Scripture: The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 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!” And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!”
His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”
John 12:12-19 ESV
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Observation: Recapping yesterday’s Daily Focus, per an invitation from Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, Jesus returns to their house in Bethany six days before Passover. As the celebration begins, Mary applies a pound of expensive ointment to Jesus’ feet (a year’s wages) and wipes them with her tears (a sign of gratitude and devotion). Judas disingenuously expresses his disapproval under the guise that Mary could have sold the nard and given the proceeds to the poor. But Jesus defends Mary’s loving gesture and tells Judas to leave her alone, noting that she will need the remainder for the day of his burial, adding that there will always be opportunities to serve the poor, but his time is running out.
John then reports that a large crowd of Jews who hear of Jesus’ return to Lazarus’ house converge on Bethany to see Jesus and Lazarus (the walking billboard of Jesus’ Messianic powers). Consequently, the chief priests scheme to kill Lazarus to destroy all evidence and squelch the growing number of Jesus’ followers.
Today’s story picks up the next day after the dinner party (Sunday), five days before Passover. All four Gospels record this monumental event, the Triumphant Entry, designated on our church calendar as Palm Sunday. Its name draws on verse 13 (where John tells us the crowd laid palm branches over the path where Jesus entered). As many had witnessed or heard the reports of Jesus’ messianic signs, much anticipation surrounded Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. Thus, the crowd exuberantly shouts two verses from one of King David’s psalms of ascent (Psalm 118:25-26). Indeed, this would be a familiar hymn that pilgrims would joyfully sing as they entered Jerusalem for each Passover celebration.
Meanwhile, the chief priests are stricken with fear over the testimony of those who witnessed Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead. So, John tells us the Pharisees in attendance discuss the urgency of executing Jesus, noting that delaying their plan will gain nothing, for “the world has gone after him” (v.19). Lastly, as a side note, John confesses that Jesus’ disciples (including John) did not comprehend the magnitude of this event until after Jesus’ crucifixion and glorification.
Takeaway: As discussed in a prior Daily Focus from the parallel passage of Matthew (21:1-11), Jerusalem would be teeming with devout Jews converging from all parts of the Greco-Roman empire for this pinnacle feast. Jesus’ descent from the Mount of Olives across the Kidron Valley would evoke images of Zechariah’s prophecy of the Lord fighting against the nations and liberating Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:1-21. Indeed, even the palm branches they laid before Jesus symbolized nationalism and victory. However, their Messiah entered not on a warhorse but on a lowly donkey, a symbol of peace (see Judges 5:9-10 and 1 Kings 1:33-34), for his battle is not against flesh and blood but against sin that robs us of peace. Thus, Jesus, unaffected by their mercurial enthusiasm and praise, will soon weep over the populace, who mistakenly seek peace through might rather than reconciliation (see Luke 19:42-44).
Our takeaway? Our desires and expectations for good things often get in the way of God’s best. And when the outcome goes south, we blame God. Sometimes, like the many who would later turncoat and demand Jesus’ crucifixion, our misplaced and dashed feelings of hope can spur resentment that drives us away from him.
Our part? How do we avoid this misstep? Here are three suggestions:
- Turn to the breadth of God’s Word to grasp the bigger picture. Those familiar with the prophecies of the coming Messiah and Jerusalem’s restoration (like the above reference in Zechariah 14:1-11) would have benefited from reading and reflecting on all the passages. Consider Zechariah 9:9, which tells us that the messianic king of Israel would appear in humility without pomp and ceremony.
- Turn to the Holy Spirit to apply God’s Word to us. As John tells his readers, he and the other disciples did not understand all that unfolded. But it all became apparent after the glorification of Jesus (implying during the forty days before his ascension). While we do not have the glorified Christ explaining Scripture to us, we do have his Holy Spirit, our Helper, who teaches us all things and will bring to our memories his Word (John 14:26).
- Turn to Jesus and praise him. Praise is the best antidote to turn us away from bitterness and disillusionment when God does not meet our expectations. As the Book of Acts portrays, when Jesus’ apostles suffered rejection, persecution, and imprisonment, they rose above their suffering to appropriate the Prince of Peace’s joy through praise.
In sum, when we turn to Scripture and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we will grasp the bigger picture and understand our small part in due time. But we must exercise patience and humility and offer our praises in the waiting. Solomon’s wise words fit here: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV).
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for your Son, our Prince of Peace, who has triumphantly ridden into our hearts and reconciled us with you. We confess, though, that we sometimes impose our expectations onto how your Son works through us to grow his kingdom. And we are prone to rationalize our wants and desires as yours. So, please help us grasp the bigger picture by reading and reflecting on the breadth of Scripture under the guidance of your Holy Spirit while offering our praises. Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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