Recognizing Jesus

“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing, some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” (Heb. 13:2)

“God doesn’t look at our outward appearance as He does our hearts.” (1 Sam. 16:7)

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you, righteous and having salvation is He, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zech. 9:9)

“A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Hosanna in the highest heaven!!’ “When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, ‘Who is this?’” (Matt. 21:8-10)

1. Live Your Faith as , not .

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me.” (Matt. 16:24)

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Phil. 2:4)

What does being Christ-centered and putting others first mean?

1. Make studying the Word of God and prayer an integral part of our daily life.

1. , , and

“Only a life lived in the service of others is worth living.” Albert Einstein

“Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in Him. This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: ‘Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?’ For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: ‘He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn – and I would heal them.’ Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about Him. Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in Him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God.” (John 12:37-43)

1. Beware of the influence!

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Rom. 12:2)

“On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as He taught them, He said, ‘Is it not written: My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.’” (Mark 11:15-17)

1. Arise and Awake with !

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” (Heb. 12:1)