Responding to the King

Scripture Reader:

Intro

1 Week before the Resurrection

Symbols and their power

“Peace” Sign

Or “V” if you’re British for Churchill and “Victory”

“I Love you” Sign

CFA Logo

McKafee’s Knob

Christmas/Easter

Pomp and Circumstance (Now imagine if I said “Please Stand as we welcomed the bride)

Mixed signals

Israel is seeing and wanting their King, but not what they were expecting.

Bibles and Journals.

1. Jesus reveals himself as the promised King. vv. 12-15

Mixed Symbols:

It’s Passover time-Great Spring Festival to celebrate the Exodus and God’s provision.

Yet, the symbol of Jesus here is Hanukkah (John 10:22 and the Feast of Dedication).

Waving Palm Branches when Judas Macabaeus defeated the pagan invaders and cleansed the Temple

Jesus is bringing Hanukkah “The entrance of the true King” and Passover “God is setting the slaves to sin free” together.

“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!” v. 13

The People cried “Hosanna”-Save Now! Every been in a moment of crisis and you cry out?

Save from what?

Roman rule.

Many of us have mixed signals or mixed expectations of who we want Jesus to be

It also comes from Psalm 118:25–26 “Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We bless you from the house of the Lord.”

A Hallel, a song of praise celebrating God’s mighty acts. Psalm 113-118.

Audio symbol of the people of God.

A symbol of Peace

Jesus rides in on a donkey

Synoptic Gospels emphasize God’s provision of the Donkey

King Herod is riding his Warhorse into Jerusalem from Caesarea-Philippi

“By riding a donkey rather than a warhorse he is also declaring he is not the kind of Messiah they have expected. He has come to bring peace, not a sword.” Grant Osborne

The Jews wanted another like Judas Maccabeus “The Hammer” to Make Israel Great Again.

There were a few other Times before Jesus and a few times after Jesus that there was a Messiah like figure who rose and led a political revolt.

In AD 66 one happened and this led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in AD 70.

Jesus fulfills scripture:

John 12:15 ““Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!”” Zechariah 9:9 “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.”

2. The disciples learned that understanding often comes from obedience. v. 16

Isn’t this the epitome of life?

After an event has happened, could be days, weeks, months or even decades down the road, you realize why something had to happen.

We have seen multiple times when John writes, he gives a foreshadow or a look into the story but from his current perspective.

“...but when Jesus was glorified...” after the resurrection, “...then they remembered that these things had been written about him...”

Advocate for reading through the Bible in a year.

Get into God’s Word, God’s Word Gets into you, The Word Comes out of you.

You will make connections not only in the scriptures that will bring clarity, understanding and ultimately a love for God.

BUT you will also begin to see how as a Disciple of Christ, the Word calls you to live.

Lifeway Study:

31% of Church goers say they read the bible every day, 30% say they read the Bible a few times a week

31% of church goes strongly agree that throughout the day they think about Biblical truths, 41% somewhat agree.

John 20:31 “but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

“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.” v. 16

“...had been done to him.”

The waving of palm branches, the crying out Hosanna, ultimately as John spends 10 chapters on the last week of Christs life, the crucifixion, the resurrection and up until the ascension, ALL of this was done to him in fulfilment of what was written.

“I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Every one was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison. They would not have endured that if it weren't true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world-and they couldn't keep a lie for three weeks. You're telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible.” Charles Colson Special Counselor to Richard Nixon

Do you know what is written about him?

The scriptures call us to continually “Remember…” Remember what the Lord has done for you. All the feasts (similar to our Memorial Day, July 4, Thanksgiving, etc.), but the focus is to cast our eyes and mind on The Lord.)

Can you reflect on “why you do what you do?” and give a defense, apologetic, or answer to it.

3. Every person must decide what to do with Jesus. vv. 17-19

John sets the scene describing what is happening at the Triumphal Entry with 3 different people groups and their response to Jesus.

The Journeying Crowd

John 12:17 “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.”

Not only was Lazarus testifying, but now all the people who had come to see v. 9 which then they began to believe (v. 11 “many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.”)

This crowd goes from believing in Jesus to bearing witness about Jesus.

What does it mean to “bear witness”? “Refers to giving accurate information about which a person has direct knowledge.”

When is the last time you bore witness about Jesus in your life to someone? Shared with your child what God has done in your life? Shared with your spouse? Shared with a co-worker.

We talk about what we love. Does your speech reflect that you love Jesus?

The New Crowd

As Jerusalem had a population of about 50,000 people, during Passover it would swell to anywhere from 100-120,000 people.

So there is a large influx of people who are just now hearing about this man named Jesus from Galilee and they’ve come to meet him.

John 12:18 “The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign.”

Maybe you’re hear because someone has told you about Jesus and you’re seeking. You’re wrestling with your faith.

Christian Sullivan at Leadership Meeting.

This is a place to come and hear, ask questions, seek the truth.

The Pharisees

The religious leaders.

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

Just like Caiphas when he said in John 11:50 “Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.”” this is pretty prophetic “The world has gone after him.”

This reminds me of 1 Timothy 2:3–4 “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

or 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

What the religious leaders are doing though is trying to stop Jesus.

So, which group do you see yourself with?

The Journeying Crowd: Bearing witness?

The New Crowd: Seeking truth?

The Pharisees: Shutting down?