I want to draw your attention
this morning to Matthew's Gospel, chapter 21, and the question
which you will read in verse 10. Matthew's Gospel, chapter
21, verse 10, following Christ's entry into Jerusalem, riding
upon an ass, when the multitudes received him and took down branches
from the trees and waved them, put them on the ground in the
way, and cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed
is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Then in verse 10 we read, And
when he was coming to Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying,
Who is this? Who is this? And when he was
coming to Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is
this? That's the question I put before
you this morning. Who is this? Who is this? Well, the multitude's had their
answer. Their answer was, this is Jesus, the prophet of Nazareth
of Galilee. Jesus, the prophet of Nazareth
of Galilee, yes. But who is this Jesus of Galilee? He was a man. People saw him,
he lived amongst them. They knew that he was the carpenter's
son from Nazareth. A man, a son of man. Indeed,
he was the son of man. Ezekiel, in his prophecy, spake
of the son of man. He was referred, Ezekiel is referred
to constantly by the Lord as son of man, given this title
the son of man. And he stands as it were as a
figure of him who would come, the Lord Jesus. A man, a son
of man, the son of man. In Ezekiel in chapter 2 we read
that the Lord said unto him, son of man, I send thee to the
children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that have rebelled against
me. They and their fathers have transgressed
against me, even unto this very day, for they are impudent children
and stiff-hearted. I do send thee unto them, and
thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God. And they,
whether they will hear, or wherever they will forbear, for they are
a rebellious house, yet shall they know that there have been
a prophet among them. And the people knew when Ezekiel
came unto Israel that there had been a prophet among them. For
indeed, the people knew when Christ, when the Lord Jesus came
unto the house of Israel, they knew there had been a prophet
among them. Some asked, who is this? Who is this man? Who is
this that comes unto us with his teaching and his wonders
and his healings? Some would call him a prophet,
a great teacher. Some likened him unto this prophet
or that prophet. They saw what he did, they heard
what he said. They knew he was a man different
from other men. They could see he was a real
man like unto themselves, but there was something different
about this man. Something which made his entry
into Jerusalem on this day an event. The crowds were stirred
up to recognize him as somebody different. They cried out, Hosanna
to the son of David. Blessed is he that cometh in
the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. There
was a great stir created, such that others cried out and said,
well, who is this? Who is this who's causing this
stir? Who is this that makes such a
great entry? Well, have you not heard? He's
Jesus, the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. A man, a son of man,
a great man, a prophet. Ezekiel was a figure of him.
In Matthew's gospel, Mark's gospel and Luke's gospel often Christ
refers to himself as the son of man. He takes this title which
was given to Ezekiel and he takes it to himself for it is he of
whom Ezekiel spake and he of whom Ezekiel was but a figure.
Christ often refers to himself as the son of man for instance
Matthew 8 verse 20 the son of man have nowhere to lay his head
well consider this man the son of man consider his birth this
was a man whose birth whose entry into this world was unlike any
others he was born in Bethlehem the city of David his birth was
prophesied of before he ever came He was spoken of by the
prophets thousands and hundreds of years before his birth. They
said that in the city of David would be born a child, born of
a virgin. And when he came into this world,
the Lord sent and spake to his mother and his father, to Mary,
to Joseph. And they said that Mary should
bring forth a son and thou shalt call his name Jesus. For he shall
save his people from their sins. And all this was done that it
might be fulfilled, which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet,
saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring
forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel. For it's been
interpreted it's God with us. And Mary brought forth this child
as promised. Mary, a virgin, This man was
born of a virgin unlike any other man, as promised. And he was born of royal descent. Born in the city of David, the
son of David. Jesus Christ, the son of David,
the son of Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac, Isaac begat
Jacob, Jacob begat Judas and his brethren. and so on and so
forth, down to Jacob begat Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom
was born Jesus, who is called Christ. For there were generations
from Abraham to David, 14 generations, and from David until the carrying
away into Babylon, another 14 generations, and from the carrying
away into Babylon and to Christ, another 14 generations. Yes, a unique birth of royal
descent, a king, a king. For today in the city of David
is born unto you a king. And when he rode into Jerusalem
in Matthew 21, as we've read, it is said, behold, thy king
cometh unto thee, meek and sitting upon an ass. an occult, the foal
of an ass. As it was written by the prophet,
as it was written in Zechariah 9 and verse 9, in fulfillment
of the prophecy of him, he came as promised, riding upon an ass,
a king, but not any ordinary king. A king entering his city
upon an ass. What sort of king is this? What
sort of lowly entrance is this, sat upon a foal of an ass? and
yet a king. Consider his childhood, a childhood
unlike any other childhood. At the age of 12, he entered
into the temple. He entered into the temple and
sat with the scribes and the Pharisees and the teachers of
the law. And he asked them questions and he answered their questions.
