Today we are reading John 12. In this chapter we read about Jesus’ Triumphal Entry. “The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. The crowd 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 he had done this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”” John 12:12-19 ESV Everything Jesus did had a context within His overall purpose and mission. His Triumphal Entry is sort of mis-titled. The people were celebrating! The people welcomed Jesus like a triumphant king returning from a recent victory. That is what they saw. That is how they interpreted His arrival. The truth is that He came to die. This too is a victory but not what they were celebrating! How do you celebrate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem? Can you remember a time when your arrival was misunderstood? May Jesus willingness to die for us inspire you to celebrate all that He is! Pastor Tim
