The Humble King: A Lowly Entrance For The King Of Kings

Bible Passage: John 12:12–26

Summary: In John 12:12–26, Jesus enters Jerusalem in a triumphant yet humble manner, fulfilling prophecies about the Messiah, while redefining what it means to be a king. This passage highlights Jesus’ path to glory through suffering and His call for His followers to embrace a similar path of selflessness.

Application: This sermon can help Christians understand that true greatness comes from humility and self-sacrifice, challenging worldly notions of power and leadership. In their struggles, they can find encouragement to serve others and embrace the cross in their own lives.

Teaching: This sermon teaches that Christ’s definition of kingship is radically different from the world’s. He does not come to conquer through might but through love and service. His followers are called to reflect this—a call to carry their own crosses and embody Christlike leadership.

How this passage could point to Christ: Throughout the Bible, Jesus is portrayed as the suffering servant (Isaiah 53), the King of Kings who reigns not through force but through love and sacrifice. This theme shows us that Christ is the fulfillment of the Messianic hope, establishing His kingdom through humility and service, overturning worldly expectations of power.

Big Idea: True leadership in the Kingdom of God is marked by humility, sacrifice, and a willingness to serve others, as exemplified by Christ during His triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

Recommended Study: As you prepare this sermon, consider exploring the historically contextual meanings of palm branches and crowds shouting 'Hosanna'. Logos can help you dive deeper into the prophetic significance of Zechariah 9:9 in relation to Jesus' entry. Look also for any textual variations in the accounts of the triumphal entry in the Gospels, emphasizing the unique perspectives in each narrative.

1. Jesus' Humble Entrance

John 12:12–16 ESV

12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of 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!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, 15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” 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.

All of this can be understood if we look at one passage that is not in the Gospel of John.

That passage is Philippians 2:5-11

Philippians 2:5–11 ESV

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Paul breaks down the humility that Christ brought upon Himself to become the sacrifice that we need for our sins.

Jesus riding in on a donkey destroyed the Jewish thinking that the Messiah would be a great warrior and take Israel back by force.

This should not have been a surprise because the prophet Zechariah stated that He would be riding in on a donkey.

What do we commonly associate with the word “donkey?”

Beast of burden.

How fitting is it that Jesus was riding on a beast of burden to take away the sins of the world?

In light of all of this, scholars estimate that there was around 300,000 people in Jerusalem at that time.

Normally, there would have been around 50,000 people living in the city.

This is a massive spectacle.

However, it would not take long for the people to re-align their hearts.

They would be seeing the Messiah come into Jerusalem on a donkey but they would be screaming later, “crucify him, crucify him.”

It is one of the saddest moments in Scripture.

Zechariah 9:9 ESV

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

How does Jesus' entry into Jerusalem challenge our understanding of kingship?

In what ways can we embody humility in our leadership roles?

2. Pharisaical Frustration

John 12:17–19 ESV

17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”

The Pharisees were quite upset because the crowd, mixed with the fact that Jesus was getting attention brought them to a boiling point.

The Pharisees hated Jesus before, this just provoked them even further.

They would be chasing Jesus to the cross for the rest of the book of John.

The Pharisees hated that Jesus was undeniably the Messiah at this point.

They know that the man Lazarus had been raised from the dead and there is no trying to disprove that.

With the mix of eye witnesses and the static atmosphere that harkened back to the entrance of King David, they started plotting against Christ.

Why is it important that Jesus' kingship is different from earthly kings?

3. Fruitful Followership

John 12:20–26 ESV

20 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

This is a profound statement made by Christ.

In order for life, there must be death, not just any death, His death.

Jesus really focuses on what it is going to look like to be a fruitful follower of Him.

It is going to mean that we are stripped of our worldly desires and replace them with servitude towards the Savior.

This concept is strange to us now.

In a culture of self serving, the message that Jesus was preaching is no doubt unpopular today.

How can we practically apply the concept of 'dying to self' in our everyday lives?