The King Has Come For You Series

The King Has Come for You

The Gospel of John

John 12:9-18

Sermon by Rick Crandall

Grayson Baptist Church - May 17, 2017

(Revised December 11, 2019)

BACKGROUND:

*Please open your Bibles to John 12, as we focus on one of the greatest wonders of Christianity. Today's Scripture took place on the day that we call Palm Sunday. It was the day of the Lord's triumphal entry into Jerusalem. And it was a very important moment in the mission of our Lord, important enough to be recorded in all four Gospels. By this time, Jesus had already raised Lazarus from the dead, and we are less than a week away from the cross. (1)

*One of the most important things to know about this Scripture is that when Jesus Christ went into Jerusalem 2,000 years ago, He was firmly committed to die on the cross for our sins. Jesus did not ride into Jerusalem to receive praise from His adoring fans. Jesus rode into the city with His heart fixed firmly on the cross. Luke 9:51 says: "Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem."

*As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, He was determined to die for us. John reminds us of this truth in vs. 9-11:

9. Then a great many of the Jews knew that He was there (i.e. there eating with Lazarus); and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.

10. But the chief priests took counsel that they might also put Lazarus to death,

11. because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.

*You see, the unbelieving chief priests had wanted to kill Jesus for months. And after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, the religious rulers made the Lord's death a matter of official policy. In John 11:47-54:

47. . . the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs.

48. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.''

49. And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all,

50. nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.''

51. Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,

52. and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.

53. Then from that day on they plotted to put Him to death.

54. Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples.

*Now here in John 12, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday, and He knew He was riding into the jaws of death. But Jesus did that out of His love for both His Father and us!

*William Barclay explained: "Never in the world's history has there been such a display of magnificently deliberate courage as the Triumphal Entry. We must remember that Jesus was an outlaw and that the authorities were determined to kill him. All prudence would have warned him to turn back for Galilee or the desert places.

*If he was to enter Jerusalem at all, all caution would have demanded that he enter secretly and go into hiding. But he came in such a way as to focus every eye upon himself. It was an act of the most superlative courage. . . And it was an act of the most superlative love, for it was love's last appeal before the end. (2)

*With this background in mind, let's read John 12:9-18, and see what the Lord's triumphal entry into Jerusalem means for us today.

MESSAGE:

*Christians: Aren't you glad that Jesus came down that road 2,000 years ago? -- Yes, of course! But one of the greatest wonders of Christianity is that Jesus Christ has come here too. By His Holy Spirit, our risen Savior has come here today just as surely as He went into Jerusalem 2,000 years ago. The King has come! And He wants to come to you.

1. FIRST JESUS COMES AS THE LORD OF LIFE.

*Verses 9-11 remind us of this great truth. John said:

9. Then a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.