MARCH 18 / MARCH 25, 2018
CHRIST’S TRIUMPHAL ENTRANCE
INTRODUCTION:
1. Christ’s conduct at this concluding stage of His earthly life and ministry is remarkably different than anything else that is recorded of Him.
a) Hitherto we have seen Him withdraw as much as possible from public notice. By retiring into the wilderness He was avoiding both those who would have tried to kill Him, and those who would have brought Him forward and made Him a king.
b) He did not “cry or strive, or cause His voice to be heard in the streets.” (Matt. 12:19)
c) But here, on the contrary, He will make a most spectacular entrance into the city attended by a crowd of people so immense that it caused the Pharisees to say, “Behold, the whole world has gone after Him.”
2. The explanation for this apparent inconsistency is not difficult to find out. The time had now come when He was to die for the sins of the world. “His hour” was now come at last,
a) When the true Passover Lamb was to be slain;
b) When the true blood of atonement was to be shed;
c) When Messiah was to be cut off (Dan. 9:26); and
d) When the way into the holiest was to be opened by the true High Priest to all mankind.
3. Knowing this, He placed Himself prominently under the notice of the whole Jewish nation. It was only right that this thing should not be “done in a corner.” (Acts 26:26)
a) Thus, it happened at a time when all the tribes were assembled for the Passion Feast.
b) Thus, it happened at a time when He had caused the eyes of all Israel to be upon Him.
4. This coming of our Lord into Jerusalem is known as “Christ’s Triumphal Entrance.”
I. HERE WE HAVE CHRIST’S GRAND ENTRANCE INTO THE CITY IN FULFILLMENT OF THE SCRIPTURES. (VERSES 12-19; ZECH. 9:9; PSA. 118:25)
A. A GREAT MULTITUDE GATHERED TO SHOW HONOR TO CHRIST IN A MOST REMARKABLE DISPLAY. (VERSES 12, 13)
1. This great multitude did not include many locals, but was mostly made up of country people who came from all parts to worship at the feast.
a) According to Josephus, as many as three million people would gather to Jerusalem for Passover.
b) Many came from Galilee. It is very likely that there were more than a few among this great crowd who had been present and had partaken of the loaves and fishes.(John 6:5-13)
c) They were not the rulers or great ones that went out to meet Christ, but the common people.
2. These enthusiastic people had inquired after the Lord (Ch. 11:55, 56), and now “they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.”
a) Our Lord’s intention of coming had somehow become known, either by Himself, or His disciples.
b) This information must have been carried back to the city by those who returned from Bethany the day before.
3. The multitude expressed it great honor for Christ in a most remarkable way. (Verse 13)
a) Palm branches were carried by processions attending victorious kings on public occasions.
(1) The triumphant host in heaven which John saw in visions was composed of persons having “palms in their hands.” (Rev. 7:9)
(2) Some here no doubt believed Jesus was Messiah, while others simply followed along. But, we can safely say that the nature of Christ’s Kingdom was still unknown to them.
b) They shouted before Him with loud hosannas. (See Rev. 7:10)
(1) This is quoted from Psa. 118:25, 26. We see here how acquainted they were with the Scriptures, and how they applied the words of the psalmist to Messiah.
(2) They acknowledge Jesus to be “the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.”
(3) “Hosanna.” This Hebrew word signifies, “save now, we beseech thee.”
(a) Though they understood that Psalm 118 had special reference to Messiah, the salvation they looked for was of a temporal nature.
(b) Not even the disciples at the time fully understood the spiritual nature of Messiah’s Kingdom. Neither did they yet understand the universal and spiritual nature of His deliverance. (Ch. 11:51, 52)
B. THE UNUSUAL ACCOMMODATION THAT PROVIDENCE HAD ARRANGED FOR JESUS TO MAKE HIS ENTRANCE. (VERSES 14, 15; ZECH. 9:9)
1. John tells of the procuring of the young ass upon which Jesus would sit, but he does not mention the prearrangement that went before. (See Matt. 21:1-4; Luke 19:29-34) Christ’s sovereignty is seen in a number of remarkable details:
a) That He knew exactly where the animals would be tied;
b) That the man willingly surrendered his animal upon request;
c) That the mother allowed her colt to be taken without protest;
d) That an unbroken ass would submit to a rider.
2. This was done in fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy. (Verse 15; Zech. 9:9)
3. Christ Himself arranged His steed, knowing that a King riding in triumph would be expected to have a chariot like that of Solomon (Song of Sol. 3:9, 10); or to ride upon a white horse like that belonging to King Ahasuerus upon which Mordecai sat. (Est. 6:7-11)
4. According to the fashion of this world, to be introduced in this lowly fashion was rather a disparagement than an honor.
a) Christ’s Kingdom was not of this world, and therefore came not with outward pomp.
b) He was now humbling Himself, but in His exalted state John sees Him “on a white horse with a bow and a crown.”
