The Jesus you want might not be the Jesus you need

The Jesus, the Messiah you want may not be the Jesus you need, the Messiah God sent.On Palm Sunday we remember Jesus’ last arrival in Jerusalem. He rode in on a donkey (signifying He came in peace) and was welcomed by a huge crowd that provided an impromptu red carpet made of palm branches and coats (Matthew 21:1-10). They were welcoming the Jesus they wanted, the one who would advance their political agenda, end corruption, bring prosperity and peace, kick established religion’s butt, and work miracles to boot. The Jesus who would stay out of everyone’s bedroom and bring back integrity and profitability to every boardroom. The Jesus who sets everything straight without confronting or offending anyone. The Jesus who relieves guilt, erases consequences, and finds a way to bless no matter what. The Jesus who hangs out with sinners, loves sinners, and never challenges sinners to repent and change. Oh how they welcomed that Jesus, the Jesus everyone wants.Fortunately that’s not the Jesus who sat on that donkey, the Jesus who God sent. It took less than a full week for people to figure out that the Jesus they wanted is not the Jesus they put their coats in the dirt for. So they changed their vote from “Hosanna” to “Crucify.” They wanted more miracles not more sermons, especially not sermons on judgment, personal responsibility, serving others instead of self, or our need for God to provide a Savior, who can deliver us from sin and death. This was not the Jesus who ushered in religious tolerance at the price of truth, who promised everyone heaven regardless of whether or not this corresponds to actual reality. This was the Jesus who said “If I don’t wash you, you won’t be clean (John 13:5-9),” who declared, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” John 14:6 (NASB). This was the Jesus who changed the definition of blessing (Matthew 5:1-16), who challenged “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” Matthew 16:24-25 (NASB). This was the Jesus who claimed it was imperative that He would die, be buried, and rise from the dead in order to save you and me form sin, death, and the eternal judgment of God, “He told them, ‘This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem’” Luke 24:46-47 (NIV). Maybe it is time to abandon the Jesus you want and embrace, believe in, and follow the Jesus whom God sent. The Jesus we want is a creation of our own hearts and minds, his only power is to deceive, he cannot save. Only the Jesus who lived, died, and rose again is able to save, to forgive, to reconcile you and me, that’s why God sent Him. “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved…,"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved"Romans 10:13 (NIV).May hope and prayer is for you and me to fully embrace the Jesus God sent.“Hosanna, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” – Jesus ChristTo God be all glory, Pastor Hans