Behold Your King

Introduction

Do you remember that feeling you get on Christmas morning? The wait is finally over. You can finally open the presents.

Or maybe the feeling of waiting for summer vacation. That final bell rings, and all the kids push their chairs back, jump up, and practically sprint out of the classroom.

But on Christmas morning—or at the start of summer vacation, or really any time you’ve been waiting so long—did it measure up? Did the present or the vacation offer exactly what you expected, or did it take you by surprise?

Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem was full of excitement. Imagine that Christmas excitement, times a thousand, and you’ll have a sense of the expectations and hope and longing for the coming Messiah—the Savior God had promised to send to rescue Israel and usher in the Kingdom of God. But this wait isn’t measured in days or even years, but in hundreds of years of waiting on God to keep His promises.

And now Jesus, who has raised Lazarus from the dead and done countless signs, is arriving in Jerusalem. Behold, the King has arrived.

But would this Savior, this King, match expectations? What if He wasn’t what they expected at all?

Prayer

Lord, we come to you as our king and savior. We humble ourselves before you in worship and listen to your Word. We pray that through your Spirit you guide us to see you more clearly and to understand you more fully. In Jesus name, Amen

1. See and Believe (John 12:12-13)

I invite you to open your Bibles to John 12:12. The story picks up the next day after Jesus’ meal in which Mary anointed his feet. That meal to celebrate the resurrection of Lazarus. Would you read along in John 12:12?

Read John 12:12-13

John 12:12–13 NKJV

12 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of Israel!”

Jesus is once again coming to Jerusalem for a Jewish feast—this time for Passover, when Israel remembers how God rescued them from slavery in Egypt. It’s all about God’s salvation.

This is one of the biggest feast days, so Jerusalem would be bursting with pilgrims coming from other regions of Israel and even distant lands to participate. But this year, the crowd was bigger than ever.

Why? Because people had heard that “Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.” The miracle worker. The troublemaker. The one the religious leaders wanted to kill. The Messiah? Everyone wanted to see this Jesus for themselves.

As the crowds approached the city, they were already singing the Psalms associated with arriving in Jerusalem. One of those is Psalm 118, so that would have naturally been on their minds that morning.

This Psalm has a lot of memorable lines. For example, “This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

It also speaks of “opening the gates of righteousness.” It’s all about arriving in Jerusalem. The pilgrims had themselves in mind as they arrived—entering these gates to worship God.

But when they see Jesus arriving at the gates, it begins to click. The King is arriving at the gates. The One who comes in the name of the Lord. So they cry out with shouts of celebration. They throw their cloaks and palm branches on the ground to form a makeshift red carpet. The energy was contagious.

And they cry out the words of Psalm 118: “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” The King of Israel.

It was an exciting moment. I don’t know if you’ve ever experienced something similar—like seeing a celebrity. I’ve seen celebrities walking red carpets on TV, but it’s not quite the same.

Illustration: Meeting an Actress

The closest I’ve come is running into a Filipina TV actress. I was in high school in Manila. I was just flipping burgers—an ordinary day—and my Filipino coworkers started going crazy. It started at the counter with workers whispering and looking, trying to be discreet but failing terribly. And the word spread throughout the kitchen.

So I asked what was going on. “A famous actress is here!” I had no idea who this actress was, but I had to see for myself. And since I was the most precocious of the workers, I asked my coworker to handle my station as I went to provide some “customer service.” We had a celebrity, and I had to see her for myself.

Application: Seeing Is Not Enough, You Must Believe

That day in Jerusalem, everyone had to see the biggest “celebrity” in all of Israel for themselves—Jesus.

Everyone wanted to see Him… but John wants us to understand something deeper.

Seeing is not enough. John wrote his Gospel so that the reader—so that you—could have life in Jesus. But how?

Was it through seeing Jesus?

Was it by showing up in the crowd?

Was it by shouting loudly?

No. John tells us clearly: it is through believing in Jesus.

Welcoming our king isn’t just about seeing him, it is about placing our trust in Him.

2. Believe and Understand (John 12:14-16)

Many in the crowd—even Jesus’ own disciples—responded with belief of some kind. But they did not understand what Jesus was doing. We see this as we continue in verses 14 through 16.

John 12:14–16 NKJV

14 Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; 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 were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.

Again, we see a quote from Scripture, from the Old Testament. But this passage wasn’t being shouted by the crowds—it was remembered later by the disciples.

You see, in the moment they didn’t understand. Maybe they were caught up in the excitement. Maybe they were worried about the attention they were drawing and what the religious leaders would do. Maybe they were caught up in their own expectations of what a Messiah—a Savior King—should look like.

So they didn’t understand.

In fact, they didn’t do what the verse said. Did you catch the command? “Behold your King.”

