John 12:18 - Exposition

For this cause also the ( ὁ ὄχλος ) multitude —which here seems to be the aggregate of the ( ὄχλος πολύς ) crowds made up of the Judaean and Galilaean pilgrims and "the Jews" who had believed on him— met him (see especially John 12:12 , John 12:13 )—went forth, and cut down the branches of the palm trees, and came in high jubilance to meet him— because they heard that he had wrought this sign . The resurrection of Lazarus is the motive of the triumphal procession. The synoptists, who have omitted the whole episode of Bethany, are naturally silent concerning the impression produced by it on the Passover pilgrims and the Jerusalem crowd. John, more intimately acquainted with the currents of thought in the capital than the rest, drew here from his experience and memory, and has preserved historical features which they had ignored.