Who is Jesus? Do you know?

Matthew 21:1-11 describes the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem which began the week before He was crucified. In verse 9, some of the people were shouting, “Hosanna, to the Son of David.” In verse 10, others were asking, “Who is this?” It seems there were two groups of people there that day. Some who knew who Jesus was and another group that didn’t. Jesus had spent three years in ministry and literally thousands had followed Him and yet … there was a group of people who didn’t know who He was.

When I thought on that this week, and when I studied it in depth, I came to the realization that there are two groups of people today. There are those who don’t realize that Jesus is “the Way, the Truth and the Life” and there are those who do. There are those who have no time for Jesus on Sunday morning and there are those who would not think of missing church or worship. There are those who live for God and there are those who could care less. But it goes even deeper than that.

The Bible tells us that we must “be born again” if we are going to spend our eternity in Heaven with God. So, if a person has not accepted Jesus as Savior of their life, they would be in the group that don’t “know” who Jesus is. They can go to church, be a good church member, be baptized, and all of that, but if they haven’t accepted the gift of eternal life, they are still in the group of people that don’t “know” who Jesus is.

Why do I say that? Because the Bible says there will be a group of people that God will say to, “Depart from Me, you workers of iniquity, I never knew you.” And then they will say that they have done many wonderful works, and lived their lives for Him, yet He will send them away to outer darkness. Why is this? A person can live their life for God, go to church, be baptized and be part of all of the “religious” activities that are done today, and still not “know” who Jesus is.

Sometimes, I feel like this article is a “broken record” in that I keep saying a person’s good works or religious life will not get them into Heaven. But eternity is such a long time to be wrong. And if what you believed was not the truth, would you want someone to tell you? So, I am asking you to ask yourself which group you are in today. Those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior or those who have accepted religion and what it has to offer. One will get you to Heaven. The other … will not. And that is “Something to Think About” for this week. God bless.

Pastor Thad Gifford is the founding and lead pastor of the Crossroads Community Church, 62 E. Second St., London. He can be reached at (740) 852-7800, e-mail him at sermon8er@aol.com or at their website www.3c-church.org.