Façade.

Façade.

 
(excerpt from Jonathan’s Sermon: “He is who He says He is”)   

All four Gospels give a first-hand account of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey as a swarming crowd gathers before Him to lay down palm branches and leaves on His path.  They shouted:  “Hosanna to the Son of David!  Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!  Hosanna in the highest!” (Matt. 21:9, NIV).  The chapter goes on to read, “When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, ‘Who is this?’  The crowds answered, ‘This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.’” (Matt. 21:10-11).  What a relief.  Finally, after all the miracles and explaining and hoping and praying, the Jews have received Jesus as their Savior and all is well.  And this is where the story ends, right?  Wrong.  Jesus knew people better than they knew themselves.  He knew that He would see this same joyous throng of people turn to a confused, accusatory, and violent mob full of rage, all in a one-week period of time. After this façade of a demonstration, Jesus became more aggressive in His communication.  For three years people had the chance to hear Him, understand Him, and follow Him.  The superficial parade He endured on a donkey only spoke volumes to the fact that these people really did not understand.  They did not understand the Kingdom of Heaven, though He explained many ways; they did not understand the Father; nor did they understand who He was or the mission He was called to fulfill.

Sunday.  Five days to go.  They think they understand, but they are still blind.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Let’s do a quick review: the same people shouting “Hosanna” on Sunday, we’re going to be shouting “Crucify Him” on Friday; and Jesus knew it. During what we now call ‘Holy Week’, Jesus doubled-down on His message: I am going to die for you, and not just so you may live eternally with me, but that the billions who come after you will have that same chance. This is truly incredible….except for the fact that over 3 billion people on our planet still have not heard the name of Jesus one time.  What then, is the solution to Jesus subjecting His body to excruciating pain, bearing the weight of every sin, all for the world to have a chance for salvation, when billions haven’t heard once? Should we stay where we are, and spend the majority of our time and resources with those who are saved? Or intentionally go to the unreached?  3 questions to ponder: We say we care about the lost, but do we? What if it was you who had not heard? What would you want people with the Answer to do? 

Our answer: we choose to go.

Jonathan Haward, President & Founder                                         

Global Infusion