And they were amazed and astounded by his answers. At age 12, His
understanding and knowledge of the Scriptures astonished them. Consider his manhood. A manhood
unlike any other man. A real man, and yet a unique
man. Just like all men, he lived,
he breathed, he had a body, he hungered, he thirsted, he grew
tired like all men. He was tempted like all men,
tempted like us, in all points like unto us, yet without sin. He's a real man. Consider the power of this man. This was a man who went about
healing the sick, making the blind to see and the deaf to
hear, making the dumb to speak and the lame to walk. He went
unto others who were sick and who were infirm and with the
mere touch of his hand or the words of his lips he made them
whole. This was a man who could work
miracles and the people saw his miracles and they knew that he
worked miracles. We in the scriptures have the
report of these things and man today scoffs at them and says,
ah, they're but a myth. but there were the testimony
of hundreds and thousands who lived in his day and who saw
this man and who knew that he was a real man and who saw his
power and saw the many whom he healed and they knew that he
did these things and their testimony is what is left unto us in the
scriptures and preserved for us and passed down as a true
and a faithful testimony for these things were true, and he
did heal the sick, and he did heal the lame, and he did make
the blind to see. Oh, what power is this that lets
a man do such things? When he was in the storms, on
the sea in the storms with the disciples, with a mere wave of
his hands and utterance of his words, he calmed the storms,
and he made the sea calm, and the disciples astonished said,
What manner of man is this that even the winds and the sea obey
him? What manner of man just speaks
and the storm is calmed? Yes, the Son of Man but speaks
and the sick are healed and the elements of this world are calmed
and the storms are brought to calm. And He can but speak and
bring the calm into a storm. And He can but speak and bring
storms upon you this day should He will it. And He can but speak
and bring poverty upon you. And He can but speak and bring
you into trials and into temptations. And He can but speak and open
your blind eyes and heal your sicknesses and cause you to see
Him for whom He is. He spake and he forgave sins. What power does this man have,
does the son of man have to speak and to do such things? What sort
of power does he have to speak and to forgive sins? Consider
his wisdom, his preaching, his teaching. He went about preaching
the gospel of the kingdom of God. He went about teaching the
things of heaven and the things of God. In Matthew 7, on the
sermon given upon the mount, in Matthew 12, in Matthew 22,
he taught the people. And we read in Matthew 22 and
verse 23, that these people were astonished at his doctrine. His teaching was like none other. Should you ask the man in the
street today what they know of Jesus Christ, they might tell
you that, well, he was a man, he was reported to be a great
teacher. And they'd be right, but they
have no idea of the wisdom of his teaching. Should you read
the scriptures, should you read what he said? This is teaching
unlike any other. Men may dismiss the words of
scriptures as those writings and collections of writings of
men but if you read them honestly with an open heart and read them
they're unlike the writings of men unlike the writings that
men would put together read the words of Christ in the scriptures
read his answers to the questions read what he said with respect
to all sorts of matters and they are not the words of an ordinary
man They are not the wisdom of man. They are not the answers
which men give. They are unique. They are of
a different order. And when the people heard these
things for the first time, they were astonished. And should God
open your ears when you hear these things, or open your eyes
when you read them to see them for what they are, and to give
you understanding, You too would be astonished, for here is a
man whose wisdom is unlike any other man. Consider his authority. Here is a man with authority.
