A Peculiar King

John 12:9–19 ESV

9 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus. 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. 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.”

This story, what we have grown accustomed to calling “Palm Sunday” or “The Triumphal Entry” is one of the few stories about the life of Jesus that we find in all four gospel accounts. Now, I want to be clear, the gospels are inspired by God, every Word of them, and as a result every word is just an important in the gospel narritives as the next. However, I do think that when we do find stories that are found in each of the four gospels, I do think that what it communicates to us is that all of the gospel writers felt that the event was significant. It means that we need to pay attention. God is trying to teach us something.

But when it comes to the story that we encounter this morning, the truth is that we have to re-learn some things. This story is popular. Many of us grew up in churches where drama teams acted out this story…and so we are really familiar with it. And for many of us, we have grown so accustomed to Palm Sunday, that it has almost become commercialized. We tell it in a way that makes it palatable.

But the truth is Palm Sunday isnt just a day on the calendar where we celebrate…Jesus intended this day to be a day where we have to pause and reflect. Because although Palm Sunday was a day of celebration when Jesus walked into Jerusalem nearly 2,000 years ago. The truth is that what Jesus was doing was very purposeful.

What Jesus began on this Palm Sunday was what led him to the Cross on Friday. It was the point of no return. And so Palm Sunday is a day for us to pause and reflect. To Reflect on who Jesus is, and what He has done...

On Palm Sunday he was ushered in as King…but by Friday, he was hung on a criminals cross...

As we reflect on this passage, I want us to see this Truth:

Palm Sunday Teaches Us that Jesus is a Peculiar King

He is King…that’s what Palm Sunday teaches us...

But he isnt a King like any other King…he is unique.

There’s Three Truths we see from the scripture:

Jesus is the Prophetic King

John 12:12–15 CSB

12 The next day, when the large crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 they took palm branches and went out to meet him. They kept shouting: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord—the King of Israel!” 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written: 15 Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion. Look, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.

So here’s what we find in the story...

Jesus is heading for Jerusalem to celebrate the passover…And this would have been very common. Every year Jews traveled to Jerusalem during the time to make sacrifices and worship the Lord.

So as Jesus is traveling, a hopeful crowd comes running out to him anticipating his arrival. John tells us they took Palm Branches—why Palm Branches? Because they were symbolic of victory and liberation. And as they get to Jesus John tells us that they literally begin shouting, “Hosanna!”

The Word Hosanna is one of those words that we have commercialized to the point where it doesnt have any meaning. Hosanna is a Hebrew phrase…it literally means “Save us, Now!”

Up until this point, Jesus had only shared his plans for what he was going to do in Jerusalem with a select group of people. People had asked him all throughout his ministry who he was and what he had come to do, and up until this point he had kept his Kingship a secret. However, on Palm Sunday, what Jesus does is he goes public.

He let’s everyone know that indeed, in his arrival, their long awaited King had come. Salvation was at hand...

And he does it by fulfilling prophecy found in Zecheriah 9:9

John quotes it here...

John 12:14–15 CSB

14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written: 15 Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion. Look, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.

In Jesus riding into Jerusalem on the back of the donkey, he is letting everyone who was vaguely familiar with the scriptures know, “I am the King.”

Since he is king…it means he has all power…it means he is in control…it means that no matter how difficult our circumstances can be…He can be trust.

Through life…we have to believe that Jesus is King

In Death…we have to remember that Jesus is King

We arent defined by our circumstances…we are defined by the Christ who is King...

Jesus is a Perplexing King (A Peaceful King)

Palm Sunday teaches us not only that Jesus is the Prophetic King...

But it also teaches us that Jesus is a Perplexing King. Perplexing isn't a word that you will probably use at Sunday Lunch this afternoon. When someone or something is perplexing it is confusing. When something is perplexing, it is unexpected. It isn't what you imagined. It’s unpredictable.

It’s how John describes Jesus’ disciples in verse 16:

John 12:16 CSB

16 His disciples did not understand these things at first. However, when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.

So what was so confusing about how Jesus came into Jerusalem that day?

I need you to use your imagination here with me just for a few moments.

Imagine that you are in that crowd walking with Jesus through the moments that John describes here. Imagine that you are in the city of Bethany and you watch the most profound miracle that has ever taken place. Lazarus had been dead and buried for four whole days. Imagine that your standing outside the tomb of Lazarus and you hear Jesus speak to the dead man saying, “Lazarus, Come Out!” And then the next thing you know, Lazarus comes walking out of the cave covered in his burial garments.

