The Coming King

Intro

After Liz and I had gotten engaged to be married, there was a period of waiting, of planning, of expectation. We knew what to expect in some sense, but there was also so much that was still unknown. I had been to other people’s weddings, but never my own. We had planned the ceremony and the reception, but we knew that there was still some unknowns. As the day drew near, the excitement and anticipation grew. What would the day hold for us? We couldn’t wait to find out. We each had some expectations of how it should be, and for both of us, some of our expectations were not met. The Jews awaiting their coming king were in a similar position. Granted I didn’t have to wait centuries to marry Liz, but they did. In fact, since God promised Adam and Eve a seed who would crush the serpents head, humanity had been waiting for its Savior. Abraham too was waiting for His seed who would bless the nations. David also was promised that a king from his line would reign forever. Those who returned to Israel after exile were also awaiting the coming of the messiah, the king who would restore Israel. On this day, Palm Sunday, many years ago, the waiting was over, the King was coming to Jerusalem.

John 12:12–13 “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!””

Just days prior, Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead in Bethany, a short journey from Jerusalem. The time of Passover was drawing near, and so all of Israel was gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate God delivering them from slavery in Egypt. A time when a spotless lamb would be offered to cover the sins of the people. Jesus timing to come to Jerusalem was intentional. These crowds in Jerusalem had heard of Jesus who raised a dead man back to life. Earlier in Jesus ministry the crowds desired to make him king, now an opportunity arises for them to welcome him as their coming king.

The welcome of the King

They take palm branches from the many date trees that surround Jerusalem and wave them in the air, welcoming Jesus into the city. The waving of palm branches was a national sign in Israel of victory. The crowds demonstrate their belief that Jesus is the Messiah by crying out Hosanna, save us we pray! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! They quote Psalm 118:25 which had messianic implications to the Jews. They further show that they believe Jesus is the promised Messiah by calling him the king of Israel. For years Israel had been without a king, but they were awaiting their king who would come to deliver them from their enemies. Now they welcome Jesus as king celebrating his anticipated victory over their enemies.

The people of Jerusalem rightly understand the identity of Jesus as he enters Jerusalem. They have heard him teach and seen the signs, He is the King from the line of David that God promised to His people. They know who Jesus is, but they misunderstand His mission. They were expecting a man to come deliver them from the Roman Empire. They wanted a military man and a politician. Though they know that Jesus is King, they do not understand His purpose for coming to Jerusalem.

The prophecy of the King

John 12:14–15 “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!””

The manner in which Jesus entered Jerusalem was intentional. Jesus had his disciples find a donkey on which no one had sat for him to ride in on. This donkey was pure for this reason because it had not been used for work yet. Jesus knew the prophecy of Zechariah which declared that the Messiah would come riding on the colt of a donkey. The crowds were pronouncing him King, and Jesus affirmed it as he rode in on a donkey. A time was promised when peace would be brought by their king, and Jesus was declaring that He was that king and this was the time. No longer was Jesus seeking to avoid fame, but now He was openly declaring who He was by his actions. He may not have been saying it with his words, but through what he did, he was making it known that he was the Son of God, the Christ. He deliberately fulfills the prophecy of Zechariah, letting it be known that He is who was promised. The Jews were expecting a conquering king, but instead Jesus came humbly riding on a donkey, a symbol of peace. Many kings rode horses, mighty steads or came in carts of wagons, but Jesus came riding on a donkey, unlike earthly kings. He was not dressed in royal robes, but in common clothes. He was not high and proud, but came humble and lowly on a donkey. He came not to be served, but to serve and to seek and save the lost. The manner in which Jesus enters keys us in on his mission. He was not like other kings seeking to conquer nations with force and military might. He was coming to win over hearts through his love and grace by his own sacrifice.

John 12:16 “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.”

Though the disciples were closest to Jesus, they did not fully understand the significance of all that was happening. Just as most of the Jews thought Jesus was going to be their political savior, so the disciples likely also hoped for this. Not until Jesus was glorified did they understand all these events and the Old Testament passages that were written about it. Jesus was glorified through his death and resurrection, when he was lifted up on the cross as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. The bible tells us that Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, and that each person born after them also has a sinful nature, meaning that we a predisposed to worship things other than God, to disobey him. Because we exalt things above God, every person deserves to be separated from God because He is holy and righteous. Though man kind broke God’s law and brought sin into the world, God sent His son Jesus, to die so that all who believe in Him might be saved from their sin. Jesus died and took the wrath of God for sin upon Himself so that we did not have to. He then rose form the grave, proving that He had overcome sin and death and now reigns at the right hand of God. This is how Jesus was glorified, by offering Himself in our place. By conquering our worst enemy that we could never overcome. Jesus defeated sin and death by dying on the cross and rising from the grave.