The centurion came unto him and recognized his authority. He
recognized him as being a lord, as being the lord. As being one
in authority, he said, I'm a centurion, I speak, I have authority. When
I command my soldiers, it is done. I don't say something and
hope that my men will obey me. The centurion knew what authority
was. When the centurion spake, it
was done. His soldiers under him did as
he said. They didn't answer back. They
didn't rebel. They didn't question. They didn't
question his wisdom in doing what He commanded them, they
did as they were told. And this man had authority and
he recognized the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. He recognized
his authority. For when Christ speaks, it is
done. When Christ spoke to the wind
and the storm and the sea, the wind was calmed and the sea was
calmed. When he speaks, it is done. When
Christ commands his people, it is done. When Christ commands
dead sinners to arise, it is done. When Christ said unto Lazarus,
dead in the grave, Lazarus, come forth, that dead man that laid
in the grave for days, who you would consider would be stinking
and rotting as a corpse, came forth. Here is a man whose speech
is unlike any other. who's featured with authority.
He speaks and it is done. Consider his perception. Christ
not only spake, he not only observed what others did, but he could
perceive what they thought in their hearts. He could perceive
what was in their inner man. Matthew 9 and verse 4 we read,
Jesus knowing their thoughts said, wherefore think ye evil
in your hearts? Chapter 12 and verse 25 we read,
and Jesus knew their thoughts and said unto them, every kingdom
divided against itself is brought to desolation. Christ knew the
thoughts of those with whom he had to do. He perceived, he knows
man's thoughts. Today he knows your thoughts,
he knows your heart, he knows what you think as you sit and
you hear his gospel, he knows what you think when you go about
your daily walk, he knows your motives, you can present your
motive before man and say and justify yourself and say I did
this because of this and I did this because of that and try
to put a good spin on things, but you're laid bare before the
Lord God of heaven on earth. and you were laid bare before
this man, the son of man. When he came unto a people, he
knew their thoughts, he perceived. Consider his humility. This man
born of royal descent, this man who was in the line of royalty,
who was a king by birth, this man of such a child and such
a birth, such manhood, such power, such wisdom, of such authority,
this man who can read the thoughts of others, nevertheless, was
a man of great humility, of great humility. This was not a proud
man. This was not a man of such power
and such wisdom who ruled it over others, who strutted about
but he was meek, like Moses was meek. He was humble. He came unto sinners. He came
unto the weak and the poor and the wretched. He came and he
mixed with the lepers whom everyone else would avoid. He ate and
he drank with sinners. We read in Matthew's Gospel,
chapter 9, he ate with sinners. He was humble. He didn't stand
afar off. He wasn't like that Pharisee
that stood afar off and said, come not unto me, for I'm holier
than thou. No, he condescended. His coming,
His birth, His coming amongst men, His going unto the house
of Israel was an act of humility. Consider His devotion. He showed
love and compassion to those to whom He came. He served others. As it says in Matthew 20 and
verse 28, the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but
to minister and to give his life a ransom for many. Consider his fame. This was a
man whose fame went abroad. Could a man come and teach such
things and speak such things? Could a man come and heal and
calm the storms and do such wonders and not be known about and not
be spoken about? The people heard and the people
saw him, the people spake of him. And they, when they departed,
spread abroad his fame in all that country. They spake of him. What manner of man is this that
comes amongst us and does such things? What manner of man? His
fame went abroad. Consider this man. Consider his
faith. This was a man of faith. A man
who walked before God. a man who walked as one who worshipped,
a man whose devotion was to his Lord and God. This was a man
of faith, a man who considered the things of God, who spake
the things of God, who lived before God, who walked in communion
with God, who every day spake of the things of God and was
wrapped up in the things of God. It was a man of faith. A man of faith. When he died,
when he was crucified, when they nailed him to a tree, did he
doubt? Did he doubt that God was still
God? Did he turn from his Lord? Oh no. As he faced that death in the
garden of Gethsemane, as he knew what would come upon him, and
as he prayed, he prayed unto his father and said, O father,
if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not
as I will, but as thou wilt. He prayed again, O my father,
if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy
will be done. or what faith is in these words,
that he could lay down his own will to the will of his father,
that he could submit and follow in the ways of his father. This
was a man of faith. Oh, this is a man unlike any
other man. But here we have another way in which he stood apart from
all men. This was a man without sin. Made
like unto us, yet without sin. He did no sin, 1 Peter 2 tells
us. He was a real man, he hungered,
he bled, he died, he thirsted, he was tired, he was weary, but
he was a man who never sinned, he never lied, he never grumbled,
he never spake in sinful anger, he never coveted, he never lusted,
he never beat, he never railed, He never murdered. He never deceived. All his words were honest. All
his words were true. Everything he did and said was
true. He was without sin. Consider his compassion. This
was a man full of love. This was a man moved with compassion. Jesus went forth and he saw a
great multitude and was moved with compassion toward them and
he healed their sick. He loved his people. He came
to sinners to save sinners. He was moved with compassion
for the weak and the weary. Moved with compassion. His compassion
unto the little children as seen in Matthew 19, suffer little
children and forbid them not to come unto me for of such is
the kingdom of heaven. He wasn't so lofty, he wasn't
so high that he couldn't come unto the sick, the poor, the
weak, even the little children. And yet despite all of this,
despite this unique man, his birth, his manhood, his wisdom,
his teaching, his authority, his perception, his humility,
his fame, his faith, his sinlessness, his compassion. Despite all of
this, you would think that this was a man above all men. This
was a man who men should receive, a man who men should revere,
a man who men should accept, a man who men should respect.
