It was a religious celebration - the commemoration of the Hebrew’s last meal in Egypt - the deliverance of God. And the Feast of Tabernacles - commemorating the Hebrew’s wandering in the wilderness - and God’s deliverance. People waving willow branches - symbols of sorrow. And, myrtle branches - symbols of God’s goodness.

Under the yoke of Rome - it was a celebration of nationalism - stirring up the people’s desires for national - political - and social deliverance.

About 3 million plus pilgrims all crammed into an area about the size of Golden Gate Park. Jerusalem was chaos.

Into this confusion comes Jesus riding on a donkey. As Jesus moves into Jerusalem from the town of Bethany - most of the people who are with Him lay their outer garments on the path - they cut branches from the trees and put them on the path. Pilgrims come out to the Eastern Gate of the city to meet Him.

The crowd grows - the 12 disciples - the throng from Bethany - pilgrims - hostile Pharisees. The miracle worker has come - He made the blind see - the lame walk - the dead have been brought to life.

The crowd is cheering - Jesus has challenged the Roman authorities - the religious authorities - challenged and triumphed over them. Jesus is coming to Jerusalem. Jesus the champion of the people.

The crowd is euphoric - frenzied - joyous beyond description. They’re shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David” “Hosanna” - God save us! They're expecting deliverance from the bondage of Rome.

And we know that the expectations of the crowd were not met. Jesus does not throw out the Roman rulers. Jesus does not start a revolt. Jesus is arrested and crucified.

When we read the account of Palm Sunday - it is very evident that the vast majority of people in that chaotic crowd - shouting and cheering - had no idea who Jesus was. And this is crucial. Who is Jesus who has come into Jerusalem riding on a donkey? What significance does He have for our lives today?

I invite you to turn with me to Matthew 16:13-16 as we consider this question - Who is Jesus?

Some time earlier Jesus had asked His disciples this important question. Jesus had been performing miracles - answering the endless questions of the Pharisees - teaching the crowds about the Kingdom of God. And the crowds followed Jesus - full of expectations - for all kinds of reasons.

Matthew 16 - (13) Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of man is?” - an opinion pole - what is the crowd thinking about me? (14) And they said, “Some say John the Baptist - the one who would foretell the Messiah’s coming - others say Elijah - another foreteller of the Messiah - and others Jeremiah - a prophet of doom and suffering calling for repentance - or one of the prophets” - again as foretellers of the coming Messiah.

These are great answers. These are not religiously ignorant people. They knew their prophecy. But their understanding shows that they knew all about the Messiah but had no idea who Jesus was. Jesus just didn’t fit their understanding of who the Messiah should be.

Jesus asks his disciples the most important question - (15) He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” (16) Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”- the anointed - the chosen one of God.

Who is Jesus Christ? What does it mean that He is the Christ - the anointed one of God?

I once heard a story about a man who suffered from a tickling in his throat - buzzing in his ears - and just occasional fits of dizziness. Have you heard of him? Tickling in his throat - buzzing in his ears - and just occasional fits of dizziness.

Well, he went to the doctor and the doctor examined him and he discovered that it was his tonsils. They were highly infected and this was effecting the whole metabolism of the body - so he had his tonsils out. That wasn’t a big deal. In fact he quite liked the ice cream at the end. And it wasn’t long before he was as healthy as he could be after the operation. But he still had the tickling in his throat - buzzing in his ears - and those occasional fits of dizziness.

So they called in a second opinion - a specialist - and he traced it down to his appendix. Well, he had his appendix out and that wasn’t too much of a big deal. 36 hours in the hospital and he was back home. He had to be careful and not lift any heavy weights. But it wasn’t long until he was feeling really good. Except that he did have a tickling in his throat - buzzing in his ears - and just those occasional fits of dizziness.

Well, after further consultation they decided it was his teeth. So he had all his teeth out. That was a little more discomforting. But he didn’t take too long to get over that and he was amazed how well he could get on with dentures. And, so that phase passed. But, he had to admit in spite of all that, he still had a tickling in his throat - buzzing in his ears - and those occasional fits of dizziness.

