With Dale Ratzlaff
John 12:12-19
On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 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.” 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. 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. For this reason also the people went and met Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him.”
The Triumphal Entry took place on the Sunday after the anointing by Mary on Saturday night. All four Gospels record this event, and each gives additional details that John does not mention but are consistent with his record. There are two crowds or groupings of people in this section. One group was the people who were with Jesus when He raised Lazarus from the dead. They had seen this “sign” and were eager to spread the news of this miracle and perhaps see Jesus fulfill the role of Messiah. The second group was made up of the people in Jerusalem and those who had heard about Lazarus but had not seen him to confirm his resurrection. One group was going to Jerusalem, the other was coming out of Jerusalem, and they met as Christ entered Jerusalem.
John mentions “the large crowd that came to the feast.” Josephus states that before the Jewish War in 70 AD, about 2,700,000 people were present in Jerusalem for the Passover. Doubtless these numbers are inflated, but in any event, the crowds present at Passover time were large.
These pilgrims took palm branches and went out to meet Jesus. Palm trees have a rich symbol in Jewish culture. They live about 200 years and became a symbol of immortality, life, and salvation (Lenski, John, p. 851). Palm trees were also a symbol of victory and triumph. During the Maccabean period, Antiochus IV had profaned the temple by erecting an image to Zeus in the Most Holy place, destroying all the copies of the law he could find, and killing those who were observing the law. When the temple and its services were revived in 164 BC, we have this record of their joyous celebration. Over time the palm tree and its branches became a national symbol of Jewish rule.
Then carrying branches, leafy boughs and palms, they offered hymns to him who had brought the cleansing of his own Holy Place to a happy outcome (2 Maccabees 10:7, 8).
As the large crowd, waving Paul branches, goes out to meet Jesus they began to shout, “Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel.” The Greek tense for “shout” is in the imperfect durative tense. They kept and shouting over and over again, “Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel.”
“Hosanna” is the transliteration of an Aramaic or Hebrew expression with the meaning “Save, I pray,” or “God save him.” The the crowd was proclaiming the blessedness of Jesus. Perhaps they were saying, “Praise God and his Messiah, we are saved.”
The rest of this verse above appears to be a conflation of several Old Testament references.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD; We have blessed you from the house of the LORD (Ps. 118:26).
Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD, Praise the name of the LORD. Blessed be the name of the LORD From this time forth and forever. From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the LORD is to be praised (Ps. 113:1-3).
John adds to the Old Testament quotes, “the King of Israel.” There is no doubt that these joyous pilgrims understood that Jesus was coming into Jerusalem as the Messiah King. Equally valid is that they did not understand the nature of His kingdom. They thought Jesus was coming to deliver the Jewish nation from Roman rule. Even the disciples at this time did not fully understand the nature of Christ’s spiritual kingdom.
Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, “FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY’S COLT.”
The Synoptics add much more detail regarding the securing of the donkey. John, according to his purpose, leaves out these details. He focuses only the “young donkey.” The fact that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a young donkey rather than on a war horse is significant. A horse was a symbol of war and conquering. Donkeys were not used as war animals. They are sure-footed peaceful creatures. John quotes the Old Testament and shows how Christ fulfilled it.
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 (Zec. 9:9).
Some see this whole event as a fulfillment of Isaiah 40:9:
Get yourself up on a high mountain, O Zion, bearer of good news, lift up your voice mightily, O Jerusalem, bearer of good news; lift it up, do not fear. Say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” (Isa. 40:9).
One can only imagine the excitement in the hearts of the people. They have waited centuries for the Messiah. They chafed under Roman rule and longed to be free. Now, they thought, “Jesus, the Messiah will deliver us from this oppression.”
I vividly remember the end of World War II. There was VE Day—victory over Europe and Nazi Germany. Then there was VJ day—when Japan formally surrendered. I was only nine at the time, but I can still feel the excitement of victory! The war was over; the soldiers were coming home!
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.
It is certain that Jesus understood He was fulfilling Old Testament prophecies. The other gospels spell out in great detail how Jesus ordered His disciples to find and untie a colt in what one could consider a miraculous way. However, John states that he and the other disciples did not understand that they were fulfilling these prophecies until after the resurrection. Then, checking back into the Old Testament, they remembered they would do these things to Jesus. Doubtless, the Holy Spirit gave them the insight into these things.
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you (Jn. 14:26).
This promise assures us that what the disciples wrote years later was accurate. Those of us who are in the last quarter of life can look back over our journey and with the prompting of the Holy Spirit see God’s intervention, guidance, and provision. At the time it may not have been evident except through the eye of faith. Now, looking back we can see God’s guiding hand.
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.
The power of the eyewitnesses who were present when Jesus called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead could not be stopped. They continued to tell the story, over and over again. By now the pilgrims who had come from other parts of the country were hearing the news. “Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead!” The Jewish leaders heard the many testimonies. Caiaphas had said that one man should die for the nation so that the nation not perish. Then, when the priests heard that Lazarus was alive and well, they expanded the number saying two must die! Now, they realize that a massive crowd of pilgrims who came for the Passover festivities is turning their attention away for the Jewish leaders to Jesus.
So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him.”
“The whole world” is hyperbole, but it expresses their exasperation for not being able to contain the people from believing in Jesus. For believers, the truth of Jesus brought joy and rejoicing. For unbelievers, it brought fear and anxiety. These “believers” were not necessarily born again, true believers at the time. Many of them just a few days later would join the mocking crowd at the foot of the cross.
Application
- We should never forget the power of personal witness. Our witness will not be as spectacular as that of Lazarus. Nevertheless, Christians who tell “the old, old story” should not underestimate the power of that witness when it includes the gospel.
- Throughout both the Old Testament and new, praise and thanksgiving are part of the worshipful life of God’s people. Praise is not a wasted activity.
- Following truth brings peace. Fighting against truth brings anxiety.
- We should pray that the Holy Spirit will not only guide us in our future walk with Christ but give us the insight to interpret our past journey so we can see His guiding hand.
Prayer,
Father, may I always walk in truth. Give me the courage to testify to what you have done in my life and ministry. May the Holy Spirit guide me and show me where I have been and where you are leading in the future.
In Jesus name.
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