John 12:12-19 - Homiletics

The triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

On the day after the feast at Bethany, Jesus catered the city under circumstances of unusual public enthusiasm.

I. CONSIDER THE PERSONS WHO ACCORDED TO HIM THIS PUBLIC MANIFESTATION OF FAVOR . "On the next day a great crowd of people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was come to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees, and went forth to him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the Name of the Lord."

1. They were not Jews of Jerusalem, who were almost entirely hostile to Jesus, but Galilaeans who had come up to observe the Passover. These people were far more receptive of truth than the people directly under the guidance of the religious chiefs of the nation.

2. The palm branches were emblematic of triumph, strength, and joy .

3. The exclamation of the people, which is taken from Psalms 118:1-29 ., was a recognition of the Messiahship of Jesus .

II. CONSIDER OUR LORD 'S RESPONSE TO THE SALUTATIONS OF THE PEOPLE . "Jesus having found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, Fear not, daughter of Zion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt."

1. The action was a Messianic sign of humility . The ass is as despised in the East as in the West. The entry of Jesus upon it set forth the essentially spiritual aspect of his Kingship .

2. The quotation from ancient prophecy might assure the Jews that this King would be no tyrant .

3. Yet the true import of the sign was not directly understood even by the disciples . "Now the disciples understood not these things at the time."

III. THE EXPLANATION OF THIS DEMONSTRATION . "The multitude therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare him witness; and for this cause also the multitude met him, because they had heard that he had done this miracle." Both the Jews of Jerusalem and the strangers bore witness to the miracle which led to the demonstration it shows how profound was the impression made by the miracle.

IV. THE EFFECT OF THE DEMONSTRATION ON THE PHARISEES . "Whereupon the Pharisees said among themselves, You see that you prevail nothing; behold, the whole world is gone away after him."

1. This is the language of weak and irresolute despair .

2. They seem to blame each other for the frustration of their plans .

3. They evidently deem that the time is past for mere half-measures, and are prepared to adopt the more energetic and extreme measures suggested by Caiaphas.