“Who Is This?”

Posted on by Japanese Congregational Church

Matthew 21:1-11

1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 “Say to the Daughter of Zion, `See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'”6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna [1] to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” [2] “Hosanna [3] in the highest!” 10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Last week I received a phone call from North Carolina. The number looked unfamiliar. Should I take it? Was it just another robo-call? I answered …..and from the other end I heard “Well, Hi Tim.” Immediately, I knew the voice…..it was my friend Dale, from college days. We’ve seen each other probably only a hand full of times since college, but I would know his voice anywhere. Just his familiar voice over the phone line was enough to identify him.

Last December, our first granddaughter was born. When you meet a baby for the first time, you still don’t know her well yet. She’s brand new! So we look for ways to identify her as part of the family. Oh, look….she has mother’s eyes….or she has papa’s nose, etc. We look for those characteristics that help us identify her as one of us! After some time goes by….maybe three to six months, we begin to see and know her as her own person….and so we begin to look for her unique characteristics and personality….we gradually get to know who SHE is, apart from her parents. There are more and more ways to identify her.

How do we identify people? How can we tell who they really are? When we say that we know someone….what does that really mean?

Our text today ends with this question. “Who is this?” Jesus has just ridden into Jerusalem on a donkey. The crowds are shouting “Hosanna, Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” It says that the whole city of Jerusalem was stirred….in an uproar.

On that day in Jerusalem, what did Jesus represent to all of these people? Who was Jesus to them?  And in connection to that question, “Who is Jesus to us? Who do I say that Jesus is to me?” Lets think about that a bit together today.

At the end of the account, all the people in Jerusalem are said to be stirred up and asking, “Who is this??!” People in the crowd answer “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” So do they really understand who Jesus was?  Probably not. In the gospel of John it is stated that it wasn’t until after Jesus’ death and resurrection that the disciples understood the meaning of this entry into Jerusalem on a donkey. They didn’t really understand the “donkey thing” and its connection to the old testament prophet’s words. They only and truly recognized who he was….long after this event. In the gospel of Luke, there seems to be a strong indication that the people actually hoped that Jesus would become a king in the political sense, that he would rise up to lead them back to independence against the Roman rulers.

So when everyone in Jerusalem was asking..”Who is this??” it makes sense that no one answered, “He is the Messiah, the Son of God” because they still had not truly recognized him.

So…Who is this Jesus? Who is he to you? How have we come to believe in Jesus?

Throughout the gospel accounts, people saw, knew, understood, and recognized Jesus in different ways. It’s actually encouraging to realize that there was no single pattern or way to a relationship with Jesus. Each person experienced him uniquely and differently. Consider the following examples:

  • His mother Mary – she remembered his miraculous birth, the strange words of Anna and Simeon in the temple, the arrival of the Magi from the east, the incident in the temple when Jesus was only 12, and many others. She, more than maybe anyone else, had an “inside” view of who Jesus was. When she “pondered these things in her heart” what was she experiencing?
  • His disciples – they saw the signs and wonders, the miracles of Jesus, healings, exorcisms, Jesus commanding the storm to be still;
  • Peter, James, and John – the only three who saw Jesus transfigured on the mountain!
  • Peter – confesses his belief that Jesus was the Messiah. When asked “Who do YOU say that I am?” He answers, “You are the Christ, the son of the living God.”
  • The Roman centurion at the cross, having witnessed the crucifixion, stated “Surely, this WAS a righteous man.”
  • Thomas – believes after seeing the risen Lord, and putting his fingers and hand into Jesus nail scars and his side.
  • For many – over 500 disciples! – the appearance and meeting with the risen Christ no doubt led them to a faith and belief in who Jesus was.
  • Some of us will know Jesus through the miracles he has done in our lives.
  • Some of us may even come to know Jesus through a direct vision (like Paul?)….I certainly have never seen him in this way, nor heard his voice audibly.
  • Some of us will believe like the father in the gospels who said “I DO believe, help me in my unbelief.” 
  • We too, are given this chance to meet the risen Christ.
  • Each of us will come to understand who Jesus is in a different way….and in our own unique time. There is no one way.
  • Yet, we are always given the opportunity.

On this Palm Sunday, who do YOU say that Jesus is? Remember the words of Paul to the believers in Corinth. “Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says ‘Jesus is accursed!’ and no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit.” I Corinthianss 12:3

If we confess Jesus as our Lord, it seems that even that is not a conclusion we’ve come to simply on our own….but by the leading of the Holy Spirit. During this season of Lent, and now as we enter the holy passion week, I’m reminded of these words in the song from the musical Godspell:

Day by Day, day by day

O dear Lord, three things I pray

To see thee more clearly

To love thee more dearly

To follow thee more nearly

Day by day

(the above is a summary of the message shared during our Palm Sunday worship on March 29, 2026.)