Pathway to the Cross

John 12:12-16

Summary: This passage captures the moment when Jesus enters Jerusalem as the King, greeted by crowds waving palm branches and shouting praises. Yet, His entry is marked by humility, riding on a donkey, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah.

Application: In a world where success is often measured by status and power, this passage encourages Christians and others to embrace humility in their worship and service. It reminds us that true greatness in the Kingdom of God often looks different than what the world values.

Teaching: This sermon teaches that Jesus, our King, redefines what it means to be a leader and a follower. His humility sets the standard for how we are to live and worship, calling us to reflect His character in our daily lives.

How this passage could point to Christ: Christ's humble entry into Jerusalem is a foreshadowing of His sacrificial love and servant leadership, connecting to the greater narrative of salvation history where God Himself condescends to rescue humanity.

Big Idea: True worship stems from a response to Christ’s humility and greatness, calling us to emulate His example in our lives through acts of love and service.

Welcome to Palm Sunday here at Mountain View Baptist Church.

This is the beginning of what has been called the Passion Week or the Holy Week. This will be the beginning of key events which leads Jesus to the cross. Next week we will celebrate the greatest event in world history, the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

Please invite your friends, family, and neighbors as we celebrate this miraculous event by our Lord. We will have 10 AM SS/CG and 11:00 AM morning service. What an honor to know Him as our Savior.

Today is Palm Sunday meaning on this day we celebrate Jesus entering the Eastern Gate which will lead into Jerusalem. The people in the city spread palm leaves as He was welcomed into this final week of His life. Because I believe Jesus was crucified on Thursday, this will be the final five days before He is crucified.

This week and next week while it may have a sad tone as we commemorate these events, it also has a joyous note that Jesus comes to be crucified, then He is buried, and he is risen from the dead. This is His time to be glorified.

There are three messages we learn on that day about Jesus.

Message 1. . .

1. Glorious welcome of the King

John 12:12–13

Jesus’s entry into the Jersualem is a direct fulfillment of Zech 9:9

Zechariah 9:9 KJV 1900

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: Behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; Lowly, and riding upon an ass And upon a colt the foal of an ass.

The crowds were praising Him with palm branches and shouts of Hosanna. This scene reflects the way we should welcome Jesus into our lives, How welcome is He in your life? When you come to church is it more of an annoyance or do you welcome Him with praises and honor?

When I invited a friend to attend church, he said something I never heard before. “Why should I let Jesus interrupt my life?” You cannot think of how often people believe Jesus will keep them from living. Nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus does not interrupt your life; but, He gives you life.

John 10:10 KJV 1900

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

There is one truth that we may overlook. The crowds here celebrated Him as the King so that He would change their physical world. The Roman government was controlling and oppressive. They lacked the perspective of the Cross and the resurrection (glorification). Jesus could change all of that because He is the King of all eternity. Our life as a believer is to be centered on the eternity, on heavenly things.

Colossians 3:1–2 KJV 1900

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

When our hearts are in tune upward, we gladly welcome Jesus working in our lives, interrupting our sinfulness, and allowing Him Lordship over us.

Does your worship reflect your understanding of Jesus as King? If we view Him as the King of our lives, there should be no trouble doing whatever He asks of us. Whether it be helping in the nursery, or working on the bus route, or coming out soul winning next Saturday, or teaching a class.

This is how we welcome Jesus into our lives. When He is given total leadership and control over our lives, then we are worshiping Him as the King.

We can worship Him daily by spending a devotional time with Him. Setting aside a time alone with God and allowing Him to speak to us through His Word. Welcoming Him into our lives is a reflection of our understanding of Jesus as the King.

Notice at the end of v 12-the crowd went to meet Him. We should go to Him. This should be the heart of every believer, Lord, what would you have me to do? For some it might be baptism, for some it might be church membership.

Perhaps there is one here who have never welcomed Jesus into their life. The pathway to the cross shows us that only Jesus can give us eternal life. Jesus is the doorway, the pathway to a new life.

Message 2. . .

2. Humble entry by the King

John 12:14–15

As you examine this passage, God reminds you that Jesus was so humble He was willing to ride on a donkey. Though He was the king, He humbly entered riding a lowly animal into the city. There were those who recognized Him as the King and He reflected a Son who is yielded to His Father. He prayed “not my will but thy will be done.”

This is polar opposite of how the world views people of position. The world sees people of power and puts them on a pedestal. They give them titles and glowing reports of success. Janet and I were in Mt. Airy, NC one time eating in a diner there. This was the hometown of Any Griffith. The show was built around his town. As we were eating, I asked a person who was there about Andy Griffith. He said, “Andy is not too well liked in this town. He let success go to his head, so he was rude to everyone.” Fame and popularity brings pride.

Often worldly success overshadows Christ-like humility. When I first went into the ministry, I did not know that many people but I was learning preachers and churches. A friend invited me to a preachers conference where several of the guys I had been reading were there. They were pastors of big churches and had many followers. Their messages were good but something strange I noticed. When some of them left the meeting, they went to super fancy hotels and ate in expensive restaurants. There is nothing wrong with a nice car or a good meal, but it was every night. It seemed God’s blessings had stolen their humility. It was not long after that experience, several of those pastors lost their ministries over various scandals.

Please notice Jesus came humbly and this humility speaks of divine compassion. There is nobody more compassionate than Jesus.

Matthew 9:36 KJV 1900

But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

Matthew 14:14 KJV 1900

And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

God is urging us to follow the steps of Jesus by embracing the servant-hearted approach in our lives. Jesus demonstrated this very clearly in chapter 13 of John where He washed the disciples feet. He willingly washed the disciple’s (plural) feet.

His humble entry as a king is counter-cultural to the world.

It is most important for believers to acknowledge the fact that because Christ Jesus came to the world clothed in humility, He will always be found among those who are clothed with humility. He will be found among the humble people.1

A. W. Tozer

I wish that our ministry—that mine especially—might be tied and tethered to the cross. I have no other subject to set before you but Jesus only. The Best Bread, Volume 33, Sermon #1940 - John 6:48

Charles Spurgeon

This account is mentioned in all four gospels and this is the only public demonstration that our Lord allowed while He was ministering on earth.

Message 3. . .

3. Great mission of the King

John 12:16-18

We learn throughout His life that His prime focus and concern is obedience to God’s will. He fulfilled on that day the prophecy of Zech.

Obedience to the Father’s will was His number one priority.

The plan of God was to send His Son Jesus Christ to be the substitutionary payment for our sin on the cross. Jesus knew the mission was to go to the cross, suffer, die, and rise again. Witnesses at Lazarus’ rising from the dead at the command of Jesus told of His power to rise from the dead.

Initially, the disciples did not understand Jesus’s actions, but later, after His glorification, the meaning became clear. This speaks to us and the mystery of God's plans which are revealed gradually.

Consider Jesus did not hesitate to fulfill His mission on the cross. We also should not hesitate to fulfill our mission to honor Him in our lives.

You may be here today hesitating on accepting Christ. Maybe thinking there will be a better time. The Bible says in II Corinthians 6:2

2 Corinthians 6:2 KJV 1900

(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Will you accept Jesus as your Savior today? Will allow someone to show you what it means to be a Christian.

Christian, are you fulfilling the mission God has for your life? Are you hesitating to do God’s will? Today could be a new start for you. Is God speaking to you? Will you respond to Him today? We have people ready to help you.