Yet despite this, he came unto his own and his own received
him not. This was a man who was rejected. This was a man who
suffered. This was a man who was rejected
and despised. The people did not want him. They did not want the one who
came doing good. They did not want the one who
came speaking the things of God. They did not want this one with
his teaching. They did not want him. When he
was born there was no room for him in yin. born in a stable. He says of his life, he went
about with the disciples, he was not accepted in Jewry. He says that the Son of Man has
nowhere to lay his head. The Pharisees when they heard
him despised him. Though some of the people heard
him and were amazed at his doctrine, the Pharisees, the scribes, the
custodians of religion only despised him. They said, who is this? By what authority doest thou
these things? Who do you think you are? Who
do you think you are coming in here, coming into our temple,
coming along and teaching us these things? Who do you think
you are? Who do you think you are? And he was opposed. He was opposed everywhere he
went. He knew opposition. Him who should
have been received knew opposition. So he says to his disciples,
you shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. For all men
hated him. The son of man came eating and
drinking, and they say, behold, a man gluttonous, and a wine-bibber,
a friend of publicans and sinners. If he did this, they'd find fault. And if he did the other, they'd
find fault. John came in the wilderness,
and they criticized him. And the son of man comes eating
and drinking, and they criticize him. They found fault, and they
reject it. and the Pharisees went out and
held a council against him, how they might destroy him. How they
might destroy him, this man unlike any man, this man, this son of
man, this one of such wisdom, this one of such truth, this
one of such compassion, this one of such humility, And yet
the Pharisees, the scribes, they despised him, they rejected him.
Many of the people, therefore, when they heard this say and
said, of a truth, this is the prophet. Others said, this is
the Christ. Some said, shall Christ come
out of Galilee? Have not the scriptures said
that Christ come in from the seed of David and out of the
town of Bethlehem where David was? So there was a division
among the people because of him. And some of them would have taken
him, but no man laid hands on him. Then came the officers to
the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said unto them, why
have ye not brought him? And the officers said to the
Pharisees, who wanted them to capture Christ and bring them,
for they would destroy him. Nevertheless, the officers said,
having heard him, never man spake like this man. and yet answered the Pharisees
to them. Are ye also deceived? The despair of the Pharisees
that the officers they sent to take Christ that they might slay
him, were so astonished by his teaching that they returned and
said, never man spake like this man. Yes, this is a man, unlike
any man. Elsewhere the people answered
and said, We have heard out of the Lord that Christ abided forever,
and how sayest thou the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is
this Son of Man? For when Christ said that the
Son of Man must be lifted up, He spake of Himself. Who is this
Son of Man? The Lord Jesus Christ, this is
the Son of Man. A man unlike any other. Who is
this? Who is this Son of Man? Do you
know Him? Do you know this son of man?
