John's Baptism: From Heaven or From Men? (Mark 11:27-33)

 

John's Baptism: From Heaven or From Men? (Mark 11:27-33)

We are under authority and power. From the laws of nature like gravity, we are under the authority and power of government like paying taxes. There are also the authorities of norms and rules in both families and society. Anyone who fails to keep them can go to prison.

In Mark 11:27-33, Jesus taught by what authority He cleansed the temple. Hardened people hear the word of truth but neither respond nor obey. However, those who open their hearts, respond, and obey continually discern the truth and abundantly store up heavenly treasures. They are truly blessed.

By What Authority Are You Doing These Things?

27 They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. 28 "By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you authority to do this?" (Mark 11:27-28)

When Jesus cleansed the temple, the chief priests, teachers of the law, and elders challenged Him, asking by what authority He was doing these things and who gave Him the authority to do them. In their eyes, Jesus possessed no authority whatsoever. He had received no formal education in any rabbinic school. They failed to recognize Jesus, who came as the Son of God, and instead regarded Him merely as a lawbreaker who violated Sabbath laws.

To them, the temple and sacrifices were of paramount importance and precious because they involved keeping the Law and regulations of Moses. Therefore, it was unthinkable for Jesus to drive out those selling things in the temple—a place they held sacred—and to prohibit people from carrying goods through the temple courts. They had plotted to kill Jesus for some time, and now they gnashed their teeth, declaring they could delay no longer. They considered Jesus to have blasphemed God's holy temple.

Authority is the power and means by which order and peace are maintained in this world. Students submit to the authority of a school teacher. In the military, subordinates obey the commands of their superiors. Citizens submit to the authority of the government. People obey the regulations specified in traffic laws. Children submit to the authority of their parents. Various rules are observed when using public facilities. Even when playing music, musicians follow the authority of the musical score.

However, authorities are not only visible; there are also invisible authorities. The orderly operation of the universe is due to submission to the strong nuclear force, weak nuclear force, electromagnetic force, and gravity. That all creation stands just as it is is because the Creator God, who existed before all things, holds together all that He has made (Colossians 1:17).

Furthermore, the devil holds the dominion of the air (Ephesians 2:2). The dominion of the air refers to the dark dominion of sin and death. The devil has been a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44). He is the principal instigator of evil, disobeying, resisting, and rebelling against God's authority and power. Not obeying God is sin. Satan plunged humanity into sin, took them captive under the power of death, and made them slaves.

All Authority Is Given by God

Then where do authority and power come from? They come from heaven (Romans 13:1). God created not only the universe, but also rulers, authorities, and powers. God is a God of justice, order, and peace. He created all authority and power to govern the universe He made in an orderly manner.

The universe submits to the glory and power of God without a fraction of an error. The sun, the moon, and the solar system move according to the laws ordained by God. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west, and the earth rotates at an unimaginable speed (1,038 mph) and revolves around the sun (66,667 mph). The moon stabilizes the earth's axis of tilt at 23.5 degrees to maintain the four seasons and climate; the moon's gravity causes tides and acts as a brake on the earth's rotation, maintaining the rotational speed so that a day is 24 hours.

The world of plants and animals also submits to the glory and power of God. Plants act as producers that create organic matter through photosynthesis, while animals act as consumers that eat these plants or other animals, maintaining the ecosystem's food chain. The excrement and carcasses of plants and animals are returned to the soil by decomposers in nature, circulating nutrients. Plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Forests retain rainwater to regulate floods and prevent soil erosion.

Yet, among all creation, humans do not know the power and glory of God and do not submit to it (Genesis 6:5). The descendants of Abraham, the people chosen by God, were no exception. They witnessed God's power and glory at Mount Sinai, experienced the presence of the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire, saw the walls of Jericho collapse, and saw the sun and moon stand still in the middle of the sky and not go down for almost a whole day so that they could defeat their enemies (Joshua 10:12-13).

Nevertheless, in the promised land given by God, they worshipped the detestable idols Baal and Molech. For His rebellious and defiant people, God sent prophets again and again. Through the prophets, God pleaded with them to return to the LORD Almighty. They refused to listen to the words of the prophets, hated them, beat them, imprisoned them, and killed them (Hebrews 11:36-38). They refused to hear the word of God and acted according to their own thoughts and stubbornness.

