position of safety it will be a blessing it will be a privilege it will be a joy it will be a delight rather than the shame it's going to be for those who hear the person words depart from me for I never knew let us pray our Father we ask that you would help us to understand these things and help us God to get our minds wrapped around the reality of who this Jesus is he is a great and glorious King the son of David the one who has come to save his people from their sins our hearts desire God is that people would hear the gospel the good news and that they would believe the gospel and be saved we ask that you would go with us now we pray that should help us to think through these things so often we hear sermons and then we just go about everything else and forget all about what we've heard may that not be the case Lord may these things come to us and our thoughts and our minds and our hearts may we consider the reality that we will stand before this Jesus one day and we ought to be clothed in his righteousness in his blood and I pray that you would do this for your glory and for your honor and we ask through Christ our Lord amen we'll close with the brief time of meditation that I'll come back up and give thanks for the food and then we can go eat