After Jesus was glorified, his disciples remembered all that had been accomplished by him and that it had been written beforehand. John tells us here that the Old Testament was written about Jesus. Now this does not mean that the Old Testament is all allegorical or symbolic or prophetic, but it does mean that it is all pointing to Jesus. The history recorded is real history pointing to the need of mankind to be saved. It shows that God is sovereign, righteous, gracious, and merciful. The Old Testament reveals our need for Jesus and predicts His coming and all that He would do. After Jesus rises from the dead, the disciples begin to understand Scripture for what it really is. All of it is pointing to Jesus Christ. Just as the disciples could not fully understand Scripture apart from Jesus death and resurrection, neither can any other person. No one can know God apart from Jesus. No one can understand God’s Word apart from Jesus. Jesus is the Way, the truth and the life, no one can go to the Father accept through him. He is the key to understanding life, to understanding the world. In Jesus we find our purpose, which is to know Him and make Him known. True life begins with Jesus.

John 12:17–18 “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.”

John informs us that the reason the crowds in Jerusalem were so excited for Jesus to come was because they had heard about Lazarus. The Jews had witnessed others who claimed to be the Messiah, but none had ever raised a man from the dead. On top of that, Jesus had performed countless other miracles.

The works of the King

Countless Old Testament passages said that the coming Messiah would come and the lame would walk, the blind would see, the deaf would hear, the mute would speak, the dead would rise. Jesus came and not only taught in a way that had never been heard, but he performed miracles that had never been seen. Jesus did not just know that Zechariah said that the king would come riding on a donkey and so he decided to ride a donkey. Jesus was doing the works that God said would be done by the messiah. The works of Jesus testified that He was the messiah. Now His identity was in plain sight for all to see. He raised the dead, gave sight to the blind, healed the lame and deaf. He fulfilled the prophecies God had given confirming who he was. Yet, there were still some prophecies yet to be fulfilled. God foretold that the Messiah King was also going to be a suffering servant who would take away the iniquities of His people. On this day, many years ago, the Lamb of God was set apart. You see, on the tenth day of the month of Nisan, the paschal lamb was set apart in preparation for the Passover sacrifice. Jesus is set apart on the tenth day of the month of Nisan as He enters Jerusalem as King. He is preparing to offer Himself as the last sin offering. Though the Israelites offered lambs to atone for their sin, no lamb or sheep or bull could ever take away their sins. But Jesus could and did. He is the only one who could, because he is the only person who was without sin. Not only was he a sinless man, but he was fully God. He is Creator of heaven an earth. He is God eternal. We all have gone astray, but Jesus kept God’s Law perfectly. In fact he fulfilled the Law as it was written about Him. Only the perfect king could save His people from their sin, and Jesus is this King. Just as the people cried out for Jesus to save them, so we must cry out to him to save us. We have an enemy in sin that we cannot overcome, but take heart, for Jesus has overcome sin. Believe in Him, that he was God who became man, who lived a perfect life and died a sinners death. Who rose again three days later in victory.

Though Jesus entered Jerusalem to die, it was a triumphal entry, because He knew what was going to happen. He knew that He must die to save his people. He knew that he must become forsaken so that we could become children of God. He knew that death was not the end, that he would rise again. He knew all who would believe in Him and be saved. He knew that cost, and he knew the reward. Jesus entered Jerusalem that day to bring peace with God to us.

John 12:19 “19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.””

Many welcomed Jesus as king, but there were some who disapproved of what he did. This was all according to the definite plan of God. These Pharisees who opposed Jesus would be used by God to carry out the crucifixion of Jesus. The Jewish leaders may have condemned Jesus in court, but the king was in control, and the evil schemes of man could not stop Him. The Roman solders may have nailed Jesus to the cross and mocked him, but God used the ill intentions of these men to fulfill his promise to Adam and Eve that a seed would crush the serpent. His promise to Abraham that all nations would be blessed through him. The promise to David that his offspring would rule forever. By Jesus death and resurrection Satan’s head was crushed. Through faith in Jesus all nations are blessed with eternal life. Jesus, Son of David will sit on the throne for all eternity as king. On this day Jesus entered Jerusalem as king, coming to fulfill his purpose and plan.