The priests, teachers of the law, and elders saw the power, glory, and good works of God performed by Jesus, yet they could not open the eyes of their darkened hearts (Isaiah 6:9-10). Instead, frantic to kill Jesus, they watched for an opportunity. They cast aside even the love with which Jesus cleanly cleansed the temple and made it holy. The Creator God continually extended His hands in love and wanted them to turn and repent (Romans 10:21). However, they hardened their hearts and ultimately handed over the Son of God to be crucified and killed.

John's Baptism

29 Jesus replied, "I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 30 John's baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me." (Mark 11:29-30)

John the Baptist was a prophet of God who appeared after breaking a long silence of four hundred years following the prophet Malachi. He preached a baptism of repentance in the wilderness in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17). He wore clothing made of camel's hair, had a leather belt around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey (Matthew 3:4). People who were thirsty for the word of God heard his thunderous, powerful message of repentance and responded. People from all over the region came out to John and were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins (Matthew 3:5).

Therefore, many people, including religious leaders, wondered if he might be the Christ sent by God (Luke 3:15; John 1:20). When John the Baptist declared that he was not the Christ, they wondered if he was Elijah or the Prophet (John 1:21; Deuteronomy 18:15). The appearance of John the Baptist caused a great reaction in the land of Judea and Galilee in the first century. As a forerunner preparing the way for the coming of God's Christ, he was prophesied long ago by the prophet Isaiah:

3 A voice of one calling in the wilderness, "Prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. 5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken." (Isaiah 40:3-5)

Jesus had no sin and therefore no need to be baptized, but He came as the Son of Man, went out to John the Baptist, and was baptized. When John saw Jesus coming toward him, he cried out, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29). The Lamb of God refers to the Passover sacrifice. John spoke beforehand that Jesus would be sacrificed as the Lamb of God.

Through John the Baptist, God broke the long silence and prepared the way for the coming of the promised Messiah prophesied by the law and the prophets. Furthermore, God revealed beforehand what kind of death the coming Messiah would suffer (Isaiah 53). Jesus came as the Passover sacrificial offering prepared by God before the creation of the world. The Passover is a festival commemorating the day when the angel of death passed over houses that had the blood of a lamb or goat painted on the doorframes during the tenth plague that God brought upon the land of Egypt, the plague of the firstborn (Exodus 12:23). The blood of animals is a shadow of the blood of Christ who was to come.

"We Don't Know"

31 They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' 32 But if we say, 'Of human origin'..." (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.) 33 So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things." (Mark 11:31-33)

The religious leaders fell into a difficult predicament where they could do neither one nor the other. They had challenged the authority of Jesus, who had cleansed the temple. However, upon receiving Jesus' question about the origin of John's authority, they were flustered and rendered powerless. They were reduced to a state where, fearing the critical glares of the people, they could not speak the words they wanted to say. Hardened in their stance, they wanted to answer that John was of human origin. The reason was that he did not follow the regulations and traditions of the elders.

They were like old, worn-out wineskins (Matthew 9:16). If anything did not align with their traditional regulations and teachings, they condemned and excommunicated it. Not only did they reject the ministry of John the Baptist, but from the very beginning they were hostile toward Jesus, denied Him, and sought to kill Him. They had no heart to rethink their own yardsticks and standards. Ultimately, they fell into the grave error of failing to recognize the Son of God.

The ministry of John the Baptist and the teachings of Jesus are like new wine that must be put into new wineskins (Matthew 9:17). How does one discern between the new and the old? It is the word of God. The word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). This word comes right after the instruction to make every effort to enter that rest (Hebrews 4:11).

Entering rest does not mean doing no work at all. The word "rest" can sound like doing nothing, leading to confusion over what work is and what rest is. In fact, doing nothing induces anxiety. Being busy and having work to do can actually reduce anxiety. Therefore, one must accurately discern what rest is.

Consequently, as Hebrews 4:12 states, we must measure everything by the yardstick of the living and active word of God. In this regard, it is vital to properly understand, see, and realize the word of God. It is always necessary, especially regarding the knowledge and thoughts we possess, to measure them against the standard of the word. The word of God is sharp and lacks nothing in its ability to properly distinguish soul and spirit, joints and marrow.

The new wineskin is a soft heart and good soil that receives the word (Matthew 13:8). It is a heart that does not rebel against new teachings, but accepts them in the heart, realizes them, and obeys. Not responding after hearing the word means the soil is not good. Good soil continues to bear fruit, yielding a crop thirty, sixty, or a hundred times what was sown. It stores up invisible heavenly treasures of love, joy, peace, and patience.

