The Last Week: Experiencing God
Thom Redmond
John 12:12-19
12The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors 13took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hail to the King of Israel!” 14Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said: 15“Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem. Look, your King is coming, riding on a donkey’s colt.” 16His disciples didn’t understand at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. But after Jesus entered into his glory, they remembered what had happened and realized that these things had been written about him. 17Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others about it. 18That was the reason so many went out to meet
him—because they had heard about this miraculous sign. 19Then the Pharisees said to each other, “There’s nothing we can do. Look, everyone has gone after him!”
John 12:13 - The Palm branches are a critical symbol concerning Jesus.
Leviticus 23:40
40On the first day gather branches from magnificent trees[a]—palm fronds, boughs from leafy trees, and willows that grow by the streams. Then celebrate with joy before the Lord your God for seven days.
Revelation 7:9 *
9After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands.
I. The palm branch represents
living
“Hosanna” also represents the following thoughts:
1. Be victorious over our enemies.
2. Let your kingdom never be destroyed
There is a Passover mystery here as well.
John 12:14 Jesus riding a donkey.
How important is that?
Zechariah 9:9
9Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt.
John 12:15-16
Question: Have you ever done something now that later meant a lot more to you than you realized at the time?
John 12:17 The book of John is the only one that discusses and includes the story of Lazarus.
John 11:43-48
43Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”
45Many of the people who were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw this happen. 46But some went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47Then the leading priests and Pharisees called the high council together. “What are we going to do?” they asked each other. “This man certainly performs many miraculous signs. 48If we allow him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in him. Then the Roman army will come and destroy both our Temple and our nation.”
II. The raising of Lazarus is
Eyewitness testimony= Absolute Truth.
III. Those who
John 12:18-19
Summary:
- Hosanna-Jesus saves!
- Jesus was a humble King who fulfilled prophecy.
- Miracles challenge us to either accept or reject Jesus. Each person must choose.