A Nation Affirms that Jesus is the Messiah

Christ is our hope in life and death.

And that was the refrain that we sang right before this time of the word.

! We're going to look in the scriptures this morning and I would encourage you to turn there with me in John chapter 12.

John 12 · chapter mention

John chapter 12.

John 12 · chapter mention

If you're using the Pew Bible, it's on page 898.

We're going to see through the course of this passage kind of the outworking of that truth.

Jesus Christ, our hope in life and death.

What does that mean?

What does he offer to us?

Are those empty promises or is Jesus in fact the one who makes it all possible?

Well, Jesus will have made a statement right before our passage in John chapter 11

John 11 · chapter mention

where he'll raise Lazarus from the dead and he will claim both to Martha and to Mary that I am the resurrection and the life.

Jesus is our hope for life and death.

And we celebrate that through the triumphal entry.

We celebrate that now in Palm Sunday.

But I imagine that as you think about Palm Sunday, and I'm thinking back to my childhood and Sunday school classes,

we were all given those palm branches, right?

That we would wave as kind of a celebration sign.

We're recognizing that Jesus is the king.

And so we wave those palm branches.

Just a fun way to remember this special Palm Sunday.

Well, Jesus did come into Jerusalem.

He did ride in on a donkey.

He was making a claim to kingship, that he was in fact the son of David.

But as we turn to our passage this morning in John chapter 12,

John 12 · chapter mention

John gives us not just a glimpse of Jesus as king,

but we're going to see something unique about who Jesus is in the claim that he makes

and how it's attached with him being the resurrection and the life and why that matters this morning.

So the triumphal entry in John chapter 12,

John 12 · chapter mention

and I'm trying to demonstrate this to us this morning as we look at our passage today.

John chapter 12 is more like a courtroom scene, as it were,

John 12 · chapter mention

where the verdict has been given,

where the declaration of truth has finally been conveyed,

and the people who are standing there,

this entire nation that has gathered there because of Jesus and the Passover

that is going to be taking place during this week,

this final verdict is made that Jesus is the Messiah.

Why?

Well, as you think about courtroom trials,

I'm sure that all of us can maybe watch the shows

or maybe even have witnessed some courtroom trials in our own experience.

And you know that there are moments in the courtroom

where everyone has their own opinions,

where everyone has been listening to arguments.

They have their suspicions about what the truth is,

whether this individual is guilty or innocent.

There are theories, perhaps.

There are stories that you've heard.

There are truth claims that have been made.

But then there's that one moment, perhaps,

when the prosecution brings this one piece of evidence,

and it changes the scene of the entire courtroom.

The whispers stop.

The room kind of leans forward.

And the question is no longer,

well, what do you think?

The question is,

what are we going to do with this evidence

that's been given in front of us?

John chapter 12 is that scene.

John 12 · chapter mention

John chapter 12 is that final definitive statement,

John 12 · chapter mention

at least temporary statement,

of this nation that has finally come to terms

with a sign that Jesus has given.

And at least in this moment,

as Jesus is entering Jerusalem,

they are all declaring emphatically,

Jesus is the Messiah.

Jesus had taught and healed here.

His ministry had spanned three years of public ministry.

People have had their opinions.

People have given their feedback.

People have asked their questions.

People have seen and witnessed the miracles

and heard the statements that Jesus made.

But now, in John chapter 12,

John 12 · chapter mention

Jesus has performed a sign that is unquestionable.

A sign that is undisputed.

The evidence is so convincing

and the verdict is so certain

that now an entire nation has come

to cast their vote, as it were.

In this moment, the whole nation has decided.

Jesus is, in fact, the Messiah,

as they will state.

In John chapter 12, we read this story

John 12 · chapter mention

of a city that's forced to reckon

with all of the evidence

that has been placed in front of it.

And at least for now,

they have come to the conclusion,

yes, Jesus is the Messiah.

Well, what is that sign?

Well, we're going to look at that sign this morning.