Behold—it’s not a word we use as often anymore. But it means to look closely, to take in, to really pay attention.

Maybe we should bring it back.

Illustration: Looking in the fridge and not seeing

I don’t know if there is anyone else in your family like this, but I have a terrible habit of not seeing things that are right in front of me—especially in the fridge or pantry. It’s uncanny. I can spend five minutes looking in the fridge and never see the sour cream. Even after I’m told it’s on the second shelf.

The disciples were like that with Jesus. They believed in Him. They heard Him teach. They even got Him the donkey he was riding in on. But it wasn’t until later that they truly understood—that they beheld Him for the King He really was.

The King who would go to the cross to die for the sins of the world.

Application

We might be tempted to do something similar—to see Jesus based on our assumptions and expectations.

But to truly understand Jesus, we must accept Him as He has revealed Himself to us through His Word.

3. Understand and Believe (John 12:17-19)

Ironically, there were some there that day who understood aspects of what was happening even better than the disciples. In fact, even in their rejection, they revealed a great truth about Jesus. Let’s continue in verses 17 through 19.

John 12:17–19 NKJV

17 Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. 18 For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. 19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!”

The Pharisees were furious. All of their efforts to stop Jesus had failed. And so they made two statements. Both show how they didn’t believe in Jesus, yet in a sense understood exactly what was happening.

First, they said, “You are accomplishing nothing.”

All their efforts to stop Jesus had failed. They had tried to thwart His plan, but in reality they were like hamsters running on a wheel—putting in effort but going nowhere.

This is what happens when we try to stop God’s plans. Try as we might, when we take stock of our efforts, they amount to “accomplishing nothing.”

Then they said, “Look, the world has gone after Him.”

Do you remember John 3:16? “For God so loved the world…”

God’s mission has always been to rescue the world.

When God began this rescue mission by choosing a family, do you remember what He promised? “In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Through the prophet Isaiah, God said the Messiah would be a light to the Gentiles—that He would be God’s salvation to the ends of the earth (Isaiah 49:6).

The crowds were excited for Jesus to be the King of Israel, rescuing Israel. But the Pharisees pointed out the deeper reality—it was the whole world.

Application

But just as seeing is not enough, knowing the right words or ideas isn’t enough either. The Pharisees understood something others missed—but what about their hearts? They saw that Jesus was winning the world, and still they did not believe.

Conclusion

Seeing, believing, understanding—these are not just abstract ideas. They are invitations to a life transformed. To behold our King is to let Him meet you where you are: in your confusion, in your hope, in your waiting.

Today, you can see Him more clearly, believe in Him more fully, and understand His love more deeply—and let that change everything.

Invitation

John Reading Plan

Week 13 (March 29–April 4, 2026)

John 16–17 – Jesus prepares His disciples for the sorrow of His departure and the joy of the Spirit’s coming. He assures them of victory over the world and prays for their unity and sanctification. These chapters pull back the curtain on Jesus’ heart for His followers and His mission, giving us a glimpse of His intercession.

☐ Day 1 – John 16:1–15 + Joel 2:28–29

☐ Day 2– John 16:16–33 + Psalm 30:4–12

☐ Day 3 – John 17:1–11 + Daniel 7:14

☐ Day 4 – John 17:12–26 + Matthew 6:13

☐ Day 5 – Reflection: Hebrews 7:23–28

Sermon Notes & Further Study

1. Quotes & Illustrations

Along with the shouted greeting, the people chanted an ancient blessing from the Psalms, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” The Passover celebration made special use of the “Hallel” section of the Psalms (113–118), singing them as hymns of worship. The crowds would have been singing these expressions as they approached the City of David. But as they accompanied Jesus, the songs became Messianic greetings.

Bruce B. Barton, John, Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1993), 251.

2. Additional Scriptures

For a fuller understanding of the Scriptures quoted read the passage in context and consider how Jesus truly fulfills this passage.

Psalm 118

The crowds quotes verse 26 focusing only on the salvation (vs. 25) the Messiah brings (vs. 26).

Psalm 118:1-4 Focuses on God’s mercy. In a few days the ultimate act of mercy would take place as the innocent Messiah would die of the cross for the sins of the world.

Psalm 118:5-18 Deal with the theme of suffering and persecution and speak powerfully to the suffering Jesus would endure on the cross.

Psalm 118:19-20 This image of entering the gate was likely one of the reasons this Psalm was quoted as Jesus arrived to Jerusalem. Consider Jesus words in John 10:9 “9 I am the door(gate). If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” Jesus is the gate to true righteousness and life.

Psalm 118:21-24 In the midst of the celebration of the Lord’s salvation is the line “the stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.” Jesus is rejected by the Jewish religious leaders and even killed, but becomes the solid foundation on which our faith and relationship with God is built.