How do you think you would have responded? You would have been floored. People don’t come back to life when they die. But this Jesus whom you are following obviously isn't bound to the laws of nature. He can give life to what was once dead. What is impossible, is possible with Jesus.

You would have been thinking, this man has the power of God. He isn't just some Rabbi, he must be God’s anointed Messiah. Later that night you would go back to your house and it would have been all the talk of the town. #Jesus would have been trending on the social media timelines. It would have been all the rage right? And when you read the gospels, that’s exactly what you find. After Jesus raises Lazarus from the grave, his popularity explodes. There is all the excitement about Jesus coming to Jerusalem.

Everyone in the city was awaiting Jesus’ arrival.

John 12:12–13 CSB

12 The next day, when the large crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 they took palm branches and went out to meet him. They kept shouting: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord—the King of Israel!”

John tells us that this crowd in Jerusalem was so excited for Jesus to arrive that they literally couldn't wait for him to get there. So much so that when they heard that Jesus was on his way, they didn't have the patience to sit and wait for him to get there, rather they were so excited that they left the city and went out to him.

They were crying out to him, “Hosanna”—Save Us… “Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.”

Do you feel the anticipation in the story?

At this point in the story, every Jewish person in the crowd that day would have expected Jesus to call out to heaven and command his army of angels to come down, jump on a War Steed of a Horse, and ride off into Jerusalem to establish God’s Eternal Kingdom...

But look what happens...

Jesus does the most perplexing thing...

John 12:14 CSB

14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written:

Instead of jumping on a War Horse…Jesus hops on a baby donkey...

Here was Jesus the King with all authority in heaven and on earth, the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Creator and Sustainer, the Author and Perfector—riding into town on a steed fit for a child or a hobbit.

Why?

Here’s why…Because Jesus was declaring and demonstrating that his Kingdom and His rule didnt fit into the world’s categories of Kingship and power.

On the Donkey Colt—Jesus brought together both majesty and meekness.

You see, Jesus is a Perplexing King…he doesnt fit into our worldly categories...

In Jesus we simultaneously find the Lion—full of power and strength and wonder…and the Lamb—the epitome of kindness and gentleness.

In Jesus we find infinite majesty and complete humility.

In Jesus we find perfect justice yet unending grace.

In Jesus we find absolute sovereignty and total surrender.

In Jesus we find sufficiency, and yet total dependance upon His Father.

You see God refuses to fit into the categories that you want him to fit into. He refuses to be molded into your presuppositions and expectations.

To the Capitalist—Jesus says, sell all you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.

To the the Socialist—God says, “if anyone isnt willing to work, he should not eat...”

We dont fit Jesus into our world…we fit ourselves into His…he is the authoritative prophetic kind…and he is our perplexing king that demands us get on his page…not the other way around.

Jesus Must be Your Personal King

John 12:17–19 CSB

17 Meanwhile, the crowd, which had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify. 18 This is also why the crowd met him, because they heard he had done this sign. 19 Then the Pharisees said to one another, “You see? You’ve accomplished nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!”

What John tells us here is that the crowd that had watched Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead…they understood who Jesus was.

They had experienced life change…they had been transformed by Jesus.

And notice that John describes two crowds of p

One crowd was walking around Jerusalem proclaiming that Jesus was King. The other crowd was lamenting and scheming his crucifixion.

And here is my question for you today...

Which crowd are you apart of?

Are you apart of the crowd that has made Jesus your King?

Or are you apart of the crowd that will eventually yell out crucify him?

There is no middle grown...

Either Jesus is your king or he isnt.

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Recently our timelines and news outlets were overwhelmed with drama of the British Royal Family.

And this happens every now and then…a Royal Wedding occurs and half of the women in America wake up at 3am...

And ill be honest…I dont get it. I dont get the obsession. It just isn't interesting to me…And you know why it isnt interesting to me? Because although the King and Queen of England have tons of prestige and popularity, they have absolutely no power. The Royal Family look like the most powerful people in the world on the outside, but in reality they have absolutely no power to make any decisions, they dont even have the power to vote. She has palace, she has money, she has prestige, but absolutely no power whatsoever...

And here is the sad thing. What England does to the Queen, we often do to the King. We give him verbal recognition. We encase him in beautiful palaces called churches. We even pay homage to him by attending worship from time to time…but when it comes to having real influence over our lives…we would rather acknowledge his position without giving him the power to change how we live our lives.

You see, Jesus doesnt just want us to mentally acknowledge him as King, He wants to actually be our Personal King. He wants us to