Readings: Zechariah 9:9-12 | Philippians 2:5-11 | Matthew 26-27
Text: John 12:12-19 (Procession Gospel)
In St. John’s account of Palm Sunday, we find out that the crowd was composed of two main groups, both of whom knew that Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. The verses immediately before what we heard in the procession reading tell us,
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.
The group that follows Jesus from Bethany came together because they saw Lazarus alive again. The other group came from Jerusalem, and John tells us that they “had come to the feast” and while they were there, “they heard Jesus had done this sign [of raising Lazarus].” So, they come together because they heard the message of the same sign. But the whole crowd together was excited because Jesus of Nazareth was truly remarkable.
Many of our favorite English translations label this section the “Triumphal Entry.” But this term can be somewhat misleading. John the Evangelist doesn’t actually call this a triumphal entry, because it isn’t one…yet. It definitely has the features of the triumphal entry of a king returning from war. But there’s something missing: there has been no great battle yet. There are no captives, and the King is riding not on a horse, but on a donkey. Suffice to say, this is not the kind of triumphal entry the crowds were expecting.
They welcomed Jesus because they had seen the signs He had been doing: the raising of Lazarus from the dead (John 11), the healing of the man born blind (John 9), the feeding of the 5,000 (John 6), and the healing of the lame man at Bethesda (John 5). Yet all of these miracles were signs which point to why Jesus had come into the world. The crowds were often blinded by the brightness of these signs, so that they were disheartened when Jesus spoke of His true identity as God’s Son, and what the Son would do to save this world.[1]
The crowd that journeyed the two miles from Bethany to Jerusalem was not misplaced in their hopes for healing, forgiveness, and resurrection. These are all things which God has promised to His redeemed people. But the crowds were not expecting how Jesus would bring all of that about. Even Jesus’ own disciples were tripped up by mention of the Son of Man being betrayed into the hands of wicked men.[2] John even admits that the disciples didn’t grasp the full significance of Jesus entry into Jerusalem, until after He was glorified by His death and resurrection (12:16).
Yet, by nature, none of us hopes for a King of the sort that Jesus really is. Later in Holy Week, Jesus would tell Pontius Pilate that He really is a King, but “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”[3] Jesus does not conquer lands, rain down fire on His enemies, or make the streets run with their blood. His reign is established through servanthood, as Isaiah wrote,
Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted. As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind— so shall he sprinkle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand.5
What kind of King would suffer such torment from His servants, and on behalf of His servants? Yet, this is the sort of King who Jesus is. But all of these things remain hidden until God makes them known to men. As Isaiah wrote in the next verse, “Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?”[4]
In a week’s time, God would make it clear how His servant King was to triumph. By the light of the Holy Spirit, God would open the disciples’ eyes to see Jesus’ triumph and where His Kingdom is established.
Jesus truly is the “King of Israel,” as the crowds cried out on Palm Sunday. Yet He’s different from every previous king. Even Solomon, whose reign enjoyed peace, had to shed blood of wicked men. But under the reign of King Jesus, He sheds His own blood for the wicked. His rule is not temporal and it does not end in His death, as all the other kings’ rule had. In fact, His rule begins with His sacrificial death for the people, and continues in His resurrection forever and ever.
You who now believe in Him share in His triumph. His victory is certain and His Kingdom shall last forever. We look forward to it in faith now, because our faithful God has promised it. Our triumphant King will return, not in humility, but in power. The Kingdom which He established in our hearts will be seen in the whole world. He will be seen by all, as the eternal King coming in His glory. The faithful will surround Him with palm branches in their hands, as John later saw in his Revelation. The great multitude will stand around the Glorious King, shouting a new song:
“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” and “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”[5]
Come quickly, King Jesus! We wait for You.
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
[1] Controversy arose in John 5:18-47, John 6:22-66, John 8:31-59, John 9:8-41, and John 11:45-57
[2] Matthew 17:22-23
[3] John 18:36
[4] Isaiah 52:13-15, 53:1
[5] Revelation 7:10, 12
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