Jesus is King

John 12:12-16

By: Ysrael De la Cruz

Many of us have lost sense of time during the crisis because our routines have been changed; we are not doing the things we would normally do if this pandemic had not happened.  Have you asked recently, what day is it? Today is what we know in our calendar as Palm Sunday.  This is when we remember the time when Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem riding on a donkey. “Palm Sunday.” is the inauguration of what we know as passion week.  The week leading to Christ’s death and resurrection. The Bible calls it the triumphant entry.  What was this about?

This was the time when Jesus intentionally showed himself to the world as the expected Messiah.  Nothing in the life of Jesus happened by chance or coincidence; He was always aware of time.  He knew his mission and the timeframe by which he would complete it.  Galatians 4:4 Tells us that when the right time came, God sent forth his son, born of a woman, born under the law to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoptions as sons.

During his time on earth, Jesus did not waste time.  He knew what needed to be done and when.  Notice that phrase through the gospel of John “The time is coming, or the is here”

–John 2:4 Jesus told his mother “my time has not yet come” at a wedding where they ran out wine.

–John 4:21 A time is coming when the place of worship won’t matter.

–John 4:23 A time came when true worshipers would worship in spirit and truth.

–John 5:25,28 A time is coming when the resurrection of the dead will be possible.

-John 6:15 Jesus left the crowd behind because he knew they intended to make him king.  It wasn’t time yet.

–John 6:64  Jesus knew who would betray him and who would believe in him

–John 7:6 It wasn’t time yet to show himself to the world.

-John 7:30; 8:20  They tried to arrest him but failed because his time had not yet come.

Read text John 12:12-19

Why is the triumphant entry so important?  The four gospel writers tell us about it; how Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem riding on a donkey.

Jesus knew it was time to do this. He himself sent two disciples to get the donkey. (Luke 19:30)

People celebrated Jesus as king; (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! (Ps.118:25-26)

Jesus fulfilled the prophecy; the prophecy that spoke how the Messiah would be recognized in Jerusalem.

This was the only time that Jesus allowed the crowd to hail him king.   A king riding on a donkey is no coincidence.  Jesus did this intentionally to show himself to the world as the expected Messiah.  This is what the prophecy stated. Zech.9:9

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. ESV

John tells us that the disciples did not understand what was happening right here.  (v.16) They were clueless as to the significance of Jesus entering the city in such manner.  It was after the resurrection that they were able to understand this.

(v.17-18) John tells us that there were two kinds of crowd: those who were in Jerusalem who went out to meet him with Palm branches shouting Hosanna (v.12-15)  Then there is the crowd that came with Jesus from Bethany (v.17) They were spreading out the news of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead and many who heard went out to meet Jesus.(v.18)

The Pharisees realized their plans to stop Jesus wasn’t working (v.19)  The whole world is going after him.

Jesus is welcomed as the King of Israel, the one spoken of by the prophets.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,  blessed is the King of Israel.

They wanted Jesus to be their king, the one who would redeem Israel.  It was a time of joy for those who recognized Jesus as the Messiah.  However, their expectation for the Messiah was different from Jesus’s expectation.

They hailed Jesus the Blessed King of Israel. Was Jesus the king of Israel?  Is he truly a king?

By Friday morning Jesus is brought before the Roman governor under false accusation from the religious people.  Pilate questioned Jesus

John 18:33-37

Are you the king of the Jews?

Is that your opinion or did others tell you about me?

Jesus’ kingdom is not here yet  (36) “My kingdom is not of this world.”  It hasn’t been established yet.  One day it will, when his kingdom come, and his will be done on earth.

Jesus claimed to be a king (v.37)  For this reason I was born.  Jesus, the Savior of the world is the king.

Magi from the east came looking for the king of the Jews when he was born.

People welcomed him in Jerusalem as the king of Israel; A Roman governor questioned him before his death and Jesus told him he is a king.

One day Jesus will be king, not just of a geographic community, but of the whole world. It will be a universal or global kingdom.  Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of lord.  Paul said that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow in heaven and on earth and even under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

My friend, whether you are republican or democrat, left or right. One day you will have to bow down to Jesus the King of kings.  It is better to recognize him as Lord now willingly than to wait for Jesus to cast you away from his kingdom forever.  Nothing will stop the Christ’s kingdom from being established. You can be part of his kingdom today, by embracing Jesus as Lord and Savior, by believing in him.  So that everyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.