Jesus did not directly state by what authority He was doing these things, but He taught so that they lacked no understanding. Jesus' authority did not come from man, but from God the Father in heaven. God is a God of truth and justice. He always proclaims the truth and acts with justice. Now, the responsibility lies with the heart upon which the word of truth has fallen. To those who repent with a soft heart, He grants eternal life; to those who stubbornly reject Him, He inflicts eternal punishment.

Amen!

July 26, 2026

Buffalo Livingstone Church ©2026, David Lee Ministries ©2026 – All Rights Reserved.

Scripture quotes are from the NIV.

 

Jesus Cleanses the Temple (Mark 11:11–26)

 

Jesus Cleanses the Temple (Mark 11:11–26)

How do we forgive and love? In this world, the easiest things to do are to hate, judge, and envy. However, the most difficult things are to forgive and love. Therefore, God showed the example of His holy love, which was giving up His only begotten Son on the cross. God’s love is the laying down of one’s own life.

In Mark 11:11–26, Jesus cleanses the temple and curses the fig tree. Jesus became a sacrificial offering on the cross so that we might love God and love our neighbor. He also gave us faith in God and blessed us to forgive and love our neighbor.

Jesus Curses a Fig Tree (Matthew 21:18–19)

11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve. 12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it. (Mark 11:12–14)

Why did Jesus curse that fig tree? It was not yet the season for fruit. There are various reasons why a fig tree might not bear fruit. It could be a lack of nutrients, or it could be diseased. Jesus, the Creator who made all things in heaven and on earth, could not have been unaware of this fact. For whatever reason, He would not curse the fig tree He created.

Fig trees sometimes bear fruit along with their leaves, or the fruit may appear after the leaves emerge. Therefore, this cannot be the problem. However, the problem is pretending to have fruit when there is none. Because of this, Jesus cursed it. This is clearly a warning against those, like the Jewish religious leaders, who have only the outward appearance of religion but no fruit. They did not recognize Christ, who came as the Son of God, but instead sought to kill Him.

Bearing fruit is very important, so one must bear fruit (Matthew 6:21). There is good fruit and there is bad fruit. It is either one or the other. If one does not bear good fruit but bears bad fruit, they are cut down and thrown into the fire (Matthew 7:19). God judges each person according to what they have done (Romans 2:6). This means that one is judged not by their outward appearance, but by the fruit they bear (Matthew 7:20).

7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism. (Romans 2:7–11)

How do we bear good fruit? In the parable of the sower, Jesus taught that the seed that fell on good soil grows and produces a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or a hundred times (Matthew 13:8). A good heart is a soft heart, a heart that receives the word and responds to it. It is a heart that understands the word, repents, and obeys. It is a heart that longs for the word of God. It is a heart that asks questions to understand the meaning of the word, like the disciples. It is a heart that gives to the needy and prays; it is a heart that does not judge others and enters through the narrow gate of the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 6:4, 7:1, 7:7, 7:13–14).

However, fruit is not stored up on this earth, but in heaven. The rewards of this world are visible: honor, wealth, and success. It is having things go as planned and obtaining comfort. However, the rewards of heaven are invisible: love, joy, peace, and patience (Galatians 5:22). The rewards of heaven are entering into God’s rest and reigning with the Lord. It is also enduring hardship, pain, sorrow, and shame. The rewards of this world will perish, but the rewards of heaven are eternal.

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:19–20)

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” 18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching. 19 When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city. (Mark 11:15-19)

Why did Jesus cleanse the temple? It was because the temple, where justice and righteousness should flow like a river, had been corrupted into a den of merchants. According to the ordinances and laws of Moses, the people brought offerings and came to the house of God to offer sacrifices. When they brought cattle, sheep, or goats to offer as sacrifices, they had to undergo inspection by the priests of the temple. This was to keep the regulation of offering sacrifices without blemish as per the law. However, the priests rejected the animals that were brought and instead accepted only the animals sold in the temple. In this process, they gained significant margins.

Moreover, they collected the temple tax, but they rejected the Roman coins bearing the image of the emperor—which were common in the market at the time—and accepted only the temple coins. They made a significant profit in this money-changing process. In this way, the religious leaders were desperate to exploit the people and gain unjust profits. In the name of God, they were busy filling their own bellies. The people had no other choice and could only be exploited helplessly.

