In what we call "the Triumphal Entry" Jesus officially presented Himself to Israel as their long promised Messiah (Hebrew- "Anointed One"). It was the time of Israel's annual observance of the Passover feast. The Passover celebrated the time when God spared the first born males from death back when the Israelites were slaves in Egypt (Exodus 12). God told the Israelites to take a lamb without blemish and sacrifice it. He directed them to splash some of the lamb's blood on the crosspiece above the front door and on the posts on each side. Then God promised, "…when I see the blood I will pass over you…" Exodus 12:13.

     Early on Sunday morning four days before the Passover sounds of a great commotion could be heard coming from the Mount of Olives located east of Jerusalem. Suddenly, a great throng of people burst over the brow of the Mount of Olives. They were cutting branches from trees and casting them, along with coats off their backs, on the road where a donkey colt would carry Jesus. As they did so they shouted "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!" And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, "Who is this?" Matthew 21:9, 10.

     In these early hours of the first day of the week it seemed the momentum favored Jesus being accepted as Israel's Messiah. That momentum would change. This was the first of four days in which each family examined a lamb they had chosen for the Passover sacrifice to be sure it was without spot or blemish. During these same four days Jesus would be examined by Israel's religious leaders and Rome's political leaders. Although they would no fault in Jesus the religious leaders would persuade the majority of Israelis in Jerusalem to change their cries of "Hosanna!" to "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" Hidden from their understanding was the fact that the Passover lamb was a picture of Jesus, the Lamb of God, Whose blood takes away the sin of the world." (John 1:29).

     On that first Sunday morning when Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem they had asked, "Who is this?" After four days of opportunity to find out, they came up with the wrong answer.

     With the scriptures as our guide, let us consider Jesus and seek to find the right answer to the question, "Who is this?"

     The LORD God appeared to Moses in a burning bush and commissioned him to lead Israel out of Egypt to Canaan. Moses asked what he should tell Israel was God's name and God said, "I AM WHO I AM (Exodus 3:1-15). Consider well these words of Jesus, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." John 8:58 (See also John 8:21, 24, 28)

     In Isaiah 6 we have the record of Isaiah seeing the Lord God in His glory in the Temple in Jerusalem. The Apostle John quotes this chapter and tells us that Isaiah "saw His (Jesus) glory, and he spoke of Him." (John 12:37-41).

     Isaiah prophesied, "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel" Isaiah 7:14. Matthew tells us that the birth of Jesus fulfilled this prophesy and that the name Immanuel means, "God with us." Matthew 1:22, 23 (See also Isaiah 9:6, 7)

     The apostle John begins his gospel by stating explicitly that Jesus was God, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God…And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, fill of grace and truth." John 1:1 & 14.

     On that first Sunday night after Jesus had risen from the dead ten apostles told Thomas, "We have seen the Lord." Thomas responded, "Unless I shall see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe." The following Sunday night Jesus appeared again and invited Thomas to do just that. Instead, Thomas answered, "My Lord and my God." (John 20:24-28) If Thomas had been wrong about calling Jesus "my God" Jesus would have corrected him. John went on to say that this event was one of many things he had written to encourage his readers to "believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God".

     The Apostle Paul revealed that before coming into this world "Jesus …existed in the form of God…." (Philippians 2:5, 6). After entering this world that "…in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form." (Colossians 2:9) and that one of the characteristics of all true believers is "looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus." (Titus 2:13).

     This small sample of many similar scriptures clearly reveals that Jesus is the eternal Son of God.

     The very name Jesus means "God is salvation". The angel of the Lord told Joseph to name Mary’s baby son Jesus "for He  will save His people from their sins." Matthew 1:21

     Virtually all branches of Christianity have under emphasized the High Priestly ministry of Jesus Christ. This truth is the preeminent theme of our New Testament book of Hebrews. Here are some of the most important aspects:

1. The High Priesthood of Jesus Christ replaced the Levite priesthood of Israel and the human line of high priests that descended from Aaron. (Hebrews 7:11-8:13).
2. The one sacrifice of Jesus stands in vivid contrast with the Old Testament priesthood. The Old Testament priests offered millions of sacrifices that covered sins for temporary periods of time and could never take away sin (Hebrews 10:1-4). Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice for sin once for all. (Hebrews 7:27; 9:2-28). Christ's one sacrifice sanctifies and perfects believers in the eyes of God forever (Hebrews 10:9-14)
3. Jesus is an active Intercessor on behalf of each believer and saves them forever since He always lives to make intercession for them (Hebrews 7:25. See also Romans 5:9, 10 and 1^st John 2:12).
4. Under the Mosaic law the high priest went into the presence of God once each year to represent God's people (Hebrews 9:7.8). With Jesus as our great high priest every believer may go through Him directly to God's throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16.

Jesus was prophesied to rise again and be a living Savior. "Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope.. For You wilt not leave my soul in Sheol;  Nor wilt You allow Your Holy One to see corruption." Psalm 16:9. 10. The apostles Peter and Paul described how this prophesied the resurrection of Jesus from the dead (Acts 2:25-36; 13:33-39). Through this living Savior sinful mankind can receive forgiveness of sins and acceptance into God's family