That sign of Lazarus,

who had been raised from the dead.

It wasn't just something that was hearsay.

It wasn't something that was distant.

It was something that was known.

And the religious leaders who were now present

had seen it for themselves.

This risen man, Lazarus,

risen from the dead.

And there he was along with them in Bethany.

So we look at John chapter 12.

John 12 · chapter mention

Turn there with me if you would.

And we're going to see that Jesus

is now in the spotlight.

Jesus is now the focus of attention.

And at each step along the way,

we need to understand that there is a response

that's necessary from us.

This first response is,

fix your attention on Jesus.

Fix your attention on Jesus.

That's what John wants us to do

as he begins this narrative.

In verse 12, he says,

Notice how John frames this.

He wants to draw attention to the crowd's response.

Notice this large crowd had come.

This large crowd took branches.

This large crowd went out to meet.

This large crowd cried,

Hosanna.

They are kind of the center of all the action

that's taking place in this narrative.

And what John is trying to help us understand

is there is a response that is required.

What will you do with all the evidence

that's been put in front of you?

And at least here in John chapter 12,

John 12 · chapter mention

the crowd has gotten it right.

They're fixing their attention.

Their focus is on their Messiah.

We compare this with the other gospel records

and kind of draw out this theme for us

and help us appreciate what's taking place

uniquely in John.

In Matthew chapter 21, verse 1, it says this,

Matthew 21:1

Now, when they drew near to Jerusalem

and came to Bethphage, the Mount of Olives,

then Jesus sent his two disciples.

Jesus is the main actor in this narrative.

Jesus is the one taking initiative.

Then in Mark chapter 11, much the same way.

Mark 11 · chapter mention

Now, when they drew near to Jerusalem,

to Bethphage and Bethany,

at the Mount of Olives,

Jesus sent two of his disciples.

Then in Luke's account, Luke chapter 19, verses 28 and 29,

Luke 19:28

And when he had said these things,

he went on ahead going up to Jerusalem.

When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany,

at the Mount that is called Olivet,

he sent two of his disciples.

Immediately would recognize something is different

about John's account.

And this is an interpretive clue for us.

Those of us who want to be Bible students,

we need to pay attention to details

because the writer, John,

through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit,

is trying to tell us something.

What does he want us to know?

What point is he trying to make for us?

You see, maybe in the other synoptic gospels,

Matthew, Mark, and Luke,

we might get the impression

that a crowd is kind of caught up in the moment.

The crowd is kind of captured

by all the things that are unfolding in front of them.

But John's account helps us understand,

no, everything that is taking place here

is deliberate.

Everything that is happening here

is a response to information that they know.

It's planned.

It's methodic.

And then we begin to see the details of this account,

the details of the account in John

that differ from the details in Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

And they're all true, by the way,

but what are the details that draws our attention to

that helps us understand the point

that he's trying to make?

In Matthew chapter 21,

Matthew 21 · chapter mention

there are 11 verses that describe this account,

this triumphal entry.

In Mark, there are 10 verses

that describe this triumphal entry.

In Luke, there are 17 verses.

He gives the most attention to this account

and wants to draw our attention

to the specific details

that mark Jesus out as the king

who's come to Jerusalem.

In these accounts,

and I have a graphic here for you,

there are two slides,

maybe too small to see,

but you still get the point.

The point is that Jesus is the one

who's selecting disciples.

15 different characteristics,

features that are true

of all of these gospel accounts,

but we're going to see

there's a difference

in the gospel of John.

Jesus selects two disciples.

These disciples are to go

into this village named Bethany.

They are to retrieve this donkey.

They are told how to find the donkey.

They're told what to say to the owner

when he questions them

about taking this donkey.

The multitudes have gathered.

They now have lain down their cloaks

and some pick up branches.

They cry,

Hosanna,

and then Jesus enters into Jerusalem

in a public way.

And then we turn to John.

And everything begins to change

as we read John's account.

