Calvary Road Baptist Church
“CHRIST HONORED DURING HIS TRIUMPHAL ENTRY”
John 12.12-19
You may recall, if you were with us last Sunday morning, that we began our consideration of the twelfth chapter of John’s Gospel account by considering the way in which Mary, the sister of Lazarus, honored the Savior, and by relating the way others in verses 1-11 honored or dishonored the Lord Jesus Christ. By honor, I refer to showing someone great respect or high regard.[1]
The setting of verses 1-11 was Bethany, a suburb to the Northeast of Jerusalem, where Simon the leper lived, and where Mary, Martha, and Lazarus also lived. The Lord Jesus Christ and His disciples arrived at their home one week before His crucifixion after walking from Jericho. The Lord likely spent the Sabbath, from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown, relaxing in Mary, Martha, and Lazarus’ Bethany home. John’s account seems to record a meal eaten just after dusk on the Saturday evening before the Lord’s crucifixion.
In connection with that meal, I noted the Savior’s honoring of those present by His attendance at the meal, and the honoring of Him by Lazarus, by the one sister, Martha, and the notable honoring of the Lord by the other sister, Mary, who anointed the Lord’s feet using extremely expensive ointment. Of course, Judas Iscariot was disturbed by what Mary did, because he had no access to the money that might have come from selling the expensive ointment. The looky-loos who came to see the Lord and the raised-from-the-dead Lazarus were indifferent to any notion of honoring the Lamb of God. Their interest was entertainment. And the chief priests were openly hostile toward both the Lord and Lazarus, committed to seeing them both dead.[2]
In our text for today, we see John’s account of another occasion of the Lord Jesus Christ being honored, what is usually referred to as His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. This was an event of such importance, with implications that reverberated throughout the city of Jerusalem and among the religious pilgrims who had traveled to the city for the Passover, that it is recorded in each of the four Gospel accounts.[3]
I have previously preached about Christ’s triumphal entry, taking note of the contribution made by each of the Gospel writers to the record of that important event.[4] Those messages are available on our Church web site should you care to read them or listen to them.
This message will be somewhat different in that I will not bring to bear anything from Matthew, Mark, or Luke’s Gospel. The reason for that omission has to do with John’s emphasis on showing how the Savior was honored by the people, an emphasis that is not found in the other three Gospel accounts. Please turn to John 12.12. When you have found that verse I invite you to stand and join me in reading John 12.12-19:
12 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
14 And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,
15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.
16 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.
17 The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.
18 For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.
19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.
I will make six observations related to the honor showed to the Lord Jesus Christ by ordinary Jewish people on the occasion of His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, most of them religious pilgrims come to Jerusalem for Passover. I will also address the non-reaction by the apostles and the negative reaction to the Savior being honored by the Pharisees:
First, THE HONOR SHOWED HIM BY THE PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY
Respect was paid to the Lord Jesus by common people, where we are told in John 12.12-13,
12 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Notice three things from these two verses about the people who honored the Lord Jesus:
First, who they were that honored Him. John tells us there were “much people that were come to the feast.” Thus, they were mostly not the inhabitants of Jerusalem who turned out to honor Him. Rather, they were those that came from far and wide to worship at the feast. Why so? Matthew Henry suggests, “the nearer the temple of the Lord, the further from the Lord of the temple.”[5] Think about that. Perhaps those who honored Him were Christ’s hearers from Galilee, or Perea, or outside Jerusalem in Judea. He had great admirers from those regions, so they might have been somewhat more demonstrative for Him in Jerusalem, where they knew He had many enemies. Perhaps they were aroused by events they had seen or heard of a few days earlier in Jericho when He gave sight to Bartimaeus and his friend. They may also have been pilgrims who had heard of the Nazarene the year before or two years before, and their interest in Him had piqued. They were not the religious leaders or the prominent men. Most of that type refused to honor the Savior. For the most part, such men as those were already arrayed against Christ as a disruptive force. Those who honored Him, on the other hand, were men with no stake in the network of interdependency that treated religion more as a business proposition than a concern for the things of God. These who honored Him are the Jewish men who were effectively outsiders, who had come to town to express their devotion to the God of Israel as His covenant people.
Next, on what occasion they honored Him. They heard that the Lord Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. Remember, we learn that they had inquired about Him in John 11.55-56:
55 And the Jews’ passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.
56 Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?
It seems they have now heard, perhaps from those who talked with Him coming from Jericho, that He is in or around Jerusalem. And with the recent raising of Lazarus being common knowledge and His miracle of giving sight to blind Bartimaeus and his friend in Jericho only three days before, their anticipation was running very high.