The temple of God is a house of prayer. People come to the holy temple and, through intimate fellowship with God the Creator, receive the grace of His love (burnt offering), joy (grain offering), peace (fellowship offering), and forgiveness of sins (sin offering) (Leviticus 1-5). No one living under sin can stand before the holy God. However, God looks at the blood of the animal, welcomes the worshiper, and pours out the necessary grace abundantly. Here, the blood of the animal is the blood of the worshiper, and ultimately it points to the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

However, the people cannot offer sacrifices without the help of the priests. Sprinkling blood on the altar and processing and burning the animal are all the duties of the priest. God made the tribe of Levi priests and gave them the responsibility of leading the people to come to the Lord and have fellowship. Since this duty was given to them by the unilateral grace of God, it was appropriate to carry it out with justice and righteousness before the Lord (1 Samuel 12:3; 2 Corinthians 12:17-18).

However, they used the duty of the priest to obtain unjust profits (1 Samuel 2:12-17). Even in the days of Jesus, the priests still exploited unjust profits from the people in the name of the law of Moses and the name of the priest. Even today, there are not a few people who exploit others mentally and materially and gain unjust profits in the name of religion and in the name of God. They act like wolves in sheep's clothing as so-called false teachers.

Therefore, Jesus cleansed the temple. As the owner of the temple, Jesus drove out all injustice and evil and made it clean. Cleansing the temple is cleansing people. This is because the temple is not a building, but a person. God has made man a holy temple in which He dwells (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). The temple of the holy God must be holy (Leviticus 20:26).

However, a person cannot make himself clean. Because human corruption stems from sin, it cannot be cleaned without the forgiveness of sins. Because sacrifices offered with the blood of animals cannot wash away human corruption, they must be offered repeatedly every year (Hebrews 9:9-10). That is why the Lord Jesus Christ, as the Son of God, took the sins of this world upon Himself and died by shedding His blood. Jesus' cleansing and purifying the temple means that the Lord would die on behalf of the sins of this world.

And Jesus did not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. This is the prohibition of temple sacrifices any longer. This is because the Christ sent by God has come to this land. The Mosaic sacrifice is a shadow of the sacrificial sacrifice of Jesus Christ who is to come. Since the real scapegoat who takes away the sins of the world has come, there is no longer a need to offer shadow sacrifices (Hebrews 10:10). The sacrificial blood of Jesus is the power and authority to forgive the sins of this world once and for all.

And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:10)

The chief priests and the teachers of the law did not know at all why Jesus cleansed the temple, but rather sought to kill the Son of God. However, they could do nothing because the people were amazed at what the Lord had done. Because they hardened their hearts, they were filled with hatred and murderous hearts even after seeing what the Son of God did, let alone being moved.

The Withered Fig Tree (Matthew 21:20-22)

20 When they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from its roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!” 22 Jesus replied to them, “Have faith in God. 23 I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” 26 (None) (Mark 11:20-26).

How is believing in God a power? It is easy to hate and judge. But forgiveness is difficult. The Son of God, Jesus Christ, came to this world to forgive sins. God's commandment is to love one another. If you do not forgive, there is no fruit to store up in heaven. Hatred, murder, jealousy, strife, complaining, and resentment are bad fruits. Those who bear bad fruit wither from the roots like the fig tree.

Then how do you bear the fruit of forgiveness? It is faith in God. Forgiveness is something that seems impossible as moving a mountain. Just as Jesus loved this world by dying, we cannot love others unless we die. However, faith in God is the power that moves mountains. There should be no doubt in faith. Absolute faith is required. If you doubt even a little, the mountain will not move.

What kind of faith is it? It is to believe that Jesus Christ, sent by God, died on the cross. It is also to believe that we died with Christ by faith. Therefore, I believe that I have been washed clean and sanctified by the merit of Christ's precious blood. Since I have been made holy anew by the blood of Christ, I have stood boldly before the throne of God's grace and have intimate fellowship.

In fact, there is no one who can love their enemies except God. God demonstrated His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Therefore, we can love our enemies through the power of God who indwells within us. This is what we believe!

Amen!

July 19, 2026

Buffalo Livingstone Church ©2026, David Lee Ministries ©2026 – All Rights Reserved.

Scripture quotes are from the NIV.