The triumphal entry

in the gospel of John

comprises four verses

and four verses alone.

There's no mention of Bethphage.

There's no instructions to disciples.

There's no retrieving of the cult.

There's no statement

of Christ's authority.

There's no cloaks.

There's no mention

of Jesus actually making his way

into the city of Jerusalem.

Just the crowds and palm branches

crying out Hosanna

and Jesus is seated on a donkey.

Why?

The truncated account.

What is John trying to do

for the listeners

who are hearing this story?

What is the point

of all of these things?

What are the things

that we need to derive

and understand personally

as we look into this account ourselves?

That becomes clearer

when we begin to see

kind of the broader context

of what's taking place.

And I want to just draw

our attention to this briefly.

Notice that what just happens

just before this account

of the triumphal entry

in verses 9 and 10.

Notice the repetition.

When the large crowd

of the Jews learned

that Jesus was there,

they came not only

on account of him

but also to see

Lazarus

whom he had raised

from the dead.

So the chief priests

made plans

to put Lazarus

to death.

We have this massive crowd.

We have a group

of individuals.

They're gathering

for a reason.

They're gathering

because of Lazarus.

They've heard

what Christ had done

in Bethany

just a few months before.

And they're there

on account of Jesus

but they're also there

on account of

what Jesus has done

with Lazarus.

And they're furious.

The religious leaders

are furious

and they make plans

to put Lazarus

to death.

Let's extinguish

or exterminate

the evidence.

Now notice the verses

just after our account.

Beginning in verse 17.

The crowds

that had been with him

when he called

Lazarus out of the tomb

and raised him

from the dead

continued to bear witness.

The reason why

the crowd went

to meet him

was that they heard

that he had done

this sign.

So the Pharisees

said to one another

you see that

they're gaining nothing.

Look,

the whole world

has gone after him.

Here again

we see Lazarus.

And in John's own words

in verse 18

the reason why

all the crowds

have gathered

it's there in verse 18

the reason why

the crowds went out

to meet him

was that they had heard

that he had done

this sign.

And this word sign

will now become

kind of this keyword

throughout the gospel

of John

that will help us

to try to understand

what the whole point

of this triumphal entry was

and the whole point

of Jesus'

public ministry was.

Now we take

another step back.

We expand our view.

We back up now

to John chapter 12

John 12 · chapter mention

the very beginning

in verse 1

it says

six days before

the Passover

Jesus therefore

came to Bethany

where Lazarus

was

whom Jesus

had raised

from the dead.

So they gave a dinner

for him there.

Martha served

and Lazarus

was one of those

reclining with him

at the table.

Jesus had

just been in Jericho

and Jesus

had made this trek

it was a 17 mile trek

in a 3,000 feet

in elevation

from the ground floor

as it were

of where Jericho was

up to the elevation

where Bethany was.

They were exhausted

and it was a journey

that probably would have

taken all day

and so this stop

of refreshment

is taking place

in Bethany

at the end

of this long trip.

And there Jesus is

with this family

that's become so beloved

and so near

to his heart

Mary

and Martha

and Lazarus

are there.

Now we back up

one more time

to the previous chapter

in chapter 11.

You're acquainted

with this narrative.

You know

this story

of Jesus

raising Lazarus

from the dead.

You're acquainted

with his work there

that Martha

when she knew

that her brother

was sick

she is sent

to fetch Jesus

who was about

a day's journey away.

Jesus by design

waited

he delayed

for another few days

then he makes his way

up to Bethany

and

as the text

will tell us

that Lazarus

has died.

He's been in the grave

for three days

but Jesus goes

to the grave

he has the stone

rolled away

which is emblematic

of what's going to happen

in just a couple of days.

Lazarus has died

the stone is rolled away

Jesus makes a public statement

I am the resurrection

and the life

he speaks to Lazarus

and Lazarus

comes forth

raised

from the dead.

The immediate response

to this very

public miracle

is found

in verses

45

to 57.

