There was no shortage of “Messiahs” in the days of Jesus. In Acts 5, a prominent Jewish leader named Gamaliel noted two Jewish leaders whose large followings had “scattered” after the self-proclaimed “Messiahs” were killed.

The Jews were desperate for a deliverer. They were under the thumb of the Roman government, living as second-class citizens and taxed into poverty. They longed for a political and military leader who would deliver Israel from Rome and restore the nation’s independence and power that existed in the days of King David and King Solomon. They thought Jesus might be the one to deliver them as he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, just as Zechariah had prophesied (Zechariah 9:9). So, on Sunday, they spread their cloaks and branches on the road.

Matthew 21:9-11
And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

A very significant event serves as the background for what we call the “Triumphal Entry.” Just a few days prior, a man named Lazarus had died. After the dead man had been buried for three days, Jesus stood before the tomb and shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” Miraculously, the dead man came out of the grave. The Old Testament prophet Isaiah said the Messiah would heal the sick, bring good news to the poor, and even raise the dead (Isaiah 26:19, 35:5-6, 61:1).

Could Jesus be the Messiah?

From first-century Jerusalem to the world we live in today, everyone wants their own version of Jesus. The sick want a Jesus who will heal them. The poor want a Jesus who will prosper them. The oppressed want a Jesus who will deliver them. We want a Jesus who will meet our needs and fix our issues. But Jesus came for one purpose—to deliver us from the penalty of sin by dying on the cross.

On Sunday, Jesus entered as a king. Let’s follow him all the way to the cross.

Father,
Forgive me for wanting a Messiah to meet my temporal needs and address my earthly issues. Help me worship the Savior. Thank you for imputing my sin to him and his righteousness to me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.