The verses you are going to read today start the beginning of what we think of as Easter. This event we now call Palm Sunday. When I’m writing the devotions, I often read some commentaries to find out what Bible scholars say about the verses. Today the comments come from Warren Wiersbe’s BE Bible Study Series.
John 12: 12 – 19 (NLT)
“The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors 13 took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted,
“Praise God”
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hail to the King of Israel!”
14 Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said:
15 “Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem.
Look, your King is coming,
riding on a donkey’s colt.” (Zachariah 9:9)
16 His disciples didn’t understand at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. But after Jesus entered into his glory, they remembered what had happened and realized that these things had been written about him.
17 Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others about it. 18 That was the reason so many went out to meet him—because they had heard about this miraculous sign. 19 Then the Pharisees said to each other, “There’s nothing we can do. Look, everyone has gone after him!”
There were three different groups in the crowd that day. The Pharisees were there; visitors from outside Jerusalem area were there as well as local people who had witnessed the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Passover was a very special time in Israel and crowds came to Jerusalem. It appears the people were waiting for Jesus – “the news swept through the city”. When you look at what they were shouting, it certainly looks like they were hoping Jesus would free them from Roman rule.
But, what was Jesus thinking about that day?
“For one thing, it was a part of His obedience to the Father’s will. The prophet Zechariah prophesied that the Messiah would enter Jerusalem in that manner, and Jesus fulfilled that prophecy. “Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious,yet he is humble, riding on a donkey – riding on a donkey’s colt.” (Zech. 9: 9) Jesus is openly announcing to the people that He indeed is the King of Israel, the promised Messiah.
What did this demonstration mean to the Romans? Nothing is recorded about the Roman viewpoint, but it is certain that they kept a close watch that day. During the annual Passover Feast, it was not uncommon for some of the Jewish nationalists to try to arouse the people, and perhaps they thought this parade was that kind of an event. I imagine that some of the Roman soldiers must have smiled at the “triumphal entry,” because it was nothing like their own “Roman triumph” celebrations in the city of Rome.
Whenever a Roman general was victorious on foreign soil, killing at least five thousand of the enemy and gaining new territory, he was given a “Roman triumph” when he returned to the city. It was the Roman equivalent of the American “ticker-tape parade,” only with much more splendor. The victor would be permitted to display the trophies he had won and the enemy leaders he had captured. The parade ended at the arena, where some of the captives entertained the people by fighting wild beasts. Compared to a “Roman triumph,” our Lord’s entry into Jerusalem was nothing.
What did the “triumphal entry” mean to the people of Israel? The pilgrims welcomed Jesus, spread their garments before Him, and waved palm branches as symbols of peace and victory (Rev. 7:9). They quoted from Psalm 118:26, which is a messianic psalm, and they proclaimed Him the “King of Israel.” But while they were doing this, Jesus was weeping (Luke 19:37-44)!
The name Jerusalem means “city of peace” or “foundation of peace,” and the people were hoping that Jesus would bring them the peace that they needed. However, He wept because He saw what lay ahead of the nation – war, suffering, destruction, and a scattered people. At His birth, the angels announced “peace on earth” (Luke 2:13-14), but in His ministry Jesus announced “war on earth” (Luke 12:51ff.). It is significant that the crowds shouted “peace in heaven” (Luke 19:38), because that is the only place where there is peace today!
The nation had wasted its opportunities; its leaders did not know the time of God’s visitation. They were ignorant of their own Scriptures. The next time Israel sees the King, the scene will be radically different (Rev. 19:11ff.)! He will come in glory, not in humility, and the armies of heaven will accompany Him. It will be a scene of victory as He comes to defeat His enemies and establish His kingdom.
It is a repeated theme in Scripture that there can be no glory unless first there is suffering. Jesus knew that He must die on the cross before He could enter into His glory (Luke 24:26). The Jewish theologians were not clear in their minds concerning the sufferings of the Messiah and the glorious kingdom that the prophets announced. Some teachers held that there were two Messiahs, one who would suffer and one who would reign. Even our Lord’s own disciples were not clear as to what was going on (see John 11:16).
How did the Jewish leaders respond to the “triumphal entry” of the Lord? As they watched the great crowd gather and honor Jesus, the Pharisees were quite sure that Jesus had won the day. They were anticipating some kind of general revolt during the Passover season. Perhaps Jesus would perform a great miracle, and in that way, capture the minds and hearts of the restless people. How little they really understood the mind and heart of the Master! What they did not realize was that Jesus was “forcing their hand” so that the Sanhedrin would act during the feast. The Lamb of God had to give His life when the Passover lambs were being slain.
The statement, “Behold, the world is gone after him!” (John 12:19) was both an exaggeration and a prophecy.”
Warren Wiersbe – BE Bible Study Series
Our song for today is Hosanna by Paul Baloche.