Notice

in verse 45

many of the religious leaders

who were from Jerusalem

friends of the family

as it were

believed in him

but

there were others

verse 46

some of them

went to the Pharisees

and told them

what Jesus had done

and they were not happy.

Verse 47

here's our key phrase again

for what are we to do

for this man

performs

many

signs

finally

a sign

that they could all

agree on.

Their concern

we find in verse 48

that everyone

will believe in him

and the Romans

will come

and take away

our place.

So what does Jesus do?

We find in verse 54

Jesus therefore

no longer

walked openly

among the Jews

but went from there

to the region

near the wilderness

to a town

called Ephraim

and there

stayed with

his disciples.

Why?

Because

verse 57

the chief priests

and Pharisees

had given orders

that if anyone

knew where he was

he should let them know

and they might

arrest him.

It was a dangerous

place

now that Jesus

had performed

this very public

sign

that was now

not only confirmed

but validated

by those who were there.

This unmistakable

irrefutable

evidence

that Jesus

was in fact

the Messiah.

This claim

that he had been

making all along

now confirmed.

Now remember

what John's goal

is in writing

his gospel.

We find that in

John chapter 20

John 20:30

verse 30

it says

now Jesus

did many

other signs

in the presence

of the disciples

which are not

written in this book

but these

are written

so that you

may believe

that Jesus

is the Christ

the son of God

and that by believing

you may have

life in his name.

Jesus

did signs

and John

wrote the gospel

so that you

would believe.

The story

of the triumphal

entry

isn't just

information.

it's not

just about

Jesus

making claims

it's about

Jesus being

worshipped.

Fix your eyes

on Jesus.

That's the message

that we find

here

in just the

first few

verses.

Fix your eyes

on Jesus.

Focus

on him.

Let him be

the center

of your affection

the focus

of your desire

the goal

of your love

and obedience.

obedience.

Next

we're encouraged

to marvel

at his bold

obedience.

Marvel

at his bold

obedience.

Coming back

to verse 12

of John

John 12 · chapter mention

chapter 12

it says this

the next day

the large crowd

that had come

to feast

heard that

Jesus

was coming

to Jerusalem.

Jesus is coming

he's coming

out of

the hidden

spaces

in the parts

away from

the Jordan

River

he's coming

out of

concealment

and he's

walking

headlong

into the

dangerous

city

of Jerusalem.

The crowds

are there.

They heard

that Jesus

was coming

and so

what do they

do?

Well they

take branches

of palm

trees

they go

out to

meet him

they cry

out

Hosanna

there is

this

understanding

that something

significant

was unfolding

in front

of them

but

their action

is only

a response

to this

bold

obedience

on the

part of

our Lord.

Jesus

is bold

obedience

remember

Jesus

is doing

this

intentionally

there's

a design

behind

what's

going

on

here

we

saw

that

briefly

in

John

11

54

we saw

that

Jesus

therefore

no longer

walked

openly

among

the Jews

but went

from there

to the regions

near the

wilderness

why did

he do

that?

