"A Welcome Fit for a Lamb" John 12:12-16

Introduction:

We need to remember that John’s gospel is emphasizing the Divine nature of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We must keep this in mind because from the very beginning of John’s gospel this has been his objective.

Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God who has come into the world to save sinners, and to reconcile them to God in right relationship.

When we think of the divine nature of Christ it is not that hard for us to imagine such a welcome as what took place on that original Palm Sunday.

If Jesus Christ is divine in His identity it would only seem right that He would receive a heroes welcome with people ready to make Him King.

One might even say that that original Palm Sunday was “a welcome fit for a King.”

But the people who greeted Jesus on that day didn’t really understand what was truly happening.

You see instead of embracing God’s plan of covenant redemption they had a fascination with Jesus as being the Messiah that everybody wanted.

Look back at your text at the public fascination in verses 12-13.

I. The Public Fascination (12-13).

In the minds of the people on that original Palm Sunday this was the beginning of their political liberation from Roman oppression.

In this day the population of Jerusalem was normally around 50,000. But at the time of the Passover the population would swell above 250,000 people.

Our text just simply says it was a “large crowd” that had gathered for the feast (12a).

But word of Jesus had spread because of Lazarus being raised from the dead.

John’s gospel connects the dots for us between the raising of Lazarus and the crowds going out to meet Him down in verses 17-18.

You see the public fascination with Jesus was not necessarily because of His identity as the Son of God, nor was it because of what Messiah came to do but because of the miracle of raising Lazarus.

And there is something very appropriate about their fascination but it was short sighted.

They were thinking of the political implications of their deliverance from Roman oppression. Having a King to establish them as a viable nation with political freedom was something that they longed for for generations.

The salvation they were crying out for was a political salvation.

There have been many noble causes in this world throughout history even up to the current day.

And there have been many that have been less than noble, even up to the current day.

And there are many examples of legitimizing such causes by attaching Jesus to the cause.

Today it is common to connect Jesus to politics in some circles on the left side and the right side of the political landscape.

This is nothing new. Regardless if it is the Jews against the Romans when Jesus walked the earth. Or whether it is the democrats against the republicans in our current time there can still be that temptation to justify a political position by attaching Jesus to the cause.

But individuals do it too. We can desire something in this world so much that we attach Jesus to it in an attempt to justify our ambition.

This can set us up for disappointment and it can even bring about a faith crisis in our lives. Because we can be so certain of our desires and ambitions and attach Jesus to those desire and ambitions and be spiritually dumbfounded when they don’t come to pass.

And we may even entertain such ideas that God failed in bringing it to pass. And such experiences challenge our faith.

I am reminded of Joshua’s encounter just prior to the conquest of Jericho in Joshua 5:13–14: 13 When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” 14 And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?”

Joshua: whose side are you on? Are you friend or foe?

The man with the drawn sword declares: No, I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come (14).

And Joshua falls on his face to worship and he goes from a warrior mentality into a servant mentality.

In both scenarios whether it be a society, group or an individual to attach Jesus to our cause is to live like we control God instead of Him controlling us. It is to live like we are sovereign and He is not. God is on His own side and He has incorporated us into His plan and purpose in Christ.

He will give us the desires of our hearts when they align with His plan and purpose. Our lives are ultimately for a higher purpose than just ourselves. We don’t shape God to fit us but God shapes us to fit Him.

To shape God and His plan in Jesus Christ to fit us also minimizes the grand and glorious purpose of Jesus and His work as the fulfillment of God’s plan of redemption. Look back to your text to verses 14-15:

II. The Prophetic Fulfillment (14-15).

When I say prophetic fulfillment I am referring to these events taking place according to divine appointment in keeping with the revealed plan of God.

In other words these events on this original Palm Sunday are providentially ordered.

And what do we see? The Lord, the King of Glory riding into town on a donkey.

And as always, the human perspective is limited but the divine perspective is crystal clear. John under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit recollects Zechariah 9:9. But it is not an exact quote. Zechariah 9:9 begins with the words, “rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion” but John has it here as “Fear not, daughter of Zion.” And the reference in John 12:15 is more of a paraphrase of Zechariah 9:9.

Why does John do this? Well I believe it is because he has more than Zechariah 9:9 on his mind. I believe that the concepts of the Messiah and His Kingdom from the prophetic testimony that were coming to pass on that day go beyond just some people waving palm branches to shouts of salvation.

I believe D.A. Carson in his work on John’s gospel gets it right regarding John’s Zechariah reference when he says: The quotation bears closer inspection. The opening words, Do not be afraid, are found neither in the Hebrew nor in any version of Zechariah 9:9, and replace ‘Rejoice greatly’. Quite likely they are drawn from Isaiah 40:9, where they are addressed to the one who brings good tidings to Zion (Pillar).

Carson is not alone in this view. So the question would be what does Isaiah 40:9 have to do with the triumphal entry on that original Palm Sunday? Well Isaiah 40:9–11 says, “9 Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” 10 Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.”

If you are familiar with John’s gospel you can see some common themes but the reference to “fear not” is tied to the declaration of “Behold your God!” in verse 9.

John appears to be connecting the identity of the Messiah King of Zechariah 9:9 to the declaration of deity in Isaiah 40:9. In other word your King o Zion is your God, they are one and the same. And this fits perfectly with the over-arching theme of John’s gospel.

This would emphatically remind us this morning that Palm Sunday is not a display of weakness. That is how the world views such things like riding a donkey and not a white horse. But Palm Sunday is a display of power and dominion and provision and care at the same time through God Himself acting on our behalf as our sovereign King. It is a glorious day.

And His own disciples, including John didn’t understand this at first. It took a little while for the events to unfold over the coming days as John 12:16 tells us, “16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.”

Conclusion

If you don’t encounter and understand Jesus Christ in the context of His divine identity and purpose. And if that identity and purpose isn’t solidified in your mind and heart as an eternal truth that cannot be tampered with you will always struggle with the temptation to fashion Him to be who you want Him to be. It is hard because the paradox of the person and work of Jesus Christ is that our King is also the lamb of God that takes away our sin.

Today I am preaching the Jesus of the Bible as revealed in the Scriptures and issuing the general and universal call for sinners to believe in the Jesus of Scripture who is King but is also a lamb that dies to ransom sinners for God.

The Jesus who is Messiah King and Sovereign Lord over all things. The Jesus who was dead, buried and who rose again on the third day triumphant over the grave and sin and death. The Jesus who is exclusive in His identity and the only means of salvation before God.

Unbeliever, believe the gospel of this Jesus and trust in Him for salvation.

Christian as we enter in to Holy week may we never forget who our King really is. He is our salvation and He shepherds us in His grace and truth. Come to Him and confess your sin for He is gentle and lowly but He is mighty to save and to hold us in the strong arms of His grace. Let’s pray!