Third, in what way they honored Him. They didn’t have much at hand to honor Him, but what they had they used to honor Him. They made use of palm branches pulled or cut from trees, emblems of victory and triumph. And they didn’t just stand around with palm branches in their hands. We are told that they went forth to meet Him, which is to say that they inconvenienced themselves to honor Him. Imagine inconveniencing one’s self to honor the Savior, rather than waiting for a convenient opportunity to come your way to honor Him. As well, they “cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.” Several things worth noting here: First, this word “cried” translates the Greek word that I have pointed out to you before. Remember John 7.37?
“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.”
Just as the Lord Jesus Christ lifted His voice on that day, so the people lifted their voices to honor Christ, their king. Next, what does this word “Hosanna” mean? It’s a Hebrew expression from Psalm 118.25 originally, meaning “Save, we pray.” Used here as a cry of greeting, an homage, “glory, or hail, or welcome” to David’s son.[6] However, I wonder if Hosanna is that and more. I wonder if Hosanna is a prayer uttered by the people. Finally, in honoring Him, they own that He is blessed, that He is the King of the Jews, and that He comes in the name of the Lord, that He is on a divine mission.
In summary, those religious pilgrims honored the Lord Jesus Christ by being unafraid to lift their voices and shout. They honored the Lord by picking up palm branches to place in His path. They honored Him by leaving where they were to go to where He was (going to Him rather than waiting for Him to come to them). And they honored Him by acknowledging Him as Savior by shouting Hosanna, acknowledging Him to be blessed, acknowledging Him to be their King, and acknowledging that He was sent to them by God. I would say they definitely honored Him.
Second, THE POSTURE OF CHRIST TO RECEIVE THEIR HONOR
John 12.14:
“And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon.”
The Lord Jesus Christ always traveled by foot. So, why did He on this occasion sit atop the donkey colt? The Biblical principle to keep in mind is always that the greater receives from the lesser. On this occasion, the Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated to the multitudes that He was the proper Object of their honor, by sitting atop a mount fit for a king.
As you already know, but perhaps benefit from being reminded, there are three ways a king can enter a city in the Bible. If he enters as a conqueror, he sits atop a steed.[7] If he enters as heir to the throne, he sits atop a mule.[8] However, if he enters in peace, he sits atop a donkey colt.[9]
The Lord Jesus Christ knew full well the propriety by which He chose to enter the city of Jerusalem on that occasion. He did so to receive their honor.
Third, THE PROPHECY FULFILLED BY THE EVENT
The Lord Jesus Christ’s entrance into the city was not motivated solely by a desire to assume a posture worthy of honor. He was also fully aware of the importance to use the occasion to fulfill an Old Testament prophecy. This is seen at the end of verse 14 and in verse 15:
14 ... as it is written,
15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.
This echoes Zechariah 9.9:
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”
It was foretold that Zion’s king should come, their king should come; and that He should come in this manner. Thus, the Lord Jesus Christ showed Himself to be Zion’s king, and Mount Zion was set aside by God to be the royal city of the Messiah. To be sure, ascending from the Kidron Valley to the city on the back of a donkey colt was a slow trek. People could easily walk at a faster pace than the Lord advanced on the donkey. However, this showed two things to the people as they cried with loud voices, and both prayed and praised Him: Royal majesty does not ever move quickly, but deliberately and with poise. And as He passed by they could see Him, they could touch Him, they could speak to Him, they could admire Him, and they could glory in Him in a way not possible were He to rush past them.
The daughter of Zion is the children of Israel, the Jewish people. And they are called upon to behold their king, to take notice of Him as He approaches. They are to behold Him, to identify Him, to see Him, and to examine Him as He passes by in review. They were given the opportunity to honor Him; they then seized their opportunity and honored Him. It was an opportunity they did not waste.
Fourth, THE PERCEPTION OF THOSE CLOSEST TO HIM
Have you picked up on something first glimpsed in Bethany, at the evening meal? Other than Judas Iscariot’s objection to Mary honoring the Savior, no mention is made of the other apostles. As well, on this occasion we are specifically informed that those men closest to the Savior, who had traveled with Him for three years, who had eaten with Him, who had slept with Him, and who had observed everything He said and did that so greatly impressed the multitudes, did not grasp what was unfolding before their eyes.
John 12.16:
“These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.”