Psalm 118:25-29 Here we get to the arrival of the Messiah and the line the crowds quote. But note that the Messiah is entering Jerusalem not to conquer, but to offer a sacrifice. Jesus reveals that the Messiah is offering himself as a sacrifice for the ins of the world so that all who believe will receive light and life in Him. Let us give thanks to the Lord for Jesus sacrifice. He is good! His mercy endures forever!

Zechariah 9:9-10

John tells us that Jesus’ arrival on a donkey fulfills what was written [in Scripture].

Zechariah 9:9 John likely expects his readers to connect the entire verse, how the promised Messianic king brings salvation and is humble and lowly.

Zechariah 9:10 Notice that the savior is not just for Israel, but “shall speak peace to the nations.” God’s plan was always motivated by love for the world and to bring peace with God to all who would believe.

3. Additional Questions (Using Logos Study Assistant✨)

Who were the crowds at the triumphal entry?

The crowd at the triumphal entry consisted of pious pilgrims, many from Galilee, joined by a similarly devout group from Jerusalem who came out to meet them.[1] The Passover crowds were enormous, with pilgrims gathering from throughout Palestine and across the Mediterranean world.[2] Some traveled with Jesus from Bethany and surrounding villages, while others went out from the city to greet him.[2]

The composition of this crowd was distinctly different from those who later demanded Jesus’ crucifixion. Piety tended to flourish more away from Jerusalem itself than within the city.[1] Pious pilgrims had more pressing obligations during Passover than to attend Roman trials.[1] Their welcome expressed both religious devotion and nationalistic fervor. They waved palm branches, which since the Maccabean period had served as a recognized symbol of the Jewish state, appearing on coins from both the Jewish revolutionary period and Roman coinage afterward—a gesture testifying to deep nationalistic sentiment.[2] This messianic and nationalistic enthusiasm was fueled by reports of Jesus raising Lazarus, which those traveling with Jesus spread to the crowds coming from the city.[2]

The pilgrims’ acclamations blended liturgical tradition with messianic expectation. They shouted “Hosanna!” and “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”—an acclamation based on Psalm 118:25–26.[3] By adding “Blessed is the King of Israel!”—words not in the original Psalm—the crowd revealed how they understood the passage messianically.[2] Yet their understanding remained incomplete; they called Jesus only “the prophet … from … Galilee,”[4] failing to grasp the fuller significance of his entry.

[1] R. Alan Cole, Mark: An Introduction and Commentary, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1989), 2:318. [2] Bruce Milne, The Message of John: Here Is Your King!: With Study Guide, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), 180–181. [3] Colin G. Kruse, John: An Introduction and Commentary, ed. Eckhard J. Schnabel, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (London: Inter-Varsity Press, 2017), 307. [4] Daniel M. Doriani, “Matthew,” in Matthew–Luke, ed. Iain M. Duguid, James M. Hamilton Jr., and Jay Sklar, ESV Expository Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2021), 8:312.

4. Bible Translation

I’m choosing the NKJV for preaching because I believe it offers the strongest balance of faithfulness to the historic text of Scripture, clarity for modern readers, and continuity with the church’s worshiping tradition.

At the same time, I deeply value other faithful translations—such as the NASB, ESV, CSB, and NIV—which also serve the church well and can enrich our understanding of God’s Word.

5. Commentary Recommendation's

I have found the following commentaries helpful in my study of John.

Introductory

Explore the book in greater depth. Ideal for curious church members, Bible study leaders, and Sunday School teachers who want a clearer understanding of the text without being overwhelmed by technical detail.

1. Holman New Testament Commentary: John by Kenneth O. Gangel

2. Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in John by Matt Chandler and Josh Wredberg

3. Be Alive (John 1-12) and Be Transformed (John 13-21) by Warren Wiresbe

4. The Life Application Bible Commentary: John Editor: Grant Osborne

Intermediate

More advanced, with increased attention to historical context, theological nuances, and interpretive questions. Best for teachers or small group leaders seeking a scholarly yet accessible examination of passages.

1. Signs of the Messiah: An Introduction to John’s Gospel by Andreas J. Köstenberger

2. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary: The Gospel of John by Grant Osborne

3. ESV Expository Commentary: John by James M. Hamilton Jr.

In-Depth Study

These are a bit more advanced than the previous recommendations and go into more depth. These resources are ideal for those preparing lessons or sermons and looking to engage more deeply with the biblical text.

1. New American Commentary: John 1-11 and John 12-21 by Gerald L. Borchert

2. Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel According to John by D.A. Carson

3. New International Commentary on the New Testament: The Gospel According to John by Leon Morris