Jesus’ Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem
January 11, 2022
Commentary
The scene now shifts from a quiet dinner in Bethany to a noisy parade in Jerusalem (v. 12). Thousands of Galilean pilgrims had come to the Passover, and they had seen many of Jesus’ mighty works. These people were expecting Christ to establish David’s kingdom. Waving palm branches they were shouting, “Hosanna” (v. 13). Jesus came riding into the city on a young donkey, which fulfilled Zechariah’s prophecy (vv. 14-15). The donkey was used in the Old Testament by kings who were bringing peace, while the horse was used when the kings rode into battle. The size of the crowd kept increasing. Many who proclaimed Jesus as King did so because of His miracles.
Even though the disciples were close to Jesus and the participants of these events, they did not understand them (v. 16). It was not until after the ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit, who called these things to their remembrance, that they understood (14:26). A crowd had come to meet Jesus because they had seen him call Lazarus out of the tomb (vv. 17- 18. They kept talking about him and this miracle. But the Pharisees said to each other, “There is nothing that can be done! Everyone in the world is following Jesus.” Because of this mass reception of Jesus by the people, it was impossible for the Pharisees to carry out their plans to arrest Him and kill Him. They knew that if they did it during the feast the people might riot (Mark 14:1-2). Because of the large crowd and excitement these religious rulers concluded that, “The whole world is gone after Him” (v.19). Of course, this was not true, as most of these people did not really believe in Jesus.
Application
It is easy for me to think that a large crowd or a large church is evidence of the Lord’s blessing. This is not necessarily true. I can get caught up in the enthusiastic spirit of a large crowd, but it is only my relationship with Jesus Christ and what He says in His Word that really counts.
John 12:12– 19 (NET)
12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him. They began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!” 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, 15 “Do not be afraid, people of Zion; look, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt!” 16 (His disciples did not understand these things when they first happened, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about him and that these things had happened to him.)
17 So the crowd who had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead were continuing to testify about it. 18 Because they had heard that Jesus had performed this miraculous sign, the crowd went out to meet him. 19 Thus the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you can do nothing. Look, the world has run off after him!”