Well he

did that

because

of timing

he did

that

because

of

God's

design

so this

was the

consistent

pattern

of our

Lord

Jesus

understood

the timing

of the

father

and Jesus

up to

this

moment

would

conceal

himself

John

John 5:13

chapter 5

verse 13

says

now the

man

who had

been healed

did not

know who

he was

for Jesus

had

withdrawn

as there

was a

crowd in

that place

John

John 6:15

chapter 6

verse 15

perceiving

then that

they were

about to

come

and take

him

by force

to make

him

king

Jesus

withdrew

again

to the

mountain

by himself

John

John 7:1

chapter 7

verse 1

after this

Jesus

went about

in Galilee

he would

not go

about

in Judea

because the

Jews

were seeking

to kill

him

John

John 8:59

chapter 8

verse 59

so they

picked up

stones

to throw

at him

but Jesus

hid himself

and went

out of the

temple

John

John 10:39

chapter 10

verses 39

and 40

again

they sought

to arrest

him

but he

escaped

from their

hands

he went

away

across

the

Jordan

to the

place

where

John

had been

baptizing

at first

and there

he remained

why did

Jesus do

that

because

Jesus

was

instrumentally

controlling

the circumstances

Jesus

was in

charge

Jesus

was king

he knew

it was

going

down

and it

was through

the definite

and divine

plan of

God

that he

would now

make his

approach

and boldly

in obedience

make his

way

into

Jerusalem

you see

Jesus

knew

that

that the

father

had designed

a time

for him

again

we find

that as a

common

theme

throughout

the gospel

of John

John

John 2:4

chapter 2

verse 4

and Jesus

said to her

woman

what does

this have

to do

with me

my hour

has not

yet

come

then in

John

John 7:6

chapter 7

verse 6

Jesus

said to

them

my time

has not

yet

come

John

John 7:8

chapter 7

verse 8

you go up

to the

feast

I'm

not going

up to

this

feast

for my

time

has not

yet

fully

come

John

John 7:30

chapter 7

verse 30

so they

were

seeking

to arrest

him

but no

one

laid a

hand

on him

because

his

hour

had

not

yet

come

Jesus

is

the

master

of

his

destiny

following

the decrees

of the

father

working

out

boldly

obedience

he

will

be the

one

to set

in

motion

the

events

that

now

unfold

in

John

John 12 · chapter mention

chapter

12

because

he

is

the

one

who

is

orchestrating

them

ultimately

he does

this

to establish

once

and for

all

that

he

is

the

resurrection

in

the

life

and

now

these

two

statements

come

together

that

he

is

Messiah

that

he

is

the

sent

one

but

also

that

he

is

this

resurrection

in

the

life

that

in

the

shadow

of

John

11

and

the

resurrection

of

Lazarus

now

the

resurrection

in

life

comes

forward

to

prove

that

case

so

the

crowds

that

journeyed

with

him

from

Jericho

are

now

the

messengers

they

made

this

trip

along

with

Jesus

Jesus

stops

in

Bethany

but

the

rest

of

the

crowds

make

their

way

into

Jerusalem

and

the

whole

city

is

abuzz

because

of

what

Jesus

has

and

after

this

long

trip

from

Jericho

Jesus

now

enjoys

some

refreshment

and

even

in

this

time

of

fellowshipping

with

Martha

and

Mary

and

Lazarus

this

course

of

events

that's

unfolding

in

Jerusalem

wants

to

draw

our

attention

now

to

this

honor

Jesus

for

who

he

is

honor

Jesus

for

who

he

is

recognize

him

wonder

at

him

fix

your

eyes

on

him

but

once

you

have

come

to

terms

with

who

he

is

honor

him

for

who

he

is

and

that's

what

Mary

does

she

sets

the

example

really

for

us

this

private

example

of

one

who

has

come

come

to

appreciate

at least

in her

own

mind

the

fullness

of

who

Christ

is

his

identity

and

the

gratitude

of

what

Christ

has

done

for

her

family

we're

in

John

John 12:1

chapter

12

verse 1

!

