Friday prior to Palm Sunday

John 12:12-19—This is the accounting of Christ’s entry into the city of Jerusalem.  Prophecy is being fulfilled. The King is being hailed. The very stones cry out if the crowd is silenced. The religious authorities will have nothing of it. They will see to it that Jesus is destroyed and His praises silenced. Soon His sufferings will begin but for this day we shall worship Him along with the crowd as our Savior and Lord.

The scene now shifts from a quiet dinner in Bethany to a noisy parade in Jerusalem (v. 12). Thousands of Galilean pilgrims had come to the Passover, and they had seen many of Jesus’ mighty works. These people were expecting Christ to establish David’s kingdom. Waving palm branches they were shouting, “Hosanna” (v. 13). Jesus came riding into the city on a young donkey which fulfilled Zechariah’s prophecy (vv. 14-15). The donkey was used in the Old Testament by kings who were bringing peace while the horse was used when the kings rode into battle. The size of the crowd kept increasing. Many who proclaimed Jesus as King of Israel did so because of His miracles.

Even though the disciples were close to Jesus and the participants of these events, they did not understand them (v. 16). It was not until after the ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit, who called these things to their remembrance that they understood (14:26).

A crowd had come to meet Jesus because they had seen him call Lazarus out of the tomb (vv. 17- 18. They kept talking about him and this miracle. But the Pharisees said to each other, “There is nothing that can be done! Everyone in the world is following Jesus.” Because of this mass reception of Jesus by the people, it was impossible for the Pharisees to carry out their plans to arrest Him and kill Him. They knew that if they did it during the feast the people might riot (Mark 14:1-2). Because of the large crowd and excitement these religious rulers concluded that, “The whole world is gone after Him” (v.19).

For blessing on the Word: Lord God, bless Your Word wherever it is proclaimed. Make it a word of power and peace to convert those not yet Your own and to confirm those who have come to saving faith. May Your Word pass from the ear to the heart, from the heart to the lip, and from the lip to the life that, as You have promised, Your Word may achieve the purpose for which You send it; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.[1] 26 March 2021

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[1] A Prayer for blessing on the Word of God, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St, Louis

Hosanna copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things