Matthew 21:10-11 Who Is This? – a Question still posed today #1

“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.”” (Mt 21:10-11 NIV)

When Jesus had come into Jerusalem, not only at the gates there were welcoming people praising him as a king. From several writings we know that all the city was stirred up, saying,

“Who is this?”

Lots of people where there in Jerusalem for the Pesach or Passover festival (14-22 Nisan). From all corners the came, but also where they came from they had heard about that mysterious prophet who did a lot of miracles. The crowds had heard where he came from and how he had spoken about the Most High Elohim. For them there could be no doubt and they said,

“This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”” (Mt 21:10-11 NHEB)

Today lots of people question that being or man from Nazareth. Even the majority of those who call themselves Christian do not seem to know who Jesus really is. They do not see in him a prophet or a man of God, but have made him into their god.

We shall see later that Jesus was going to put the question who he is to his disciples. It is important to know the difference what is said about a person and what he really is. Therefore to know clearly what they would think, he first asked them what the people were saying about him. When going around with Jesus they had already heard more than once that there were people who called Jesus a prophet. Some even wondered if it could be possible that he would be a prophet of ancient days who would have come back to earth. So we can say that they were unsure of exactly which prophet Jesus might have been.

When we ask this question about Jesus

“Who is this?” or “Who is Jesus?”

we still might receive a lot of different answers.

Because some people had been saying that Jesus was Elijah who was to return to earth, and others said that he was a new  prophet, whilst the Pharisees said that he was possessed by a demon and wanted others also to believe Jesus was a satan or adversary of God, a blasphemous person. The apostles also knew about people’s divided opinions of their master. Today, if you go around asking, some will say that Jesus was a good man who gave sound moral guidance. Some will say that he did not exist or that he was an impostor, others that he was a prophet. Again, some will say that he was a god or a god son, others will argue that he was nothing but a deluded man. Yet others will say that he is the “Son of God“.

From the many writings assembled in the Book of books, the Bible, we can get an accurate picture of who that person might have been. Also from civic writings we can read about that special man from Nazareth. In many canonical but also civic writings we can read about his special deeds. In many of those writings we read how he was there for others, to comfort them and to encourage them. Jesus was some one to whom many came for wise counsel.

The most strange thing about that Nazarene was how he went around healing sick people, paralysed people, blind people and others who had seemingly incurable diseases (John 5: 1-8 for example). He even raised some people from the dead (Lazarus). Those incredible act were the reason he was looked on as somebody with exceptional powers, possibly from outer demons.

What also disturbed a lot of people was that after he had done such miraculous things he said it was not him doing that, but his heavenly Father, who he rightly called greater than him (but they and today many do not seem to hear or understand).
Throughout the gospels, Jesus is seen in a ministry of addressing human need and condemning those who were considered religious exemplars, and were thought of as superior to ordinary people, and certainly to exemplary sinners.
Yet Jesus message was not fundamentally different from the faith of the Old Testament, for which holiness, obedience, and sacrifice for sin were central. He also believed in the same God as his parents and the ancient prophets whose writings he knew very well. That God is a god no man can see. He also very well knew his position, him being lower than angels and certainly much much lower than God. (Later he would be made higher than angels by God, Who always shall be the Most High Almighty God.) Most of the time he told the people around him, when he did a miracle, that he could not do such things out of himself. He always gave full honour for what happened to his heavenly Father, the Only One host of hosts and True God of Israel.

“17  Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.” 18 For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. 19 Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no-one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. He who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father, who sent him.
24 “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. 25 I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. 30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.

31  “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid. 32 There is another who testifies in my favour, and I know that his testimony about me is valid. 33 “You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. 34 Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. 35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light. 36 “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me.” (Joh 5:17-36 NIV)

“Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me.” (Joh 8:42 NIV)

“27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

28  “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.

29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, 31 but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me. “Come now; let us leave.” (Joh 14:27-31 NIV)

Him telling he got advice from God, the Most High Elohim commanding him, looked as a blasphemous saying for the Pharisees. Him also getting so much attention from the public often also giving criticism about their teachings and work, was a good reason to find a way for getting rid of him (i.e. killing him).

For the Pharisees Jesus calling the Elohim his Father seemed a very good reason to speak against him.

“For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.” (Joh 5:18 NIV)

Never had Jesus made himself equal to God.

“Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”” (Joh 20:17 NIV)

Their Nazarene master was an Essene or a very devout Jew and as such his disciples knew Who Jesus worshipped. For them it was clear that Jesus was that man spoken of in the Hebrew Scriptures who would bring salvation and who would become king of the promised land. When they later went around teaching they also taught people to remember how the Leader of Jesus was God.

“Now I want you to realise that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.” (1Co 11:3 NIV)

“Who, being in very nature {Or in the form of } God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,” (Php 2:6 NIV)

For those who had followed Jesus for some time, it was very clear that he had never claimed to have equal status with God. They were very conscious of the humbleness of their master, who didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of the status of being a god and certainly not of being the God.

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Preceding

Israel, Fitting the Plan when people allow it

Matthew 13 – Parables on Kingdom mysteries

Matthew 19 Concerning the saved ones and those able to enter the Kingdom

Matthew 21:1-3 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Sent Ahead for a Donkey

Matthew 21:4-5 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Your King Is Coming upon a Donkey

Matthew 21:6-9 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Blessed the One Coming in God’s Name!

God’s Face shining on His servant

Multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David

10 Nisan An entrance for a king

Vox populi anything but Vox Dei

Matthew 21:10-11 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Who Is This?

Demanding signs or denying yourself

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Additional reading

1. Truth, doubt or blindness
2. Torah hanging on two commandments and focussing on a Mashiach
3. The true light in recorded words
4. The 1st Adam in the Hebrew Scriptures #5 Temptation, assault and curse
5. The 1st Adam in the Hebrew Scriptures #7 Promise and solution
6. The 1st Adam in the Hebrew Scriptures #8 Looking for the 2nd Adam
7. Which man is mentioned most often in the Bible? Jesus, Moses, Abraham or David?
8. A rebellious movement founded on a fake?
9. Fog, brass and light for the eyes
10. Blindness in the Christian world
11. Who do you say Jesus is
12. The sent one from God
13. Jesus, A way given to find the right way to God
14. The stone of essential truth
15. Knowledge of Christ and fear for God
16. A birthday passed nearly unnoticed
17. In a few days time it will be 2020 years ago that the Messiah was born
18. 2020 years ago, the road was opened
19. 2020 years since
20. To turn the world into a “vessel” receptive of God
21. The saviour Jesus his human side
22. Sayings of Jesus, what to believe and being or not of the devil
23. The Right One to follow and to worship
24. For those who believe Jesus is God
25. The habitual misreading of John 1 and the ‘Word being God’ #1
26. The habitual misreading of John 1 and the ‘Word being God’ #2
27. Americans really thinking the Messiah Christ had an English name
28. Americans their stars, pretension, God, Allah and end of times signs #2 War on God’s Plan, Name and title
29. That everyone may honour the Son and sent one from God
30. Thought for Wednesday Believe in the one God has sent
31. Jesus Messiah
32. Jesus begotten Son of God #10 Coming down spirit or flesh seed of Eve
33. Jesus begotten Son of God #14 Beloved Preminent Son and Mediator originating in Mary
34. Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #14 Prayer #12 The other name
35. Concerning Christ #1 A god or the God, a son of man and son of God
36. Concerning Christ #2 Divine source, connection and divine human being
37. Infinite payment of sin by the son of God
38. Believing what Jesus says
39. The Call of Christ
40. Following a Person or a Belief
41. Getting out of the dark corners of this world
42. Purification and perfection
43. From nothingness to a growing group of followers of Jeshua 5 What’s in a name
44. Not being saved by faith in Christ alone
45. Memorizing wonderfully 42 Equality with God & doing nothing of himself
46. Memorizing wonderfully 44 Showing the works from his Father
47. Memorizing wonderfully 46 Believe in the sent one from God, who is the Way to God
48. Memorizing wonderfully 49 John 17:1-11 The sent one from God and eternal life
49. Memorizing wonderfully 52 Acts 7:56: the Son of man standing on the right hand of God
50. Memorizing wonderfully 70: Philippians 2:6 Who, being in the form of God
51. Background of Faith
52. Trinitarians making their proof for existence of God look ridiculous #7

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Related

1. Jesus Existed 
2. Cult Leader Jesus
3. Prophet Jesus pbuh : The slave of God
4. How the doctrine of the Trinity developed in the Christian Church
5. Conversation with a messianic about why I consider Jesus a false prophet and idol
6. Christian, what are you going to say to G-d of Israel when your god Jesus doesn’t return?