A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

SALVATION UNTO US HAS COME THROUGH JESUS      

Matthew 21:14-15 “The blind and the lame came to Him at the temple, and He healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things He did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.” 

The blind and lame came to Jesus for healing. The children who were at the temple acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah with their words, “Hosanna to the Son of David.” However, the chief priests and teachers at the temple wanted nothing to do with Jesus.   

The men who should have recognized Jesus as the Messiah, refused to believe. They did everything in their power to turn the people away from Jesus. They were adamant in their own rejection of Him and they wanted all of Israel to join them in their rejection. 

Ever since Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem’s manger some have worshipped Him and others have rejected Him. The critical question of this devotion is what about you? Who do you say He is? Do you believe He is the promised Son of God, sent by Yahweh to take away the sins of the world? Or, are you in the camp of the chief priests and teachers wanting nothing to do with Him? 

Romans 10:9-10 says your very salvation, your eternity, depends upon who you believe Jesus to be. These two verses simply say, “ If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”   

Prayer: Holy Spirit, fill my heart with faith that I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in my heart God raised Him from the grave. In His holy name. Amen. 

Salvation unto us has come By God’s free grace and favor;  
Good works cannot avert our doom, They help and save us never.  
Faith looks to Jesus Christ alone,
Who did for all the world atone;  He is our one Redeemer. 

Yet as the Law must b e fulfilled Or we must die despairing,  
Christ came and has God’s anger stilled, Our human nature sharing.  
He has for us the Law obeyed
And thus the Father’s vengeance stayed Which over us impended. 

Since Christ has full atonement made And brought to us salvation,  
Each Christian therefore may be glad And build on this foundation.  
Your grace alone, dear Lord, I plead
Your death is now my life indeed, For You have paid my ransom. 

Let me not doubt, but only see Your Word cannot be broken;  
Your call rings out, “come unto Me!” No falsehood have You spoken.
 Baptized into Your precious name,   
My faith cannot be put to shame, And I shall never perish. 

The Law reveals the guilt of sin And makes us conscience-stricken;  
But then the Gospel enters in The sinful soul to quicken.  
Come to the cross, trust Christ, and live;  
The Law no peace can ever give, No comfort and no blessing. 

Faith clings to Jesus’ cross alone And rests in Him unceasing;  
And by its fruits true faith is known, With love and hope increasing.  
For faith alone can justify; Works serve our neighbor and supply  
The proof that faith is living. 

All blessing, honor, thanks and praise To Father, Son, and Spirit,  
The God who saved us by His grace; All glory to His merit.  
O triune God in heav’n above, You have revealed Your saving love;  
Your blessed name we hallow.  

Salvation unto Us Has Come // LSB 555 (Selected verses)