Keeping in mind that John’s Gospel was written more than fifty years after the events that are recorded here, the apostle points out that he and his colleagues did not understand what was happening as the events of Christ’s triumphal entry unfolded. The apostles did not connect, in their minds, the fetching of the donkey colt with any Old Testament prophetical significance. Neither did they recognize at the time the fulfilling of Zechariah’s prophecy unfolding before their eyes. If they did not understand at the time what was happening with the people voicing praises, placing palm branches on the ground before Him, and their shouts of Hosanna, what did they think was happening? I guess that they were happy and that they felt the Lord was finally getting His due, but they saw nothing past that. Had they any idea that five days later their Master would be hanging from a cross, and buried at the end of the day in a rich man’s tomb, and that they would be utterly inconsolable? They had no idea at all, even though their Master had been warning them of His crucifixion for some time.[10] They had eyes but did not see, and ears but did not hear.
From John’s perspective a half century later, of course, he saw the significance of what the multitudes recognized on that day as they honored their King. When did he and the other disciples begin to understand the events of that day? Our verse says, “but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him.” Thus, they did not truly begin to understand the events unfolding before them until after His resurrection, when the Savior gave to them the indwelling Spirit when He said “Receive ye the Holy Ghost,” John 20.22. Remember, the Savior would tell them in a few days that the Spirit would guide them into all truth, John 16.13. The Spirit of God would also revive their memories and illuminate their understanding of spiritual reality. In our day we should pray for the same illumination by the Spirit, praying as Paul prayed in Ephesians 1.16-18, writing to the Ephesians that he ceased
16 ... not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.
As in the days of the apostles, so in our day. Insight and understanding of spiritual truth come from the Spirit of God. Thus, as those around them were honoring the Savior that day, they neither honored Him themselves nor did they grasp what those who were honoring the Savior were doing.
Fifth, THE PROMPTING OF THE MULTITUDES TO HONOR CHRIST
What was the reason the people so honored the Lord Jesus Christ that day as He entered Jerusalem, despite the opposition of officialdom? It was because of His recent great miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead, John 12.17-18:
17 The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.
18 For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.
Remember how the Lord delayed His coming when told His friend Lazarus was gravely ill? Why do you suppose He arrived after Lazarus was dead and buried? It was so He could do something that was witnessed by people who never would have gathered to see or hear Him, but who had gathered to mourn their friend Lazarus. And what did they see? They saw the Savior weep. They concluded the Savior loved Lazarus. But most of all, they saw Him raise Lazarus from the dead.
What do you suppose those witnesses to the raising of Lazarus had been doing for the past few weeks since that miracle was performed? They had been talking about it. They attested to the fact that Lazarus died. They had seen him dead. They had likely attended his burial. And they witnessed the Lord Jesus Christ raise him from the dead. That miracle was undeniable.
If you think the many pilgrims in Jerusalem had not heard about the raising of Lazarus then you have never been to a large gathering of people with a common interest, you have never attended a convention of any kind, and you have no experience with people who see each other once a year and only at such gatherings. What do people do who attend such gatherings? They catch up on old news. They talk about what has happened that is of common interest to them.
Thus, there were multiplied tens of thousands of religious pilgrims who had learned over the previous hours and days that Jesus of Nazareth had raised a man named Lazarus from the dead. When they were made aware of the fact that He was riding into Jerusalem on the foal of an ass, they put two and two together and sought to honor their king. And honor Him they most certainly did.
Finally, WE SEE THE PROTESTATIONS OF THE PHARISEES
John 12.19:
“The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.”
Let me remind you of two things concerning the Pharisees: First, they were, for the most part, not a part of officialdom. They were a narrow sect of religious enthusiasts who, with a few exceptions such as Nicodemus, were not part of the Mosaic Law religious hierarchy. They had no official status or position. They were the religious picker of nits who scrutinized everyone and judged everyone with the zeal of Barney Fife.[11] Second, the Pharisees came into existence during or after the Babylonian captivity and were without anything approaching Scriptural authorization. They saw themselves as the religious counterweights to the Sadducees, with whom they strongly disagreed about almost everything.