Do you know him? Do you seek him? Do you care? Do you care who the Lord Jesus
is? Do you care who this prophet,
Jesus the prophet of Nazareth is? Do you care who this man
that rode upon an ass into Jerusalem 2,000 years ago is? Do you care who this man is? This unique man? Does it matter
to you? Christ says in Matthew 16, he
asks his disciples, he says, who do men say that I am, that
I the son of man am? And they said, some say that
they are John the Baptist, some Elias and other Jeremias, or
one of the prophets. And he saith unto them, but whom
say ye that I am? Well, they ask you, whom say
ye that he is? Who do you think Christ is? Who is Jesus Christ to you? If
I asked you today, who is Jesus Christ? What think you of Jesus
Christ? What would you say? Who is he?
Who is this man? Is he but a great man? Is he
a man you read of in the Bible? Is he just that figurehead of
a religion? Is he someone who was simply
crucified? Who is he? Who is he to you?
Is he a prophet? A prophet of Nazareth? John the
Baptist, Elias, Jeremiah? Is that all he is to you, some
prophet? Who is he? Who say you that he
is? Well listen to Simon Peter's
answer. Simon Peter answered and said,
Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus
answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona, for
flesh and blood have not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which
is in heaven. This is this man, not simply
Jesus the prophet of Nazareth, not simply this great man of
great birth, of great manhood, of great power, of great teaching,
of great wisdom, of great authority, perception, humility, Feign compassion. Not just the man the multitude
saw, who the multitudes could not deny was a great man. Not just a great man, a great
prophet. But Simon saw him for who he
really was. Thou art the Christ, the son
of the living God. Who is he? Who is this? Yes, a man. Yes, the Son of Man.
But here's your answer. He is the Christ. The Son of
the Living God. The Son of God. He's the Son
of Man, yes, but He's also the Son of God. A unique man. For this is the Son of God made
man. Testified by Himself. Testified
by the Father. testified by many witnesses for
he said of himself all things are delivered to me of my father
and no man knoweth who the son is but the father and who the
father is but the son and he to whom the son will reveal him
i and my father are one Say ye of him whom the Father hath sanctified
and sent into the world, thou blasphemest, because I said,
I am the Son of God? He said of himself, I am the
Son of God. And not only I am the Son of
God, but I and my Father are one. Not only did Christ come
and declare that he is the Son of the living God, but he said
that he is God. He is equal to his father. He
is one with his father. And it's enraged the Pharisees
who cried out, blasphemy. Who cried out, let him be crucified,
him who makes himself equal with God. And if he was but a man
like any other, then yes, it would have been blasphemy. And
they would have been right to condemn him. But if he was true,
then he was innocent of every charge. And he was true, for
he was the Son of God, and his power and his authority and his
wisdom proved that he was the Son of God. No other man upon
earth has ever done and said the things that this man has
said. Why is this man so different? Because this man is the Son of
God. but it wasn't just him who declared
that I am the son of God. The father from heaven testified
that he was the son of God. On more than one occasion when
he was baptized there was a voice from heaven which sounded out
and those who were nearby heard that voice of the father cry
out, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. the Father gave testimony that
this is his Son, this is truly my Son, and man heard the voice. Likewise, when Christ was transfigured
before the two disciples, and they saw Moses and Elias talking
with him, there was a voice in the cloud which said, this is
my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye Him, And
the disciples heard it, and they fell on their face and were sore
afraid. And Jesus came and touched them
and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And they saw no man, save Jesus
only. Yes, the Father testified that
this is his Son, and the disciples heard it and declared these things,
and their testimony is true. and many witnesses affirmed it,
those who saw him and heard him, wrote and testified of those
things which they saw and which they heard. In Matthew's Gospel,
Peter declares as we have read, Thou art the Christ, the Son
of the living God. Elsewhere in Matthew, we read
of a truth, Thou art the Son of God. In John's Gospel we read
in countless places testimony to him being the Son of God.
