HAVE YOU BEEN DISAPPOINTED BY THE SAVIOR’S VIEW OF SIN?
© 2021 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)
When Jesus entered Jerusalem early in the week of His crucifixion, the people welcomed Him with wild enthusiasm.
“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 21:8-9)
However, a few days later this enthusiasm was replaced by a sharply contrasting hatred. Hoping for their Messiah to victoriously deliver them from Roman occupation, they watched Him become a victim, rather than a victor. He was arrested and subjected to a mock trial. Jesus had clearly foretold this to his disciples.
“From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.” (Matthew 16:21)
When he heard this, Jesus’ disciple, Peter, expressed vehement rejection of Jesus’ words.
“Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.” (Matthew 16:22)
Jesus, undeterred from His sacrificial mission of redemption, rebuked Peter sharply.
The people, who, days earlier, had enthusiastically welcomed Jesus as a political deliverer, now called for His crucifixion. Ironically, Pilate, representing the Roman system from which they desired deliverance, wanted to release Jesus.
“Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.” (Luke 23:20-23)
Jesus was led away to His foreordained crucifixion!
Today, many embrace Jesus for the secular benefits He can provide here and now. We want Him to straighten out our nation, making it a more pleasant place to live. This is not necessarily bad, but it is not His primary purpose for coming. He came, as the sacrificial Lamb of God, to “save His people from their sins”! (Matthew 1:21)
Unless you desire to be saved from your sinfulness, you will remain lost. Jesus said:
“I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32)
Has He convinced you that only His sacrificial payment of sin’s penalty can save you? Have you obeyed his command to repent and trust Him? (Acts 17:30)
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