John 12:12-22 | Psalm 2
Here’s a little secret: many pulpits have a verse from today’s reading etched into it for preachers to remember as they step in to deliver whatever sermon they’ve prepared: “Sir, we would see Jesus.” Above and beyond and in everything that’s ever said in a Christian sermon, the notion is that Jesus should be central and that people are indeed seeking him.
Both the crowd and the authorities are still chasing after Jesus in today’s passage because of Lazarus’ raising. John puts Jesus’ “triumphant” entrance on a donkey into Jerusalem square in the fervor surrounding the miraculous sign. Many theologians of all sorts see this crowd as clamoring after Jesus not for the role he will soon play on the cross and out of the empty tomb, but because of their desires & hopes for a restored nation of Israel. They were tired of being under occupied control, then by Rome, but also in their history with Babylon, Assyria, and even Egypt. Israel was still seeking a king, still wants to be like all the other nations.1
Indeed, we might see that both the crowd and the authorities were expecting similar things of Jesus. The crowd wanted a messiah-king who would bring political deliverance. The authorities were terrified of what might happen if such a revolution were to begin. It had happened before with not-so-great, not-long-lasting results. In part, who can blame the Jewish leaders for trying to avoid more bloodshed for their people?
Wow…these things are as relevant as ever. But if these Israelites and then Jews - in the gospel of John, mind you - misplaced their hope in Jesus (of a restored nation-state), how might that speak to Christians today?
John 12:12-22
The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him. They shouted,
“Hosanna!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessings on the king of Israel!”
Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,
Don’t be afraid, Daughter Zion.
Look! Your king is coming,
sitting on a donkey’s colt.
His disciples didn’t understand these things at first. After he was glorified, they remembered that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.
The crowd who had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead were testifying about him. That’s why the crowd came to meet him, because they had heard about this miraculous sign that he had done. Therefore, the Pharisees said to each other, “See! You’ve accomplished nothing! Look! The whole world is following him!”
Some Greeks were among those who had come up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and made a request: “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” Philip told Andrew, and Andrew and Philip told Jesus.
Psalm 2
Why do the nations rant?
Why do the peoples rave uselessly?
The earth’s rulers take their stand;
the leaders scheme together
against the Lord and
against his anointed one.
“Come!” they say.
“We will tear off their ropes
and throw off their chains!”
The one who rules in heaven laughs;
my Lord makes fun of them.
But then God speaks to them angrily;
then he terrifies them with his fury:
“I hereby appoint my king on Zion,
my holy mountain!”
I will announce the Lord’s decision:
He said to me, “You are my son,
today I have become your father.
Just ask me,
and I will make the nations your possession;
the far corners of the earth will be your property.
You will smash them with an iron rod;
you will shatter them like a pottery jar.”
So kings, wise up!
Be warned, you rulers of the earth!
Serve the Lord reverently—
trembling, kiss his feet
or else he will become angry,
and your way will be destroyed
because his anger ignites in an instant.
But all who take refuge in the Lord are truly happy!
Prayer
God,
Today is Sunday. Did you know that? We’ve set this day aside in remembrance of Christ’s resurrection…on a Sunday. You do know that.
But I imagine every day is one of new life from your perspective. Man…I’d love to have that perspective. Help me to see life, Lord. Open my eyes to your spirit at work in and through everything - creation, people, and beyond.
Expand my capacity for hope and truth. And give me the body to carry these things.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.
See 1 Samuel 8.