Follow The King Series

Today we are continuing our study in the Gospel of John. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, John wrote: “...these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31). Everything Jesus did was according to God the Father’s will so that His Father would be glorified and so we could have eternal life.

John 12:12-26

12 On the next day, when the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 they took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began shouting, “Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, indeed, the King of Israel!” 14 Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: 15 “DO NOT FEAR, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY’S COLT.” 16 These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things for Him. 17 So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him. 18 For this reason also the people went to meet Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are not accomplishing anything; look, the world has gone after Him!”

20 Now there were some Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast; 21 people then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and were making a request of him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip *came and *told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip *came and *told Jesus. 23 But Jesus *answered them by saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 The one who loves his life loses it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

As we can see in this passage people were fascinated with Jesus the King, and even today in our global community, people have a fascination with royalty. Royalty always makes headline news whether it’s a coronation, wedding, a birth, a scandal or death of a royal family member, there is something about these families that bring people out in droves. Why is it that we roll out the red carpet for these people? What is it about them that has sway over us?

If you think about it, in countries where there is no monarchy - it’s the movie stars, athletes, the super intelligent, talented, the rich, famous, and powerful that make headline news and we follow their personal lives, their tweets, their careers, etc. We are enamored by their success and emotionally impacted when they fall. Why do you think this is the case? It is because we were created to worship.

J. R. Tolkien taps into the human psyche in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. He wrote,

We were made by a king, and we were made to be ruled by him. And when the right king reigns, prosperity will again reign over the land.

In his book The Philosophy of Tolkien, Peter Kreeft, professor of philosophy picks up on this point.

We all know what a true king is, a real king, an ideal king, an archetypal king. He is not a mere politician or soldier. Something in us longs to give him our loyalty and fealty and service and obedience. He is lost but longed for and will someday return.

At this point the masses were fascinated with Jesus. What we can see in this passage is the:

? Praise for the King

? Plan of the King

? Purpose of the King

Praise for the King

When Jesus began His journey into Jerusalem, the crowd that were with Him when He raised Lazarus from the dead came with Him and were testifying to those who were coming for the Passover festival that this was the Messiah. There was so much excitement and anticipation in the air that the crowds took palm branches and their coats and spread them on the path leading into the city. As He rode in, they were declaring the OT Scriptures relating to the Promised One upon whom all their expectations for the future centered. “Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD. Indeed, the King of Israel.