Rising Expectations

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 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!” Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said: “Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem. Look, your King is coming, riding on a donkey’s colt.” 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. Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others about it. That was the reason so many went out to meet him—because they had heard about this miraculous sign. Then the Pharisees said to each other, “There’s nothing we can do. Look, everyone has gone after him!”

Introduction of Series

Each of the gospels paint a portrait of Jesus:

Matthew - The Promised Messiah. Matthew 1:1 “This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham:” ; The coming King. Matthew 2:2 ““Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.””

Mark - The Suffering Servant. Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.””

Luke - The Son of man. Daniel 7:13 “As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence.” The Son of David. May need to replace this scripture Luke 3:31 “Eliakim was the son of Melea. Melea was the son of Menna. Menna was the son of Mattatha. Mattatha was the son of Nathan. Nathan was the son of David.”

John - The Son of God, 2nd person in the Trinity, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit. John 1:1 “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 17:21 “I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.”

There were 7 Signs recorded in John that are worthy of noting:

7 Signs of Jesus in John

Water to Wine - Jn 2:1-12

Healing the Nobleman’s son - Jn 4:46-54

Healing the man at the pool - Jn 5:1-11

Feeding 5,000 - Jn 6:1-15

Walking on Water - Jn 6:16-21

Healing a man born blind - Jn 9:1-12

*Resurrecting Lazarus - Jn 11

*It was this sign that triggered THE NEWS THAT JESUS WAS ON THE WAY

John 12:17–18 (NLT)

Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others about it.

That was the reason so many went out to meet him—because they had heard about this miraculous sign.

It was the SIGN OF LAZARUS’ RESURRECTION that RAISED EXPECTATION in the hearts of the people.

Expectation was building!

Expectation of Passover

John 12:12 (NLT)

The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors…

NOTE: The Visitors were in Jerusalem for the purpose of celebrating Passover. Notice, they were called PASSOVER VISITORS.

They were there to celebrate this great festival instituted by God.

NOTE, they were there to visit; then, they would pack up their belongings and go back to their own lives.

God is looking for more than just visitors. He is looking for one’s who will unpack their suitcase and say, “God, I’ve made up my mind. I’m not leaving any more.”

Psalm 91:1 “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”

So, What is the significance of Passover?

Elements of Passover. Exodus 12

In Exodus 12, the elements of the Passover are outlined in detail. Here's a breakdown:

1. **The Lamb (Exodus 12:3-6):**

- Instructions for selecting a lamb without blemish on the 10th day of the month.

- Command to keep the lamb until the 14th day.

- Command to slaughter the lamb at twilight.

2. **The Blood (Exodus 12:7):**

- Instruction to take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses where the lamb will be eaten.

3. **Roasted Lamb (Exodus 12:8-9):**

- Command to roast the lamb with fire and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.

- Instruction to not eat it raw or boiled, but roasted.

4. **Unleavened Bread (Exodus 12:8):**

- Instruction to eat the flesh of the lamb that same night, roasted with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.

5. **Bitter Herbs (Exodus 12:8):**

- Instruction to eat the Passover lamb with bitter herbs as a reminder of the bitterness of slavery in Egypt.

6. **Eating in Haste (Exodus 12:11):**

- Command to eat the meal with your belt fastened, sandals on your feet, and staff in hand, ready to leave Egypt.

7. **Passover as a Memorial (Exodus 12:14):**

- Declaration that the Passover meal is to be a memorial, commemorating the Lord's passing over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt when he struck down the Egyptians but spared the Israelites.

What Passover means for us:

Jesus is the lamb slain

It is his blood shed that was applied to the door of my heart.

It is shed blood that defeats sin and thereby death “passes over” my life.

It is Jesus that delivers me from my spiritual Egyptian Bondage and guides me to His promises and provision.

Now, I’m to live in the EXPECTANCY that Jesus in coming again to take me to heaven with him.

Expectation of Praise

John 12:13 NLT

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!”

2 types of Praise

Action Praise - “Took Palm Branches and Went Down the Road”

Palm Branches were ancient symbols of victory.

John 12:13 (Word Studies in the New Testament): Branches of palms. The A. V. overlooks both the articles, the branches of the palms. βαΐα occurs only here in the New Testament, and means palm-branches, or, strictly, tops of the palms where the fruit is produced.

Notice: the Palm Branches come from the “Tops of the palms where the fruit is produced.” And they placed them before Jesus.

The Lord doesn’t want our leftovers. He doesn’t want to be 2nd best. He wants us to lay our Best before Him. The areas in our lives “where fruit is produced.”

Expectation will move us to ACTION PRAISE!

Audible Praise- “They Shouted.”

Psalm 150:6 “Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord!”

Psalm 150:6 NLT

Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord!

John 12:13 NLT

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!”

John 12:13 (ESV) - “So they took branches f palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, ‘Hosanna! blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.”

Praise God! = Hosanna

Hosanna means “Please, LORD, Save Us!”

Hosanna was most famously used in Psalm 118: 25-26

Psalm 118:25–26 NLT

Please, Lord, please save us. Please, Lord, please give us success. Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord.

Their audible Praise was a vocal Expression of Expectancy for the LORD to Save!

Expectation of Prophecy

John 12:14–16 (NLT)

Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said:

“Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem. Look, your King is coming, riding on a donkey’s colt.”

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.

Note: Jesus FULFILLED THE PROPHECY of Zechariah 9:9

Zechariah 9:9 NLT

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.

Note: There are 351 O.T. Prophecies that Jesus fulfilled

This Evidence alone should stir up our Expectation for Jesus to be all that he claims to be in our lives.

If that’s not enough:

We have the…..

The New Testament writings

The Writings of 2 well known Roman historians: Cornelius Tacitus and Flavius Josephus who both spoke to the historical existence of Jesus.

My heart is filled with excitement because Jesus is alive and sits on His throne at the right hand of God.

Jesus had a Triumphal Entry as we read here in John.

Jesus will have another Triumphal entry when He returns for his church.

Before his return, He wants a Triumphal Entry into your heart and life.

The Trilemma

We have a choice today. As we read this passage in John, our expectancy for Jesus to do Great things in our lives should rise. First, we must believe his is Lord!

We are faced with a Trilemma. We believe he is Lord or we don’t.

If He truly is not Lord, He must be something else.

If He is not Lord, then, He is a Lunatic - Jesus claimed to be Lord and was not. But, he was really convinced he was Lord and died for that cause. He was just a crazy man…a lunatic.

If He is not Lord, then, He is a Liar - Jesus claims to be Lord, but knew he was not. He worked diligently to convince people he was someone only to be posing as the Messiah. It went too far, his lie caught up with him and he was crucified.

Lord - Jesus claimed to be Lord! He met the expectation of the Passover. He walked worthy of the Praise. He fulfilled every prophecy of the O.T….He was found guilty of being who he said He was…..and He died for that cause!

We have a choice today. We must believe He is Lord, Lunatic or a Liar.

The evidence clearly states….HE IS LORD!

Now, with that expectation…..We can trust him with our lives!