John 12:12-19

What Manner of King!

What manner of King is it that is portrayed in our text from John today?

Honored

It was not the normal scene among the Jewish people to be waving palm branches upon the entrance of an individual into the city. While they had had other rulers that they would accept as their own since the return from their Babylonian exile about 500 years earlier, they had not had a king of their own since the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC. They were ruled by Herod, but He was not a Jew and not selected from the Davidic line. Such display of honor for a man born in Nazareth was news worthy. It would upset the balance of the social structure as many would see this as a threat to the status quo. Such populist shows of honor normal lead to either bloody revolution or bloody suppression.  

Blessed by God

In their exclamation, the people say some remarkable things. They cry out, “Hosanna!,” which is a cry for salvation, and in many cases a plea. But here, it is more of a declaration, in a fashion, the bestowal of the title as the one who saves, even as His name Jesus, means YAHWEH saves. He is recognized as the One blessed by God from His past actions of salvation as He delivered many from that which oppressed them, sickness, demon, and even death. The people’s acclamation recognizes Him as THE ONE to save them and proves prophetic far beyond their expectation as He will save them from their sins as the angel had predicted at His birth. 

Foretold

The detail of how things must be is often surprising. Even the fact that Jesus would come to holy city of Zion sitting on a donkey’s colt is a detail that does not escape prophecy and fulfillment. It reminds us that God’s plan for man’s salvation has been forefront since the beginning, that all of Scripture is there to remind us of the salvation that is here for man, that everything points to Jesus and His ministry of reconciling God to us. God is a God of detail and no detail escapes His notice. No sin goes unatoned. No sinner goes unredeemed. God has wrapped all the little details into the fullness of the package from beginning to end.

Misunderstood

Being misunderstood seems to come with the vocation. Jesus is misunderstood by His disciples time and time again. HE declares to them in plain, no uncertain terms, that He would suffered and die, that He would be crucified, and that He would rise again, but no matter how plain and clear the words, they misunderstood. Jesus was misunderstood by the crowds to be their deliverer from the Romans. He was misunderstood by the leaders of the Jews as a threat to their success. He is still misunderstood by many, some inside the Church and certainly by those that stay outside. But He did not misunderstand His role, His destiny, His Fathers’ will, and He would not be deterred by those who could not or would not understand.

One to be glorified

It is in His glorification that His disciples remembered all that He had said. They remembered what the Scriptures had to say concerning the Christ. They understood that He must be crucified at the hands of evil men. It is in seeing His glory on display as His mangled body hung upon the cross and He in agony cried out to His Father, hat they understood that their own salvation had been accomplished. Their most vile enemies had been vanquished. Jesus had truly saved His people from their sins.

Attested to

The crowds from Bethany had joined the larger throng in Jerusalem and they were talking about the man that Jesus had raised from the dead. They were giving testimony to the authority that He possessed and the power that He wielded, even that of the Divine. He had done other things that had never been done such as healing the blind and the lame man that had been so from birth. But calling one from death is a clear sign of King that has dominion even over death. As much as man loves to spread rumors and unverified information, how much more should not such an event be attested to with clear and loud speech.

Celebrity

It was because those from Bethany would not let it go. They would not stop talking about Lazarus being raised by Jesus after he had been dead four whole days. Such made Jesus an instant celebrity. The crowds grew and they clamored after Him. Yet they did not move Him from His course. His celebrity status would not last long as it would be replaced by a notorious status as man identified with criminals. He knew what lay ahead and in humility, he continued His path that Holy Week in Jerusalem that all that the Scriptures declare would be fulfilled.

Envied and despised

Not everyone was glad to see Jesus that day. Some were upset at His presence and the way in which the crowds greeted Him. Some were envious of He had captured the people’s attention and devotion. Some despised Him because they had lost to Him some of their loyal following. The evil in the hearts of these would simmer and boil to the point this week that their bile would overflow into an all out hatred for the One entering to shouts of “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” And in despising the One whom the Lord has sent, they despise even the Lord.

Oh, What Manner of King He Is!

He is the manner of King that decrees for the benefit of His subjects. He is the manner of King that acts on behalf of His subjects. He is the manner of King that leaps from His throne and throws Himself between His people and their enemies as a human shield. He is the manner of King that uses the power of His throne to deliver His people from all harm and to grant them all happiness. He is the manner of King that goes uncomplaining forth, bearing the guilt of His subjects, His spotless life to offer, glad to suffer, that His blood, the righteous robe would be for you and me.

Hosanna! Lord, save us! In the blessed name of Jesus! Amen!