Monday 27th March
Read John 12:12-19
“The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
‘Hosanna!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Blessed is the king of Israel!’
14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written:
15 ‘Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.’
16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realise that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.
17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, ‘See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!’” (NIVUK)
John’s account of the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem is the shortest of the four gospel accounts. As John’s gospel was likely the last written it is safe to assume that his readers were familiar with the details. It may be instructive to consider what John thinks is essential to his narrative. John summarises the responses of a range of people to events at this festival. Jesus, the disciples, the crowds and the Pharisees.
Jesus ‘found a young donkey’ and entered Jerusalem seated upon it to fulfil Scripture and declare his kingship. The disciples were oblivious to the significance of most things going on around them. The crowds were excited that the one who performed such amazing works was entering Jerusalem and were spreading word of Jesus widely. The Pharisees were simply dismayed by Jesus’ popularity and increasing fame. If we were to summarise the attitude of each, perhaps we would say, humble (Jesus), confused (disciples), eager (crowds) and frustrated (leaders).
What is your attitude to the king? Does Jesus just confuse you? Are you just keen to find out what he can do for you? Or do you long for his fame for yourself or threatened by the changes he brings? The challenge for all of us is to grasp his deliberate and natural humility and have it change our attitudes completely.
