Day 300, Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Mark 10:32–11:11; Matthew 20:17–21:11; Luke 18:31–19:44; John12:12-19. Note: Today’s lesson is long because of the theme.
Wrong and Right Perceptions about Jesus
The three words, “but I thought,” usually introduce a misconception and put a puzzled look on our face like this pup. We have all thought things which weren’t right. We judge things by appearances, but things aren’t always what they appear to be. In today’s Bible reading, we learn about the wrong and right perceptions of Jesus.
How Would the Prophecies about Jesus be Fulfilled?
Most Jewish people and even their prophets didn’t understand the full impact of sacred prophecies; they only understood them in their immediate context. If the prophet’s words (spoken or written) were consistent with the Scriptures, he was a genuine prophet (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). However, many of the prophets wrote of Jesus both as a suffering servant and a conquering hero. No one understood their writings and how he might fulfill them.
The Biggest Misconception about Jesus the Messiah
When the Israelites read or listened to predictions of a coming deliverer, a Messiah, it brought them hope. God would avenge them and bring world peace. But, God also mingled into his prophecies some strange words of a suffering Messiah. They didn’t seem to fit.
When Jesus comes on the scene, people see him perform miracles that only God could do. They also hear him speak God’s Word with authority and truth, mystifying the hypocritical religious leaders. Jesus is powerful and popular with ordinary people. He acts with compassion, healing their diseases, and even raising their dead loved ones and friends.
Believing Jews and Jesus’ disciples are sure he is their Messiah, their deliverer from Roman oppression. However, this is the greatest misconception the Jews had when they read the prophecies about him.
Jesus Corrects Misconceptions about his Position and Purpose
To his disciples, Jesus speaks strange words of being mocked, spit upon, beaten, killed, and rising again three days later. The disciples don’t understand what he is talking about. It doesn’t fit their expectations, and they aren’t listening.
In anticipation of the coming kingdom, James and John, two of the three in Jesus’ inner circle of disciples, get their mother to ask a favor of Jesus. She wants her two sons in prominent positions within his new kingdom. Learning of this, the other disciples become jealous and angry. Jesus calls all of them over to him and corrects their thinking.
You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:25-28, NIV).
Do we have misconceptions about how greatness is achieved? Suppose we want to be promoted by the Lord and receive positions of prominence. In that case, we need to become willing servants of God and people.
Jesus Corrects Misconceptions about his Power
In our last Bible study (October 26), we read that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Couldn’t Jesus also raise up their nation? This is the thinking of the people. They are in awe of Jesus’ power, and the religious leaders are afraid of him. Then Jesus resolutely sets out for Jerusalem with his disciples, Lazarus, and all those who saw the Lord raise him from the dead. The scene is electric—something is happening!
The People Present Jesus as King
When Jesus and his disciples approach Jerusalem, he asks them to bring him a colt, the foal of a donkey. Then Jesus comes riding on the young donkey (a symbol of peace) and the people present him as king. This fulfills the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9.
The young Jewish men would have learned this prophecy in their synagogues. Perhaps they think Jesus is the king who will bring peace, as Zechariah 9:10 prophesies.
Curiously, after the crowd ushers Jesus into Jerusalem on a donkey with palm branches and coats laid before his feet, and with the sound of praise, he does nothing. The prophecy isn’t unfulfilled. The Lord comes into Jerusalem, looks all around inside the city, and then he exits.
How disillusioning! Where is their king? Why doesn’t he start an uprising? When is the kingdom coming? Could they be wrong about him? How are his actions to be interpreted?
The Right Perception about Jesus
If they were listening, they would remember what Jesus told them in a parable. The people would present him as a king, and then much later, he would reign and bring peace. Jesus didn’t come to deliver his people (the Jews) from their enemies. He came to die for the Jewish nation to restore their relationship to God. He offers them (and later all people) inner peace, forgiveness, and eternal life.
Restoring our relationship to God is more important to Jesus than receiving a prominent position and the recognition he deserves. In the future, Jesus will fulfill the prophecies they are expecting. He will return to this earth to deliver the Jews, reign as king, and bring peace. He can wait for his crowning. Can we?
Are we looking for a savior from our problems? We will never find a political solution to them, no matter whom we elect. However, Jesus can save us from our sin and guilt.
Deliverance from oppression may come later, so what are we to do until Jesus comes returns? Jesus told the Jews what to do in that same parable (Luke 19:11-27). He told them to make good use of the resources he gives them until he comes back. We can also do this. We will be held accountable for how we live, as the Jews will be. When Jesus returns to earth, he will reward us for how we use our resources. If we use them for his glory and the advancement of his kingdom, then we will be ready for his return. That is the correct perception.
Discussion
What was the wrong perspective about Jesus? What is the right one?
