Reading: John chapter 12 verses 12-17.
Ill:
• After going on a diet, a woman was really feeling good about herself;
• Especially when she was able to fit into a pair of jeans she had outgrown long ago.
• "Look, look!" she shouted while running downstairs to show her husband.
• "I can wear my old jeans again!"
• Her husband looked at her for a long time,
• Obviously struggling with knowing what to say.
• Finally, he just had to say it,
• "Darling, I love you, but those are my jeans."
If you ever get things wrong:
• You are in very good company!
• We all know how you feel because we’ve all been there!
• Some people look at the events of Easter as something that went wrong;
• They think Jesus got backed into a corner he could not get out of!
• Many view him as a martyr;
• A willing victim overtaken by events.
• We know of course that the very opposite is true!
• Jesus was in perfect control of everything he did.
• His entry into Jerusalem was not spontaneous and unplanned;
• Mark in his gospel (chapter 11 verse 1-6) tells us that Jesus sent two disciples ahead.
• They went to find a colt not buy a colt;
• They were only to say; “The Lord has need of it”!
• They returned with it;
• And the entrance of Jesus would be calculated and quite deliberate!
The road to the cross was a….
(1). Road of Destiny (verses 12-13):
“The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.
• The feast of Passover is around March-April;
• It is one of the great festivals of the Jewish year when the people reminded themselves:
• Of the dramatic way in which God had saved them,
• Miraculously rescued them from their Egyptian task-masters (Exodus chapter 12).
• So it was a time of fun and excitement; a party time atmosphere would be in the air.
• Large numbers of people would make the trip to Jerusalem from all over the world!
• The people came expectantly, maybe this year the Messiah would come;
• And set them free from their oppressors - The Romans!
On this occasion it was more enthusiastic and fervent than normal:
• “The great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.
• Those who saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead were in Jerusalem spreading the news.
• The atmosphere was one of absolute expectancy;
• They were going to be the select few who would welcome the Messiah to Jerusalem.
Question: How would the nation recognise their Messiah?
Answer: Twofold:
• One way was word of mouth – news spread of what Jesus was able to do!
• Give sight to blind, cast out demons, heal the sick, even raise the dead!
• The other way to recognise the Messiah;
• Was the Messiah fulfilling prophecies.
Ill:
• If someone arrives at your house claiming to be an ambassador of the Queen,
• You would expect him or her to have proof of who they are!
• Where is your identification;
• Where is your security pass or passport etc.
In a similar way:
• When Jesus arrived on planet earth what credentials of proof to who he was.
• A phrase that you read again and again is this; “So that the scripture might be fulfilled”
• Prophecies written by God in the Old Testament part of the Bible;
• Were fulfilled, sometimes fulfilled in great detail!
Several are fulfilled in this story:
(A). EXAMPLE OF A BROAD PROPHECY:
13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the King of Israel!”
• The words that the crowd shouted;
• Are taken from several Old Testament Psalms.
• Although this was a spontaneous act of devotion to Jesus;
• Their was logic and reason in the crowds choice of words.
• Hosanna originally was a cry to heaven for help;
• It originally meant; “Save us we pray”;
• Later on as language changed, the word changed in its usage;
• And came to signify rejoicing and became an expression of praise.
Ill:
In English we have done the same with the expression “God save the King or Queen”.
• Originally the phrase had a comma “God, (comma) save the King or Queen”.
• In this form it was a prayer.
• Later on the comma was dropped and “God save the King or Queen”.
• Became a shout of praise or honour.
(B). AN EXAMPLE OF A NARROW PROPHECY:
• 500 years before Jesus walked on planet earth;
• A man called Zechariah wrote these words (chapter 9 verse9).
"Rejoice greatly; O Daughter of Zion!
Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See your King comes to you,
righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey".
• And in verses 14- 15 of John chapter 12:
• We will read of this prophecy being fulfilled
• The script had been written in heaven;
• And the people were watching it being acted out in front of their very eyes.
• This is Jesus clearly publicly declaring himself as the Messiah;
• He knew that, the people knew it & so did the religious leaders who looked angrily on!
(2). The ROAD OF DISCOVERY (verse 14-16).
14”Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written,
15Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt.
At first his disciples did not understand all this.
Only after Jesus was glorified did they realise that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.”
The way Jesus entered into Jerusalem was calculated and quite deliberate:
• He was claiming to be the promised king;
• The Messiah that the people had been waiting for.
Ill:
• We tend to think of a donkey as a lowly animal;
• But to the Jew it was a beast fit for a king:
• Ill: Israel’s greatest King, David rode on one
• (1 Kings chapter 1 verses 33-34).
If the disciples and the crowds thought Jesus had come to destroy the Romans,
• They were about to discover they were way off track.
• He had come to defeat a far bigger enemy than Rome – sin, Satan, death!
Ill:
Birthday card which read;
• Outside: “Darling you are the answer to my prayers”
• Inside: “You’re not exactly what I prayed for but apparently you are the answer”
Josephus, the Jewish historian estimates that there may have been close to 2.5 million people in Jerusalem for Passover.