Well, the medical advisors were all at their wits end - they didn’t know what to suggest. But they finally decided that he was thoroughly run down and 6 months in the mountains in Switzerland would probably make him well. Well he liked that suggestion and set off and had a great time. 6 months came - and at the end of those 6 months - way up there in the beautiful Swiss mountains he was rested and had a deep tan.

But the time had come for him to head home for the United States. And so he thought he would stop-over in London. And since he had been away from home for some six months he felt that he needed a few more clothes. So he went to a store and told the man there that he wanted to buy a shirt.

And so the man said, “What size neck?” And he said, “14½.”

So the man looked at him a bit and said, “Excuse me sir. Do you mind me suggesting that you would probably feel more comfortable with a 16?”

Anyway, he was very indignant. He said, “I’ve been buying my shirts all my life. And I think I have a pretty good idea of what size shirt I wear."

Oh the salesman said, “Pardon me sir. I didn’t want to offend you. I mean - I’m prepared to sell you any size shirt. That’s my business - sell shirts - whatever the size. But, I would suggest that if you wear a 14½ when you should be wearing a 16. It’s just possible that you might have a tickling in your throat - a buzzing in your ears - and just occasional fits of dizziness.”

Well, you say that’s a pretty silly story - and it is. But you know that’s exactly what happens in the world today. In every phase of life we’re confronted with momentous problems - and the root of it all is our sin. And human beings come up with every kind of solution for the human dilemma. Politically - economically - psychiatrically - philosophically - but never coming to the conclusion that God knows to be the only final remedy for the human situation. All that was wrapped in what He had in mind when He sent His Son into this world - the one anointed by God - chosen by God to restore us - to heal us of our sin.

It has been said that - If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist; If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist; If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer; But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us the Savior - Jesus - the Christ.

Who is Jesus? With all that we struggle with in life - all of our experiences - all of our questions - Jesus is the answer.

Jesus - at the beginning of His ministry - entered a synagogue in Nazareth - and He read from the prophet Isaiah. He opened the scroll and read: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are downtrodden, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.” - to proclaim the salvation of God. (Luke 4:18,19)

The crowds that followed Jesus - and especially on Palm Sunday - knew all about Him and what He did. They knew history. They knew prophecy. They knew they had needs - deep needs. And yet Jesus was a part of the celebration - a moment of hope - a possible answer. But, they really didn't know who He was.

It is possible to know all about Jesus - to be very religious and spiritual people - to be church attendees and servers and supporters - to live morally upright - and still not really know who Jesus is. Because we’ve never trusted Him with our lives - allowed Him to be God’s chosen one - anointed to remove our sins - and to be the Lord of our lives.

A few years back I pulled into a gas station - and the man in the car in front of me had one of those license frames that said, “The One With The Most Toys Wins”. So, I asked him, “Wins what?”

He said, “Huh?”

“Your license frame - what do I win?”

“Oh,” he said. “That’s just a way to live life - we should enjoy life while we can.”

So I asked him, “And then what?”

And he said, “Huh?”

“What happens after life? If I have the most toys - when I die, what do I win?”

And at that point he got kind of irritated. “Well,” he said. “We should just enjoy life now.”

Without Jesus - we’re empty. We have no hope - no answers. Ideas and possibilities - but no real answer to our dilemma. And so many people are trying to fill their lives with things - cars and homes and sports and relationships and religion and stuff. And they’re rushing around - their marriages are coming apart - their kids are being raised by schools and daycares and surrogate parents. And if they ever slowed down long enough they would really feel the emptiness and the lack of purpose.

“Who do you say I am?” The most important question we’ll ever be asked. That Jesus is the anointed one of God - the Christ - means that He is our salvation - our deliverance. And we can meet Him - personally - not as a theological - or philosophical - idea. But as the living Savior who says trust Me and I will set you free.

PRAYER

Do you know Jesus as your Savior - not just to know about Him - but to know Him as your personal Savior? Have you invited Him to enter into your life - and fill you - and free you from sin? This morning that invitation is given to you. Say to Him - you are the Christ. I receive you as my Savior. Enter into my life. I give myself to you.