5. The “daughter of Zion” is called upon to behold her King.
C. JOHN REMARKS THAT THE DISCIPLES, (HE BEING ONE OF THEM) HAD A VERY IMPERFECT KNOWLEDGE OF THIS. (VERSE 16)
1. They, at this time, did not understand why Christ did this, and how the Scripture was fulfilled.
2. But, when Jesus was glorified, and thereupon, the Spirit poured out, then they remembered that these things were written of Him in the Old Testament.
3. Many things which Jesus did and said they were not able to comprehend, and did not fully understand until after the Holy Spirit came. (Ch. 2:22; 7:38, 39)
4. “Then remembered they the things that were written.” By the Holy Spirit we are able to see and understand in all of the Scriptures the things that are written of Christ.
D. THE REASON GIVEN FOR WHY THE PEOPLE DID THIS WAS THE GREAT MIRACLE THAT JESUS WROUGHT IN RAISING LAZARUS. (VERSES 17, 18)
1. There was apparently a very considerable number of people who were present at Bethany to witness the miracle.
2. Though many remained enemies of Christ, a great number of them believed and now bear record of what they saw.
a) They testified that “He called Lazarus out of the grave.”
b) Then giving double emphasis, they added, “and raised him from the dead.”
3. Because of the many who bore record of what Jesus did, a great multitude of others joined with them in showing this honor to Christ as Messiah.
E. THERE WAS GREAT INDIGNATION AND VEXATION ON THE PART OF THE COUNCIL OVER WHAT WAS HAPPENING. (VERSE 19)
1. Some of them saw it, and the others learned of it from them.
2. They had to acknowledge that they had not succeeded in their efforts to engage the people against Christ. “Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing.”
3. They also had to acknowledge that the ground He had gained was overwhelming.
4. Thus, they will excite themselves and one another to a more vigorous carrying on of war against Christ.
II. NEXT WE HAVE THE HONOR THAT WAS SHOWN TO CHRIST BY THE GREEKS WHO INQUIRED AFTER HIM. (VERSES 20-26) We are not told on what day of Christ’s last week this was, probably not the same day that He rode into Jerusalem, but perhaps a day or two after.
A. CERTAIN GREEKS WHO CAME TO THE FEAST WANTED TO SEE JESUS. (VERSE 20)
1. These were apparently proselytes to Judaism, and as such were regular attendants of the Jewish feasts.
2. There were devout worshippers of the true God even among those who were strangers to the commonwealth of Israel. This was a happy presage of the taking down of the middle of partition between Jew and Gentile. (Eph. 2:14)
B. THESE GREEK WORSHIPPERS ACTED UPON THEIR DESIRE TO SEE JESUS. (VERSES 21, 22)
1. They were not detoured in their pursuit by the huge crowd that pressed Jesus.
2. They made application to one of His disciples. “The same therefore came to Philip.” They probably came to Philip simply because he was the first of Jesus’ disciples they saw, and they figured he would have access.
3. Philip consults with Andrew, Peter’s brother, and a senior fellow. The two agreed what was to be done. (Verse 22)
C. CHRIST’S ACCEPTANCE OF THEIR REQUEST AND THE HONOR SHOWN IN IT IS SIGNIFIED BY WHAT HE SAID TO THE PEOPLE. (VERSES 23-26)
1. The inquiry of the Greeks seems to be key to Christ’s opening words. “The hour is come that the Son of Man should be glorified,” i.e. when He should be put to death and raised again on the third day.
a) The Gentiles were beginning to inquire after Him, thus the hour had manifestly come in which He should finish His work and should fully set up His Kingdom by His death, resurrection, and ascension.
b) The hour for Christ to finish His ministry was fixed and appointed. ‘Til it came, the Jews were powerless to stop Him, but now, His hour is come in which “One should die for that nation; and not for that nation only, but that also He should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.” (Ch. 11:51, 52)
c) Thus we see the significance of this inquiry and desire on the part of Gentile seekers.
2. Jesus illustrates the great Scriptural truth of one dying so that as a result many shall have life. By His resurrection all of the children of God for whom He died shall be raised; in His glorification they all shall be glorified. (Vs. 24)
a) If Christ had not died, He would abide alone.
b) But, because Christ’s death on the cross is the full satisfaction and atonement for the sin of His people it results in life for them all.
3. In Verse 25 we have one of our Lord’s most often repeated sayings. “He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life…shall keep it.”
a) This identifies those who have this life that comes by Christ’s death.
b) Their whole purpose of life is changed, whereas they once lived for self, now they live for Him. (Gal. 2:20; Col. 3:1-3; I Cor. 6:19, 20)
4. Verse 26, which further explains Verse 25, seems spoken for the benefit of those Greeks who sought to see Him, and for all who desire to become His disciples.
a) Christ’s true disciples follow Him. (Ch. 10:27)
b) Christ’s true disciples attend His repose. Christ is where His church is’ and there let His servants be.
c) Note the rich promises Christ makes to His servants.
(1) First, they shall be happily in His presence. “Where I am, there shall my servants be”
(2) Secondly, they shall be honored by His Father. The rewarder is God Himself. (Prov. 27:18)
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