• Had you asked them about the Messiah,
• I would suggest that nearly all would have been looking for a political Messiah.
• But had they read their Old Testaments a little bit harder;
• They would have seen that before he can reign he must die, cross before the crown.
Quote: Zechariah chapter 9 verse9.
"Rejoice greatly; O Daughter of Zion!
Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See your King comes to you,
righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey".
ZECHARIAH IN THAT ONCE VERSE TOLD HIS READERS A NUMBER OF THINGS REGARDING THE MESSIAH:
(1). He would be the cause of joy:
• "Rejoice greatly”
• Did you notice how John changed and paraphrased Zechariah’s quote?
• Instead of the words "Rejoice greatly”.
• In verse 15 John uses the words “Do not be afraid”.
• The people need not fear any enemy;
• As long as the King is among them.
• They might not be able to rejoice in their oppressive circumstances;
• But they can rejoice in their king!
(2). He would be their king:
• The people could "Rejoice greatly; O Daughter of Zion!
• This was no foreign invader coming towards Jerusalem but their long awaited king!
• Notice Mark in his gospel (11:9-10) is more descriptive of what the people shouted.
• Not just “Hosanna”, but “Hosanna in the highest”.
• The one who comes is not only to be sung about on earth;
• But also by the host of heaven, they too are to declare his glory!
• If you compare the gospels (all 4 record this incident);
• You will find a collection of quotes from Psalms 113 to 118.
• The are called Hallel Psalms or praise Psalms;
• They describe the one coming as “Coming in the name of the Lord”.
• The one coming has the authority of almighty God;
• He comes to the people of God, in the city of God!
(3). He would show the crowd what type of messiah he is:
(1). He is the king of peace.
• He enters the city as the ‘Prince of Peace’:
• In war, kings would ride horses, but in peace, they entered the city riding donkeys.
Ill:
• Matthew records how Jesus rode on a colt that had never been ridden before;
• It was unbroken, untamed.
• Apparently it takes eight weeks to break a colt in;
• And another eight weeks or longer to train the young animal to behave in a crowd.
• King Jesus rode an unbroken colt into a cauldron of noise and excitement;
• But the animal was at peace, subject tom its creator and king.
• What Jesus did with this animal; he will on day do for his people, and his world!
• King Jesus will exercise his authority and control – He will reign as the ‘Prince of Peace’:
(2). He is a righteous king.
• Zechariah’ tells us he will enter the city as one who is;
• “Just” or “righteous”,
• Righteousness is seen as an activity of the king;
• His governing, administering justice, encouraging right.
Ill:
• Too many people and nations are run by repressive and authoritarian governments;
• Human rights in many countries are ignored and not even an issue.
• But this coming king, Messiah Jesus is “Just” or “righteous”,
• He is the perfect monarch, the perfect head of state!
(3). He is a victorious king.
• He will bring “Salvation”.
• True to say that ultimately the world in which we live;
• Needs much more than education, reformation or litigation;
• It needs God’s salvation! That salvation is found in King Jesus!
• This description in its context describes one who has been through some ordeal;
• In which he has experienced the Lord’s deliverance and so is victorious.
• Because he is victorious those who accompany him, his subjects;
• Will also experience the salvation he has won.
(4). He is a gentle king.
• Zechariah’ tells us he is “gentle” or “Humble”
• Matthew in his account summarises Zechariah’s description under the one word “Meek”.
• Meekness is not weakness - It is power under control.
• Jesus the man who had all power, never misused it – he used it! – He used it rightly!
Note:
• Old Testament Prophecy often has a two fold fulfilment.
• There is a partial fulfilment and then a later complete fulfilment.
• That would be true of Zachariah’s prophecy;
• Jesus fulfilled part of it during his first advent,
• When he returns and sets up his earthly kingdom,
• He will perfectly complete the whole prophecy!
(4). The ROAD OF Decision (verse 17-19).
“Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word.
18 Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him.
19 So the Pharisees said to one another, See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”
This public parade into Jerusalem is the only time Jesus allowed a public demonstration on his behalf:
• One of the reasons Jesus allowed this to take place;
• Was to force the Jewish leaders to act.
• Matthew chapter 26 verse 3-5 says;
• "That they had hoped to arrest him AFTER Passover".
By entering Jerusalem in the manner Jesus did:
• He is removing all doubts from the religious leaders minds,
• He is making his claim as the Messiah, the king perfectly clear.
• In entering Jerusalem the way he did;
• Jesus is forcing the issue.
• Jesus forces his enemies to change their time-table (regarding his execution);
• So that it will harmonise with his (and with his Father’s).
Quote Ken Gire in his book 'Intense moments with the saviour':
"In so coming Jesus forces the hand of the religious aristocracy.
After this public act, they would have to cast a public vote.
No more meetings behind closed doors. No more plotting in private.
They would have to come out in the open.
They would have to confess him or curse him.
Crown him or kill him".
It is not coincidental that the crowd cry out the Hallel Psalms:
• These Psalms were chanted in the temple whilst the Passover lambs were being slain.
• Jesus entered Jerusalem with a reminder (not that he needed it);
• That here was God’s lamb of God;
• Who would bear away the sin of the world!