Therefore, it is no surprise that it was the Pharisees who protested among themselves when they saw the religious pilgrims honoring the Lord Jesus Christ, likely provoked by jealousy for an honor they desired for themselves. This, despite their knowledge of the miracle of raising Lazarus before most others were made aware of it. However, Zechariah’s prophecy was not the only fulfillment that occurred on that day. There was also a prediction made by the psalmist in Psalm 112.9-10:
9 He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.
10 The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.
Verse 9 speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ, while verse 10 refers to the wicked who oppose Him. When the wicked person sees the Savior exalted with honor he is grieved by what he sees, he shall gnash his teeth over what he sees, and the wicked person’s desire shall perish. Adam Clarke wonders if the wicked referred to at the beginning of verse 10 is Satan, while the wicked at the end of the verse is the evil person who observes Christ being honored.[12] Spurgeon comments about the desire of the wicked referred to here,
“He shall not achieve his purpose, he shall die a disappointed man. By wickedness he hoped to accomplish his purpose -- that very wickedness shall be his defeat.”[13]
Be sure that the Pharisees on that day are not the only ones grieved when the Savior is rightly honored. If you have been a believer in Christ long enough you, too, will have seen wicked men and women grieved at the honor that is given to the Savior by you.
We have three groups of people in connection to the honor given to the Lord Jesus Christ at His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. We have the multitudes of mostly religious pilgrims in Jerusalem for the Passover. We have the apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ and other disciples. And mention is made by John of the Pharisees.
It must be understood that honoring the Lord Jesus Christ is not the same thing as conversion. This is obvious from the fact that our Lord’s disciples did not honor Him on that occasion, while there is no doubt that most of those who did honor Him were not at that time converted people. That said, one must wonder about the propriety of honoring the Lord Jesus Christ, why so many were eager to honor Him, why the Pharisees were so opposed to honoring Him, and why His men were oblivious.
Does the Lord Jesus Christ deserve the honor of His creatures? He most certainly does deserve our honor. Revelation 4.11 is very clear:
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”
But what about those who persistently fail to honor Him? The disciples did not honor Him at the time but certainly honored Him after His resurrection. What can be said about those who persistently refuse to honor Him, such as the Pharisees, who knew full well He raised Lazarus from the dead?
I think upon the unnamed prophet who approached the priest Eli when Samuel was yet a lad. In First Samuel 2.29, the prophet rebukes Eli the priest for gladly enjoying the blessings of God while honoring his sons above God. Then, in verse 30 of that same chapter, he is told, “them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.”
To honor the Lord Jesus Christ is to show Him respect, to highly esteem Him and to behave as though you think He is important. Do you think the prophet’s words to Eli have no application to us? Do you conceive of God not honoring those who honor Him and not lightly esteeming those who despise Him?
The dull-witted disciples who did not know what was happening that day are a testament to the importance of everyone needing the Spirit of God, giving us an understanding of what is happening. Imagine something of such importance, and they were without a clue. Then, at the two extremes, there were the multitudes who by God’s grace put two and two together and honored Christ, recognizing who He is, and at the other end the Pharisees who didn’t care who He was, they were just against Him. Where are you in all this?
Are you clueless and in need of the Spirit of God to teach you what is happening? Then you should ask Him to teach you. Do you put two and two together to recognize who and what Jesus Christ is? Then you need to come to Him. Or are you one of those who despise Him and the honor that is due Him? Ah, you need to repent from that awful disposition and flee to Christ for salvation.
__________
[1] Webster’s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary, (New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 1996), page 873.
[2] John 11.53; 12.10
[3] Matthew 21.1-11; Mark 11.1-11; Luke 19.29-44; John 12.12-19
[4] http://www.calvaryroadbaptist.church/sermon.php?sermonDate=20170409b and http://www.calvaryroadbaptist.church/sermon.php?sermonDate=20170412c
[5] Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary On The Whole Bible, (Bronson, MI: Online Publishing, Inc., 2002), bible@mail.com
[6] Fritz Rienecker & Cleon Rogers, Linguistic Key To The Greek New Testament, (Grand Rapids, MI: Regency Reference Library, 1980), page 247 and 61.
[7] Revelation 19.11-16
[8] 1 Kings 1.33, 38
[9] Zechariah 9.9
[10] Matthew 16.21; 20.17-19; Mark 8.31; 9.31-32; 10.33-34; Luke 9.22; 18.31-33; 24.6-7
[11] Barney Fife was a character in the 1960-1965 television series The Andy Griffith Show. The Barney Fife character was outwardly smug and self-important, covering up his insecurities and low self-confidence with a display of bravado. He presented himself as an expert on such diverse subjects as firearms, martial arts, women, singing, wilderness survival and American history and frequently tried to impress others with his knowledge or skill in areas where his expertise was actually quite limited. He wished to be perceived as “a man of the world,” but he was actually quite naïve, and his fear of appearing ignorant left him easily duped.
[12] Adam Clarke, Clarke’s Commentary, Vol III, (New York: Abingdon Press), page 591.
[13] Charles H. Spurgeon, The Treasury Of David, Volume 3, (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers), page 19.
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