John 12:12-16

John 12:12-16 The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 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!” Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written, “Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.

When the storms of life threaten us, we should find courage in these words, “Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” Surely Jesus Messiah has come to Earth in victory over every debilitating, defeating, and harmful process of sin and death. As we have already read, Jesus said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:7-10 KJV) We no longer wait in the darkness outside the door, under the authority of darkness. Light came into the world: we walk IN THAT LIGHT. Light encompasses us, fills us, guides our steps. We are IN CHRIST; HE IS IN US. Every Sunday we sing songs, reminding us of these truths. As we sing, "Salvation is here, and He lives in me," we rejoice in the truth revealed to the disciples after Christ's death and resurrection through the power of the Holy Spirit. When the Spirit fell upon them on the Day of Pentecost, they fully understood God's great love for a lost and sinful people, that He would send his ONLY SON to make all things new!

In today's passage, we see a great crowd that had come for the Feast, waving palm branches and going out to meet Jesus as they shout praises: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!” They must have been caught up in the emotion of the moment, experienced a sense of hopeful ecstasy that this man now entering Jerusalem was indeed their future king--their long awaited Messiah, Deliverer, the Promised One to free them from their human bondage. But this was not God's plan for his chosen people. He did not send the Light of Heaven to Earth to cast off the oppressive yoke of the Romans. Jesus did not come to set up a geographical kingdom in celebration of God's power among sinful nations. Jesus came to bring God's amazing grace and indescribable salvation plan to the entire world. His kingdom would be a spiritual one that would last forever with weapons not made by man. When He asked Peter who he was, Simon Peter answered,, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (Matthew 16:16-18)

Before Peter made his confession of faith, Jesus knew Satan was a defeated foe whose kingdom would not stand against Christ's sacrifice on the cross. The prince of the air would no longer rule over the hearts and minds of people or bind them to sin and failure. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:36 KJV) Before the cross and resurrection, the disciples had heard Christ's words but had not discerned them by the Spirit. They had not understood fully the plan of God for the people of this Earth: to make children of God from a wicked and sinful generation of people. But after they received power from on high, the Spirit did not drive them to stockpile weapons or to recruit followers for an insurrection against the murderers of their precious Lord because they had new eyes and new ears. They could receive sound teaching and went forth to spread the Good News. They could be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2) For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

People sometimes confuse God's plan with our worldly pursuits. Mankind wants a deliverer, a Messiah to make everything better NOW. We have little tolerance for uncertainty, trials, depravation, or delayed gratification. When life gets hard, we say, "Help me, Lord. I just can't take it anymore." Faced with longterm problems, we seek an immediate way out. That is the way of the flesh. We want God to prosper us physically, mentally, financially, and spiritually: Just let peace reign in my life, God! But that is not the prayer of a committed child of God who fully trusts in him. Earthquakes destroy cities, taking thousands of lives; tornadoes pick up houses, leaving only sticks and rubble; floods wash away the memories of a lifetime; sicknesses invade lives, taking away loved ones before their time. Yet the blood-bought army of the living God has the victory through Christ and does not grieve as those with no hope. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35, 37-39) WE HAVE ENTERED THE PROMISED LAND. We speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:18-19) Rejoice! Shout: HOSANNA! The King has come! He Reigns forever, and ever! Amen!