John writes as he sees Christ coming under him, behold, the
Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. Yes, he
was declared to be the Son of God with power, we read in Romans. Why? Because this Son of God
was declared to be the son of God with power for this man died
and rose again from the dead and ascended and the resurrection
proved his power, proved his Godhead, proved what he said
that he had power to lay down his life and to take it again
and indeed he was declared to be the son of God with power
and John writes his gospel his whole gospel in so many ways,
to declare Christ to be the Son of God. And he says towards the
end of it that these things are written, that ye might believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing
ye might have life through his name. And John testifies in his
epistle, that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you. He declared those things they
had seen and heard, they touched, handled and felt Him, they knew
He was true, they knew that this Son of Man was true, and they
knew that this Son of Man was the Son of God. And He that said
it bear record, and His record is true, and He knoweth that
He saith true, that ye might believe. These things are true. He really came, the Son of God
was really born, He really dwelt with man, He really healed the
sick, He really made the dead to live. He really came and He
really was the Son of God made man. Who is this? The Son of
Man indeed. Who is this? Thou art the Christ,
the Son of the living God. God also bearing them witness,
both with signs and wonders and diverse miracles and gifts of
the Holy Ghost according to his own will. For unto the angels
have we not put in subjection the world to come whereof we
speak. But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man
that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that thou visitest
him? Thou madest him a little lower
than the angels, thou crownest him with glory and honour, and
hast set over him the works of thy hands. thou hast put all
things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all
in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under
him. But now we see not yet all things
put under him, but we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than
the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory
and honor, that he by the grace of God should taste death for
every man. For it became him, for whom are
all things, and by whom are all things in bringing many sons
under glory to make the captain of their salvation perfect through
sufferings for both he that sanctifyeth and they who are sanctified are
all of one for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren. This is the one who came, the
one who was prophesied of in Psalm 8 which we read at the
beginning of the meeting. What is man that thou art mindful
of him, or the son of man that thou visitest him? David there
in prophecy spake not just of man and the son of man by nature,
that God should be mindful of man, his creation, but God is
mindful of the son of man, his son, the Lord Jesus, whom he
made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death.
This unique man, this son of man, made a man like unto other
sons of men, that he might come to save the sons of men, that
he might come to save his brethren, that he might bring many sons
unto glory, that he, the captain of their salvation, might be
made perfect through sufferings. This is the son of God who came
who was declared, who declared himself to be the Son of God,
whom the Father declared to be the Son of God, and whom many
witnesses declared to be the Son of God. And we declare, we
bear record, and our record is true, that ye might know that
what is self is true, and that ye might believe. And he is true,
for this is the Son of God. Who is this? The Son of Man,
and the Son of God, made of the seed of David, made flesh that
he might come to save his own. But what did the Pharisee think
of this? The scribes, the Pharisees reasoned
amongst themselves and said, who is this we speak of blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God
alone? And they despised him. But if he's the son of God, If
He's the Son of God and not just the Son of Man, if He is the
Son of God, then Christ could forgive sins, for He is God. He is almighty, He is over all
authority, He is the creator and the sustainer of all things,
and yet also a man. This is who came into this world,
the Son of God, the Logos, the Word of God, God's purpose, the
reason, the reason for this world, God's reason for making man and
putting man upon this world to send his Son to save his own. His elect, his anointed, his
Son, the Christ, God's chosen, the King of kings, the Lord of
lords. Who is this? He is Christ, the
Son of the living God. But why come? Why come to such
a wretched world? Why come to those who despised
him? Why come as a man? Why be humbled
in such a way? Why be made lower than the angels? Why live amongst such sinful
and rebellious men? Those who rejected him, those
who despised him, those who wanted none of him, Why come to those
who said, ah, this is the son, the heir, let us kill him and
take his inheritance. Why come to such a people? Well, like Ezekiel, as that son
of man who was sent to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation
that have rebelled against the Lord, to those whose fathers
had transgressed against him. As God sent Ezekiel, that son
of man, he sent him unto them to say, Thus saith the Lord God. And he sent the Lord Jesus, his
son, to the people to say, Thus saith the Lord God, that they
might know that there have been a prophet among them, and not
just that there might be a prophet among them. but that this prophet,
this son, this son of man, this son of God, might come, not just
to declare the truth, not just to prophesy, not just to preach
and to teach, but to save, to be the one of whom the prophets
spake, to be the one of whom they spake, to be the one whom
they said would come, to deliver Israel, to deliver His people,
to ransom His people, to redeem His people, to save His people. This is why He came. Who is this? He's the Saviour. Who is this
that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? Is this
that is glorious in His apparel, travelling in the greatness of
His strength, that speaketh in righteousness, mighty to save? Who is this with dyed garments?
