The Christ and the Crisis part 2

The Christ and the Crisis

Four part series in John Chapter 12, Showing how He relates to four different groups of people; the second:

“Passover Pilgrims”John 12:12-

19

The Crisis…•John 12 records the second major crisis in Jesus’ ministry, as perceived by the disciples•The first when multitudes left Him, (John 6:66)•The crisis here, to John, is widespread unbelief•Three distinct groups among the Passover Pilgrims•How they respond to Jesus’ Triumphal Entry will indicate the “crisis” here•Let’s look at the text to see how Jesus responds

12 On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel.” 14 Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, 15 “FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY’S COLT.”

16 These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him. 17 So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him.

18 For this reason also the people went and met Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him.”

John 12:-19, NASB

Palm Sunday…•John 12:12-15, Jesus enters Jerusalem, the manner to fulfil prophecy, Zechariah 9:9

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem!Behold, your king is coming to you;He is just and endowed with salvation,Humble, and mounted on a donkey,Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Zechariah 9:9, NASB

Palm Sunday…•John 12:12-15, Jesus enters Jerusalem, the manner to fulfil prophecy, Zechariah 9:9•Greeted by three different groups of people•Passover Pilgrims from outside of Judea•Bethany locals who’d been there at Lazarus’ resurrection•Pharisees fearing what WJWD at the Passover feast

Passover Pilgrims •From outside Judea•At each of the feasts, the people were excited to see what Jesus would do•Would he do more miracles? Would He heal more people?•Would He finally declare His Messianic Mission and rise up to overthrow Rome?•Would He finally declare Himself as King?

Passover Pilgrims •What did this all mean for Jesus?•1. It was part of the plan (0bedience to the Father)•Zechariah promised the entry the way it happened


Zechariah 9:9, NASB


Zechariah 9:9, NASB


Zechariah 9:9, NASB


Zechariah 9:9, NASB


Zechariah 9:9, NASB


Zechariah 9:9, NASB

Passover Pilgrims •What did this all mean for Jesus?•1. It was part of the plan (0bedience to the Father)•Zechariah promised the entry the way it happened•2. He was openly announcing that He is the King, the promised Messiah, though which one? (We’ll address this in a few minutes)•Luke 19:37-44 says He wept as they sang Hosanna

Bethany Pilgrims•Vv 16-17, the disciples, once again were clueless, and the Bethanians kept on testifying•They put out the palm fronds with the rest of the crowd•They obviously thought this meant peace (Jerusalem) and prosperity quoting Psalm 118

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD;We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.

Psalm 118:26, NASB

Bethany Pilgrims•Vv 16-17, the disciples, once again were clueless, and the Bethanians kept on testifying•They put out the palm fronds with the rest of the crowd•They obviously thought this meant peace (Jerusalem) and prosperity quoting Psalm 118•Still unaware of the timing

The Pharisees…•Vv 18-19, though they were reli- gious, they were ignorant of the Scriptures’ teachings of their own Messiah•Repeated theme of suffering before glory•They were unclear concerning the sufferings of Messiah and the Glorious Kingdom the prophets announced

The Pharisees…•They couldn’t put the suffering together with the glory in their minds•Some Hebrew theologians thought maybe 2 Messiahs•As they watched the crowd gather, they were quite sure Jesus had won the day•They were anticipating another revolt, historically

The Pharisees…•The greatest tragedy here is their misunderstanding the nature and heart of Jesus•They were afraid He might do some miracle that would cause the people to rise up•But in fact Jesus was “forcing their hand” so they would act during the Passover Feast•The Lamb had to be slain at the same time as all the others– “Behold!” is exaggeration AND prophecy

Take Away…•Next time we’ll look at some Gentile visitors to Jerusalem•Today’s take home?•Look at what He said about rocks in Luke 19:40

But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!”

Luke 19:40, NASB

Take Away…•Next time we’ll look at some Gentile visitors to Jerusalem•Today’s take home?•Look at what He said about rocks in Luke 19:40•The people cried out to Jesus for Peace– Hosanna!•Cry out to the Lord for peace for the lost!

Spiritual

The Christ and the Crisis part 2