it says

six days

before

the

Passover

Jesus

therefore

came to

Bethany

where

Lazarus

was

whom

Jesus

had

raised

from

the

dead

so

they

gave

a

dinner

for

him

there

Martha

served

and

Lazarus

was

one

of

those

who

reclining

at

the

table

with

him

Mary

therefore

took

a

pound

of

expensive

ointment

made

from

pure

nard

and

anointed

the

feet

of

Jesus

and

wiped

His

feet

with

her

hair

the

house

was

filled

with

the

fragrance

of

the

perfume

and

you know

the

story

Judas

protests

he

actually

had

ulterior

motives

he

wanted

to

line

his

own

pockets

with

the

money

from

this

perfume

but

Jesus

commends

Mary

remember

why

he says

there

in

verse

7

Jesus

says

leave

her

alone

so

that

she

may

keep

it

for

the

day

of

my

burial

maybe

a more

helpful

translation

is

this

Jesus

said

to

her

let

her

alone

she

has

kept

this

for

the

day

of

my

burial

Jesus

knows

what

Mary

is

doing

Mary

is

unaware

what

did

Mary

think

she

was

doing

I

think

Mary

just

in

this

moment

was

so

full

of

worship

she

was

so

full

of

gratitude

Jesus

had

done

something

significant

for her

family

remember

how

heartbroken

she

was

at

the

loss

of

her

brother

and

remember

how

she's

there

weeping

at

the

tomb

Jesus

comes

and

he

meets

with

her

and

he

reminds

her

I'm

the

resurrection

the

life

then

he

raises

her

brother

from

the

dead

and

then

in

the

moments

later

the

months

later

that

we find

here

in

John

John 12 · chapter mention

chapter

12

what

is

Mary

doing

she's

so

full

of

gratitude

so

full

of

thanks

and

in

her

deep

gratitude

she

realizes

that

sometimes

gratitude

is just

not

sufficient

with

words

that

true

deep

meaningful

gratitude

needs

to be

expressed

in

sacrifice

in

action

and

so

she

buys

this

expensive

perfume

she

anoints

Jesus

with

it

and

in

so

doing

unawares

she

is

also

setting

forth

the

symbol

of what

Christ

will

do

in

just

a few

days

from

then

we

find

that

she's

doing

this

for

the

day

of

his

burial

you

see

if

the

resurrection

in

life

is

going

to

be

that

resurrection

that

offers

resurrection

life

for

us

then

Jesus

needed

to

die

and

Mary

didn't

understand

that

but

she

is

commemorating

his

future

death

that

just

a few

days

from

then

he

will

die

and

this

entire

city

is

electrified

by

Jesus

his

nearness

we

find

this

city

that

would

also

need

to

honor

Jesus

for

who

he

was

and

finally

they

come

to

a

place

of

recognizing

that

the

sign

that

he

had

given

was

a

sign

that

they

could

trust

John

John 12:9

chapter

12

verses

9

and

10

says

this

when

the

large

crowd

of

Jews

learned

that

Jesus

was

there

they

came

not only

on account

of him

but

also

to

see

Lazarus

whom

he

had

raised

from

the

dead

so

the

chief

priest

made

plans

to

put

Lazarus

to

death

as

well

they're

there

because

finally

all of

the

miracles

that

Jesus

had

done

all

the

signs

that

he

had

performed

now

culminate

in this

ultimate

sign

this

sign

that

was

undisputed

and

we

find

that

there

in

John

John 12:17

chapter

12

verse

17

and

18

a

great

sign

had

been

done

notice

verse

18

the

crowd

went

to

meet

because

they

heard

he

had

done

this

sign

a

great

sign

had

been

done

you

remember

that

the

Jews

were

constantly

looking

for

signs

they

wanted

to

to

know

Jesus

is

making

these

claims

how

can

we

know

for

sure

that

he's

for

real

he

was

a

man

attested

to

them

by

signs

and

wonders

as we

saw

in

Acts

Acts 2 · chapter mention

chapter

2

but

they're

looking

for

it

themselves

the

beginning

of the

gospel

of John

sets

this

up

for

us

in

it

says

this

the

first

of

his

signs

Jesus

did

at

Cana

in

Galilee

and

manifested

his

glory

and

his

disciples

believed

in

him

but

then

in

verse

18

we

see

so

the

Jews

said

to

him

what

sign

do

you

show

us

for

doing

these

things

Jesus

had

given

them

signs

but

those

signs

were

not

enough

until

we

finally

get

to

this

ultimate

sign

this

sign

of

Jesus

raising

Lazarus

from

time

this

clear

undisputed

sign

has

come

into

the

public

view

and

finally

the

nation

has

embraced

the

Messiah

at

least

for

now

Jesus

had

done

mighty

works