The Ressurection: John 12:12-16

READ (John 12:12-15)

Hundreds of years before this event, the prophet Zechariah “saw” Zion’s King coming on a donkey’s colt.

Jesus fulfilled Scripture and entered Jerusalem in exactly the manner foretold.

Does God’s plan always make sense to you in the moment?

On this Palm Sunday, I encourage you to embrace God’s promises found in scripture.

1. Prepared for sacrifice.

“next day” - the Lord’s day, or Sunday.

the tenth day of the Jewish month Nisan.

On this day, the pashal lamb was set part.

“Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month they must each select an animal of the flock according to their fathers’ families, one animal per family.” (Ex. 12:3)

“You are to keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembly of the community of Israel will slaughter the animals at twilight.: (Ex. 12:6)

From the day of this solemn entry into Jerusalm, “Christ our Passover” was virtually set apart to be sacrificed for us.

“Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new unleavened batch, as indeed you are. For Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed.” (1 Cor. 5:7)

Jesus entered the holy city of Jersualem fully aware of purpose in front of him. Nothing random. No mistakes or accidents.

How do our opinions (about the world, culture, our experiences) frame our understanding of Jesus?

Jesus entered Jerusalem in obedience to God and was not focused on the cheers of the crowd. He had a mission; a purpose. He entered Jerusalem to die.

This is our Savior. The lamb of God. The passover lamb whose blood covered the door frames of our life.

Jesus set himself apart to be sacrificed for the sins of man.

2. Desire for a King.

The population of Jerusalem was swelled by this time. Being Passover, many had traveled from far and wide to be in the holy city.

Josephus, a 1st century Jewish writer, says that when a count was taken on one occasion the numbers present for Passover reached 2,700,000. We don’t really know.

What we do know is that a vast number of people were present in the city on this day. No doubt influenced by Jesus’ growing fame.

Palm branches were used by the Jews as the Feast of Tabernacles and the Feast of Dedication as a part of worship. Palm branches were also used as symbols of victory and kingship. Jesus was welcomed into the city as the conquering Messiah.

“Lord, save us! Lord, please grant us success! He who comes in the name of the Lord is blessed. From the house of the Lord we bless you.” - (Psalm 118.25-26)

The world is crying out for Jesus and they often don’t realize it.

Make no mistake, many of the people worshipping Jesus on this day would be turned against him days later by the Jewish leaders and call for his blood.

We were created in the image of God to know him in worship.

That is why we are so good at offering worship to other people, objects, and ourselves.

Sin broke us from worshipping God alone.

And yet, our souls are crying out for the Lord.

We were created to cry out to God.

3. Living in Divine Reality.

Jesus didn’t enter Jerusalem on a horse prepared for battle.

Why a donkey?

Because Zech. 9:9 said that he would.

In the moment, the disciples were unaware of the scriptures. Once Jesus was raised from the dead, they would understand that the prophecy of Jesus had been fulfilled.

Jesus lived a divine life. He fulfilled over 300 prophecies from the Old Testament. There was nothing random in his actions.

The OT prophecies about the Messiah were written hundreds of years before his birth, yet they were fulfilled in his life accurately and in detail.

“Why would God let this or that happen?” Make sure you look as see if the scriptures said it would happen.

Fulfilled prophecy like this one testify to the divine inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture. This should encourage all believers to trust that the Bible is indeed the authoritative Word of God.

What reality are you living in?

The “this” or “that”?

Jesus proved his divine reality when he entered Jersualem for holy week.