 

Hosanna! Blessed Is He Who Comes In The Name Of The Lord! (Mark 11:1-11)

 

Hosanna! Blessed Is He Who Comes In The Name Of The Lord! (Mark 11:1-11)

What is the good news of great joy that will be for all the people? The angel from heaven said it was that today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11). We encounter good news, both great and small. There are joys like graduation, finding a job, promotion, marriage, childbirth, health, and travel. Nevertheless, it is true that there is an empty corner in the heart.

In Mark 11:1-11, Jesus entered Jerusalem for the Passover festival. The people shouted and cheered, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" Jesus came to die on the cross soon to fulfill the will of the heavenly Father and to save this world from sin and death with his blood.

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem (Mark 21:1-11; Luke 19:28-40; John 12:12-19)

1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.'"

4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, "What are you doing, untying that colt?" 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go (Mark 11:1-6).

Mark 11-16 are a record of the last week (eight days) of the Lord's life, from when Jesus entered Jerusalem for the Passover, died on the cross, and rose again. Mark devotes more than one-third of the total volume to this final week out of Jesus' three and a half years of earthly ministry, and other gospels are similar. This reflects that Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection are the core of Christ's ministry.

Jesus knew in advance that this Passover was the last festival he would spend on this earth (Luke 22:16, 18). That means that now, as God's time came, he was to be sacrificed as the Passover lamb as the Christ. This day was predetermined, scheduled, and planned by God before the ages began (1 Peter 1:20; Revelation 5:6). Jesus was incarnated on this earth in obedience to his heavenly Father's will, and he also obeyed even to the point of bearing the cross and sacrificing himself (Philippians 2:6-8).

And Jesus prepared a colt in advance that had never been ridden before, in order to fulfill the prophecy of the prophet Zechariah. He sent two of his disciples and commanded them to bring the colt. The disciples obeyed, went as Jesus said, saw the colt tied there, and brought it.

9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 10 I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth (Zechariah 9:9-10).

Entering as the King of Israel

Jesus is the Lord of heaven and earth and the Creator. Jesus is the owner of all things. Jesus came as King. However, his kingship is different from the kings of this world. The kings of this world rule over, oppress, and crush people with armies and police power. They control people arbitrarily, treat them roughly, exploit them, and habitually oppress them (Matthew 20:25; Mark 10:42).

However, Jesus rules with humility and righteousness. Jesus is gentle and humble in heart, so anyone who comes to him finds rest for their souls (Matthew 11:29). The Jewish leaders loaded the people with heavy burdens of the law, while they themselves were guilty of hypocrisy by not lifting a finger (Matthew 23:4). But Jesus gives anyone who comes to him the gift of freedom, rest, and peace through the truth of the blood of the cross.

31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32).

In fact, Jesus is majestic and is in honor, glory, and power, as transfigured on the mountain (Mark 9:2). When God descended on Mount Sinai amidst thunder, lightning, thick clouds, and the trumpet blasts of the archangels, Moses and the people were afraid and trembled (Exodus 19:16). If Jesus were to reveal his appearance as the Creator, no one could stand before him (Isaiah 6:5).

However, Jesus came riding on a colt as a humble King to save this world that had fallen under sin. Although Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords, he hung on the cross like a criminal in our place, and became as someone who was nothing (Philippians 2:7). To obtain the treasure (Israel) and the pearl (the church) that God the Father prepared before the ages, Jesus sold all that he had (gave up his life) and bought them with that price (Matthew 13:44-46; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Therefore, now is the year of the Lord’s favor (Isaiah 61:2). The Spirit of the Lord God descended upon his Son, Christ, anointed him, and made him the Lord of salvation. Jesus preached the beautiful gospel to the poor, healed the brokenhearted, and proclaimed freedom for the captives and release for the prisoners (Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18-19). Jesus opened this passage in the synagogue at Nazareth, read it, and proclaimed that the word had been fulfilled in their ears (Luke 4:21). He grants eternal life to anyone who accepts the grace and love of God who sent Christ, at any time (John 3:16).

However, Jesus, who ascended into heaven, will come again (Acts 1:11). At this time, Jesus will come as the Judge of all, separating, judging, and condemning those who are stubborn and do not believe. This day is the day of glorious victory where God's righteousness and justice stand upright and vindicate all who believe. He will remove all sorrow and pain and crown them with the oil of joy.

2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor (Isaiah 61:2-3).

