He's My King Series

“He’s My King”

John 12:12-19

It is now late March, and the Feast of the Passover is near. We are now in the last week of the Lord’s earthly ministry. The witnesses to the raising of Lazarus return to Jerusalem, broadcasting their sensational news, which is under-scored by the presence of the former dead man himself, who is living proof of this miracle. Because of this there are those who place their faith in Christ as the Lord and Savior. This did not sit at all well with the religious authorities and the only action that they can think of that what will lead to a suitable solution is kill Jesus and Lazarus too (12:9-10). So even as Jesus enters the city of Jerusalem on Passover plans are already being made to kill him.

In verse twelve we read, “The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, (13) took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ The King of Israel!” (14) Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: (15) “Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey’s colt.”

Some of those who witnessed Jesus arrive in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday will decide to reject Jesus as King because He was not the “kind of king” they were looking for. And whatever people may say today, “Jesus Is King” and my Bible says in Romans 14:11 “that one day every knee will bow and every tongue will be forced to proclaim that he is Lord!” Two thousand years ago as a symbol that He was the Messiah He rode a donkey into the city of Jerusalem. But according to Rev 19:11 when He returns it will be with the Host of Heaven and next time it will be with a demonstration of great power, He will be riding a White Stallion.

First, The Revelation of Jesus as King.

That Jesus should make His entrance into Jerusalem on this particular day in history was no coincidence. What transpired on the streets of Jerusalem was not a spontaneous demonstration… Jesus intended for it to happen.On every previous occasion when the crowd has tried to proclaim Jesus as king He had slipped away, but not this time. He often says, “My time is not yet come.” When He raises Jairus’ daugh-ter, He tells His Disciples not to say anything to anyone about it (Mark 5:43). When He came down from the Mount of Transfiguration, He tells those who have witnessed it to tell no one (Matt. 17:9). Why does He act so differently now? Because now the time is right and Jesus removes all doubt about His identity. Jesus now purposely draws attention to Himself.

Jesus meant for this to happen, and He meant for this to happen at that time! Passover was a yearly celebration commemorating the freeing of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. On the night called Passover God struck down every first-born child of the Egyptians (As well as in any Hebrew home that had not applied the blood to the doorpost.). This devastating plague led to the release of the Jews from bondage.

God told the Israelites to sacrifice a lamb and to take the blood of that lamb and apply it to their doorpost of their homes. This blood of the lamb would be recognized by the Angel of Death as protecting the first-born child that lived within that home. It was meant to be a picture that pointed to another Lamb who would die in our place to free us from a much greater slavery, a slavery to sin and death.

• The Passover Lamb

It is not only likely that Jesus entered the city surrounded by sheep headed for sacrifice at the Temple but that at the very time Jesus was dying on the cross… the sacrificial lambs were being slaughtered for the Passover feast. The most important reason why Jesus entered Jerusalem, particularly on the day He did was to show Himself to be our Passover. He was the Lamb of God taking on the sins of the world.

• Such is the magnificent love of the Savior for you!

So how could you wonder if God could possibly love you? Some would perhaps be saying, “But I have failed him. One can be so ashamed that it is impossible to imagine that God could still care about them. But Jesus is not surprised by our failures. He came to Jerusalem in order to deliver us from such things. He knows what we have done and wants to make us clean and to set us free. His invitation is simple, "Come to me, all you who are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest." Why would one hide from the very One who wants to love you more than you have ever been loved before? Maybe it's time to stop hiding and to start believing.