The reason to Cheer
John 12:12-19
Introduction
We will look for the next two weeks at the earthly life of Jesus.
We will take a break from our series and will finish that up after Easter.
This time period of Jesus spans over 30 years from His miraculous birth to His horrifying death, to His supernatural resurrection.
For us as believers, this is the life-blood of our faith.
If you take any part of this out, the plan of salvation would not have been accomplished and our faith would be hopeless and without merit.
Christmas and Easter are the beginning and the conclusion of the accomplished plan of God to redeem mankind.
You cannot separate the two. You cannot believe one and not the other.
The gospel is the good news of God. It is the birth, life, death, resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny are not a part of the plan of God.
The Bible lays out the plan of God to bring a redeemer for mankind.
We see that the fallen sin nature of man is addressed in the saving power of Jesus Christ.
We read what will happen to Jesus and we read what Jesus will accomplish.
The victory will be talked about next week as we look at Easter. The celebration of the resurrection- “it is finished”
As Jesus is winding down his earthly ministry, we see the plan of God as it unfolds.
We see a number of people who walked with Jesus but never knew Him.
We see people with sin in their hearts, used as tools to complete the task of Jesus even though they thought they were stopping the plan of God.
We see people one day cheering and a few days later letting a convicted killer go free and yelling crucify Jesus.
Luke 19 tells of Jesus going into Jerusalem and His weeping over the city. The reason He is weeping? Because He came to the Jews in the person of Jesus Christ the messiah, and they did not recognize Him.
Why was Jesus weeping? The same reason that He is weeping today.
They did not understand who He was.
They did not see or want to see what He was accomplishing.
They did not see how much they needed Jesus.
Their hearts were hard, and Jesus was looking at their hearts.
John 12:12-19 text
It is John’s account of the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem for what we call the passion week or Palm Sunday.
In that crowd that day was many different people. They looked like each other, but there were many different attitudes, beliefs, traditions, problems, and many different motives for them being there that day.
The majority of the crowd was there for the celebration of the Passover. The Jewish Passover was a celebration of the death angel passing over their house because of the blood of the lamb, and God leading them out of bondage.
Josephus the church historian estimated the crowd there to be over 2 million people.
Many different people from different areas converging on the streets of Jerusalem for the Passover.
I picture that to look like New York’s New Years Eve at Times Square.
Maybe even like Marty Gras because I am sure some took advantage of people that needed to buy sacrifices and needed a place to stay.
You see in verse 12 that the crowd that came for the Passover heard that Jesus was coming and they took Palm branches and went out shouting “Hosanna; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; blessed is the king of Israel.”
Jesus rode into the city of Jerusalem on a donkey in the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.
Now, like I said, there were many different people in that crowd that day.
One group was the Roman Soldiers.
They were there to make sure that the crowd did not get out of hand, keep control for Jewish Passover.
Jesus rides in on a donkey, to the great army of Rome that had to be a joke.
They were warned not to let it get out of hand, heard Jesus would be there and He shows up on a donkey. That had to be amusing to them.
I bet there were some Jesus jokes being said.
I can picture then and I have seen now people making fun of Jesus.
People making a joke of His authority.
People making a mockery of Him.
Laughing at people who worship and serve God.
Another in the crowd were the Pharisees. They did battle with Jesus.
He called them “vipers” he looked them in the eyes and called them two-faced because they took advantage of God’s people for personal gain.
They heaped law after law on them and instead of Jesus lifting the load of the law, they put more on the people.
They hated Jesus not only for what he did, but what he represented. He said they could get close to God, and have a relationship with Him.
Another group was the seekers. We see them in chapter 12:9 “Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.”
These people were not necessarily there to see Jesus, but to see a dead man who had been raised from the dead by Jesus. To see what he looked like. To see if he would do it again.
I picture the rubber-neckers who pass by an accident and want to see the injured with no regard to helping but just to check it out and to say that they were there.
The ones looking for Jesus to do another miracle , maybe feed the multitudes- thrill seekers hoping to be at the right place at the right time so that they might receive something.
Many are in churches today, not to see Jesus, but to be with their friends.
Social butterflies looking where they can land for awhile. Always looking but never getting involved.
People in big churches, not for Jesus, but to promote their businesses, or to be in socially accepted.
They don’t come for the worship, but to see who will be singing.
They don’t invest , they came strictly for the free show.
They came for the food and entertainment, not Jesus.
They don’t follow Jesus, they follow the action.
How many were in that crowd saying what can you do for me Jesus?
What will you give me?
Their actions did not match their supposed loyalty and profession of faith.
I will serve God as long as it is a benefit to me.
Every time I need God, I want to be able to dial him up and Him answer my prayers.
Love the promises of God, but don’t want to hear the consequences of not following.
It is tragic and it breaks the heart of God
Religion becomes political
Man rejects Christ because the world seems to have a better offer.
We are willing to give up eternity for a moment of pleasure now.
Mark 7:6-
“He replied, Isaiah was right when he prophesized about you hypocrites, as it is written; these people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”
Matt23:28-
“In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.”
I have a question for you this morning- next week we celebrate the greatest event of our Christian faith. Jesus came (Christmas) and Jesus died for your sins and mine (perfect sacrifice) and He was resurrected by God the Father (Easter)
How do you process that? What does that mean to you personally?
They had the wrong idea of Jesus, they wanted a warrior to defeat that great Roman army of Rome.
They wanted a King- Jesus wanted to be their savior.
They wanted him to change Rome- he wants to change us.
They saw Rome as the problem- Jesus says we are the problem. He is the answer.
Maybe we know this story too well. Maybe when the preachers come to their pulpits, all the people hear is blah, blah, blah, instead of the wow factor of what Jesus did for us.
Jesus came into the city of Jerusalem riding on a donkey with a army of disarmed disciples. (That had to be a joke to many) but it was the plan of God and it was worked to perfection.
“For the Son of man is come to seek and save those that are lost.” Luke 19:10
That was his mission!
Closing,
That crowd went from cheering to crucify him in a manner of a few days. Why?
Because they did not have a relationship with Jesus.
They wanted what they thought that He owed them.
Take care of the Romans- didn’t happen.
Meet my needs now- didn’t happen.
He cried over Jerusalem because they did not get it.
Jesus cares for our eternity more than he cares for our right now!
He cares about our relationship with him over our comfort.
It’s Friday and Sunday is coming- so to speak.
They deserted Jesus because it was a shallow relationship
People have shallow relationship with God, family, job, neighbors.
Shallow relationships don’t see you through the tough times, especially without God.
No more Roller coasters
You can only keep praise on your lips if you keep your eyes on Jesus and not your circumstances.
Get at the foot of the cross and don’t leave until you know for sure you are right with your relationship.
Hebrews 12:2
“looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross and set down on the right hand of God.”
Altar Call.