Hosanna! Blessed Is He

7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" 11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve (Mark 11:7-11).

The people gathered in Jerusalem saw Jesus coming on a colt, welcomed him enthusiastically, received him as King, and cheered. They raised their voices, "Hosanna" (Save us!), "Blessed is he," expressing their respect and obedience to the King. They welcomed Jesus as the Savior who comes in the name of the Lord. They also considered that the kingdom of their father David was coming through Christ.

How did they react like this? Jesus spent three Passovers in Jerusalem during his public ministry. However, people were quiet during the first two times, but it was completely different when he entered Jerusalem for the third, that is, the last time. It cannot be seen that Jesus prepared this in advance.

People witnessed and experienced the ministry of Jesus Christ during the past three and a half years. He proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom, taught, healed various diseases, cast out demons, and performed signs and wonders. The rumors about Jesus spread to the whole village, and wherever the Lord went, people formed crowds. In the hearts of the people, they considered Jesus of Nazareth to be John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets (Mark 8:28).

Israel Longed for the Messiah

After the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by Babylon in the 6th century B.C., Israel had a burning desire for the Lord of salvation. Seventy years of Babylonian captivity passed, and some returned to Jerusalem to rebuild a small temple; in the 1st century A.D., a second temple was built by Herod. In Jesus' time, the Temple stood in Jerusalem, but the people groaned under heavy taxes and oppression under Roman colonial rule.

After Judah was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, there was no king. After the return from exile, Judah was ruled by governors like Zerubbabel. Judah rebuilt its walls and temple, but it was controlled, interfered with, and oppressed by surrounding powers, becoming a battlefield for great powers. Following Babylon, the Persian and Greek empires ruled the Mediterranean coast, and in the 1st century, this entire region was placed under the grip of the Roman Empire.

Therefore, Israel eagerly longed for a Savior who would raise up a powerful and strong nation like the kingdom of King David. Every time a great leader appeared, they expected and welcomed them to build a kingdom like King David's. However, seeing that there was nothing Jesus of Nazareth could not do, they expected Him to be the Messiah sent by God and enthusiastically welcomed Him.

The Law and the Prophets are full of prophecies that the Messiah would come and liberate His people from the oppression and bondage of the Gentiles (Genesis 49:10; Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2; Isaiah 9:6, 61:1-2, 42:1-4; Zechariah 9:9). The names "Messiah" or "Christ" do not appear in the Old Testament. However, He is described as a Branch (Isaiah 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5), Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), the Anointed One (Daniel 9:25), Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14), the Ruler from Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), and the Son of Man (Daniel 7:13-14).

The Suffering Servant Christ Will Come

Furthermore, God’s Messiah is described as a suffering servant. God chooses His servant, in whom His soul delights, gives him His Holy Spirit, and he will bring forth justice to the nations (Isaiah 42:1-4). Also, God formed him from the womb to be His servant, to bring Jacob back to the LORD, to gather Israel to Him, and makes him a light for the Gentiles to bring salvation to the ends of the earth (Isaiah 49:1-6).

Above all, God’s Christ, in order to suffer as a servant and obey the Father even to death, was subjected to shame, beating, spitting, and was despised, rejected, and forsaken (Isaiah 50:4-11, 52:13-53:12). God’s Christ grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground; He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him (Isaiah 53:2). This is the image of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was arrested, interrogated, sentenced to death, hung on a cross on Golgotha, and suffered.

At that time, the people gathered in Jerusalem enthusiastically welcomed Jesus of Nazareth, expecting that the kingdom of David would soon be established. However, the sad fact is that after a few days had passed, after Jesus had been condemned by religious leaders as deserving of the death penalty, their attitudes suddenly changed and they shouted to crucify Jesus (Matthew 27:22; Mark 15:13-14; Luke 23:21-23). Instead, they asked for the murderer Barabbas to be released.

What is the problem? The Messiah they anticipated was a king with mighty power. This is a false gospel. They wanted a Messiah who would suppress Rome, establish Israel as the sole superpower, and command the world, not a Messiah who would die a miserable death on the cross. Even Jesus' disciples found it very difficult to accept the suffering servant Christ in this respect. However, through Jesus, who rose again on the third day from among the dead, they accepted the suffering Christ prophesied by the Law and the Prophets and spread the gospel of salvation of the 1st century to the whole earth.

Amen!

July 12, 2026

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Scripture quotes are from the NIV.