Garments dyed with blood. Who is this? This is he who would
come to save his people. This is he who would lay down
his life for his own. For he said that the Son of Man
shall be betrayed into the hands of men. They shall kill him,
and the third day he shall be raised again. Christ, the Son
of God, the Son of Man, came. He came unto his own, but his
own rejected him. They crucified him. That people
who cried out Hosanna as he entered Jerusalem upon the foal of an
ass, days later cried out, Crucify him! Crucify him! Away with this man! And they
had him handed over to the authorities. And they had him tried for things
of which he was not guilty. And they had him slain and murdered. Murdered. For he was the one
who was murdered. He was the one who was slain.
He was the one who the people did not want. And he was the
one who you and I have not wanted, we did not want him, we would
not have him, we did not have time for him, you had no time
for him and we like they slayed him and murdered him, the son
of man, the son of God. The apostle said when they preach
to their people, this is Jesus, who ye have taken and by wicked
hands have crucified and slain. Ye have taken and by wicked hands
have crucified and slain. We all have. What us, you say? Me? I wasn't there. I'm not one of the Jews. I didn't
put Christ upon the cross. No, not physically. but you've
had no more time for him and his ways and his gospel than
they had time. And should he come today riding
into Orliskum, riding into Honiton, riding into your town or your
city upon an ass, you today would cry out away with this man, crucify
him. Who is this? Who is this man? The people asked as he rode in.
And they cried out their hosannas and they said he's the prophet
from Nazareth. And then they cried out away
with him, crucify him. They had no room for him, no
time for him, no care for him. There was no room for him at
his birth. And they had no time for him when they slew him. They
cared not for him. They did not want him. And yet
he's a king. He's their king which came under
him. He's their God. He has rights
and obligations. He deserves their worship and
their honor. And he deserves your worship
and your praise and your honor. He is God. You owe him your time,
your money, your energy, your worship, your love, your adoration. And yet all your efforts, all
your strength, all your energy goes into worshiping yourself,
goes into making yourself rich, goes into seeking your own pleasure.
You've given none of your energy, none of your strength, none of
your efforts to worship and adore this king. We're debtors and
we owe him. And we've not given him, we've
not rendered him what we owe. We ignored him, we despised him. We didn't give him a second thought. We treated him as nothing. He
was dead to us. In our hearts we slew him. And
men today in their hearts they slay Him. We've slain Him. We did, I did, you did. And if
you know nothing of Him and His salvation this day, you've slain
Him and you slay Him. Every day you get up and you
go about your business and you think not of Him and His ways,
you slay the Son of God. Then shall not God's wrath be
rightfully upon you? Shall not his wrath be upon you?
Yes it shall, except and but he has
mercy upon your soul this day. Unless you've come to hear of
Christ as the saviour of sinners, unless you've come to repent
of your sins, unless you've come to fall down upon your face before
this man, this humble man, this meek man, this king of the Jews,
who was nailed to a cross for his people, who shed his blood
for his people, who died for his people, unless you've cried
out to that man, that son of man, that son of God, that his
blood should wash your sins away. that his blood should have been
shed for your sins, that he should have died to deliver you? Did
he die for you, or are you just one of those that drove the nails
into his hand? Has his blood washed you today? Do you know him as your Saviour,
or do you freely and repeatedly drive the nails into his hands
and his feet, and crucify him afresh. For he came as the firstborn
of many brethren. He rose from the dead, having
washed the sins of his people away, having died for their sins,
having delivered them from all which made them captive. He rose,
having saved his people. He rose, conquering death, the
Son of God, the Saviour of sinners. He rose having made salvation. Do you know Him as the Saviour?
Who is this? This is Him who was born this
day in the city of David, a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. This
is this who died for His people. This is the Saviour. Is He yours? Do you know Him? Do you know
what it is to live with Him, to commune with Him, to walk
with Him as your Lord and your Saviour? Who is this? Who is
this? Ask the question today. Who is
He to you? Who is this? Who is this King
of glory? The Lord strong and mighty. The
Lord mighty in battle. Who is this King of glory? The
Lord of hosts. He is the King of glory. Who
is this to you? Amen.