Letters to the Prison - Week 138

Hello, everyone.  We’re hoping you’ll join our study of John.  If you need a Bible, ask for one!  Last week, we saw Jesus remind everyone gathered around him that he was going to die soon.  Yet there was Lazarus –a man whom Jesus had raised from the dead—sitting with him.  That’s quite the contrast.  Add to that the contrast between the apparent way Mary was thinking and how Judas (Iscariot) was thinking…  and then let’s consider what John records next:  
• The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,
15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion;
behold, your king is coming,
    sitting on a donkey's colt!”- John 12:12-25

“The next day” would be Monday of the most important week in redemptive history.  And the contrast we’ll eventually see is between what this “large crowd” is saying and doing now… and what many of these same people will be doing and saying in a few short days (even though we won’t see it until we consider John 19:14-15 many weeks from now).  For now, it will be profound enough to consider what this crowd is saying about Jesus:
First, it should be noted that this moment is also recorded in the other three gospels (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; and Luke 19:29-38).  You can read all three to get a clearer account of what happens here.  Next, the act of meeting Jesus with palm branches signifies that this crowd thought of him as their Messiah.  “Hosanna!” can be translated “give salvation now!” which shows that this crowd thought that Jesus was authorized and able to deliver salvation.  This says a lot about who they thought Jesus was.  Further, when the crowd says that Jesus “comes in the name of the Lord” and that he is the “King of Israel,” it becomes clear that this crowd thought that Jesus was their Messiah and King, sent by God to save them and their nation.  Jesus even confirms the truth of this thinking by fulfilling the Old Testament prophecy that the Messiah would arrive riding a “donkey’s colt” (see Zechariah 9:9).
So, this large crowd is correct in greeting Jesus as their Messiah-King.  Jesus certainly doesn’t correct them, but rather confirms the truth of what they’re saying by fulfilling yet another prophecy about himself right then and there.  So, what’s the problem?  Why will we be examining such a radical shift in the crowd’s thinking about Jesus when we get around to chapter 19?  Jesus is their Messiah… they know it.  He’s their King…  they acknowledge it…  Jesus can and will provide for their salvation… they ask for it.  The problem is the difference between the “salvation” this crowd is expecting and the salvation Jesus provides.  They’re looking for freedom from the tyranny of Rome.  Jesus will provide freedom from the tyranny of sin.  They’re looking for a temporal earthly King of an earthly kingdom.  Jesus is the eternal King of God’s Spiritual kingdom.  They’re looking for riches and security on earth.  Jesus is going to provide riches and security in Heaven.  They’re looking for Jesus to redeem the nation of Israel.  Jesus will redeem God’s Holy Nation.  They want everything they’re expecting right away.  Jesus will one day provide everything they are expecting –and so much more— but in God’s perfect timing.  So, there is a huge disconnect between what this crowd is expecting of Jesus and what he will provide… and when they are expecting it and when he will provide it.  Do we have this problem?  What are we expecting of Jesus?  Until next week…  we love you.

Dean A.

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