SEE, YOUR KING IS COMING

Passage: John 12:12-19

Key verse: 15

NIV

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King(A)

12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches(B) and went out to meet him, shouting,

“Hosanna![a]”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[b](C)

“Blessed is the king of Israel!”(D)

14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:

15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
    see, your king is coming,
    seated on a donkey’s colt.”[c](E)

16 At first his disciples did not understand all this.(F) Only after Jesus was glorified(G) did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.

17 Now the crowd that was with him(H) when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign,(I) went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”(J)

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Footnotes
  1. John 12:13 A Hebrew expression meaning “Save!” which became an exclamation of praise
  2. John 12:13 Psalm 118:25,26
  3. John 12:15 Zech. 9:9
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Triumphal Entry

12 The next day (A)the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of (B)palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, (C)“Hosanna! Blessed is (D)he who comes in the name of the Lord, even (E)the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,

15 (F)“Fear not, daughter of Zion;
behold, your king is coming,
    sitting on a donkey's colt!”

16 (G)His disciples did not understand these things at first, but (H)when Jesus was glorified, then (I)they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. 17 (J)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. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him (K)was that they heard he had done this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, (L)“You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, (M)the world has gone after him.”

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

The tension was growing between Jesus and the religious authority, who were determined to put Jesus to death. Still, Jesus unwaveringly entered Jerusalem with a great crowd coming to welcome him and acknowledge his coming as the Messiah and King.

Jesus came on a young donkey, approachable to all. He didn't appeal to lobbyists or the powerful elite but to the least of those among the nation. People came to him because he could feed the hungry, make the blind see, and raise the dead to life.

Jesus comes to us today, too, in ways and places we may not expect. He comes to us in our time of need and in our failures. He comes in mercy and empowering love. Jesus feeds us with words of life, opens our eyes to see beyond our limited views of God and each other, and gives new birth to lives dead in sin and shame. Welcome him in faith.

Prayer: Lord, you come to me gentle and approachable. I welcome you.

One Word: Jesus has come.