Alliance Church
Pastor David Welch
“The King Is Coming”
Introduction
Two golden threads of truth run through Scriptures.
A suffering servant coming to bear the sins of the people
A sovereign King coming to rule in righteousness
Not often do the two threads crossing before they come together in Revelation as the Lamb of God reigns from the throne of God. John however clearly crosses the threads here in chapter 12 where we hear the people passionately declaring Jesus as the promised King of Israel and Jesus solemnly disclosing His coming death. The Old Testament clearly predicted a coming victorious of Messiah/King from David’s lineage that would lead the people to freedom and victory over their enemies. Anticipation of the coming Messiah developed until the time of Jesus. Now after three years of divinely driven ministry by Jesus that confirmed abilities beyond what anyone had ever seen before, the people stand ready for redemption. Each of the gospel accounts touches this most significant event that launched what we now call Passion Week. Once again all four literary symphonic representations of the life of Jesus merge to convey the dramatic effect of the event.
Piecing together the action from all four gospels we meet at least 15 specific elements of which John includes seven. Four of the fifteen elements are unique to John.
1. Soon after leaving Bethany Jesus sent two disciples to acquire transportation in the form of a colt.
2. The disciples put their garments on the colt and Jesus mounts for the ride into Jerusalem in fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy.
3. The crowd accompanying Jesus from Bethany spread their garment in the road along with branches from the trees.
4. A multitude who had heard of the raising of Lazarus from those who testified poured out of the eastern gate to meet him and also lined the road with palm branches.
5. The two crowds converged in an enthusiastic parade of praise and adoration.
6. The believers continued to testify bring a greater sense of anticipation
7. The Pharisees tried to get Jesus to stop the crowd from praising Him. Jesus refused and affirms that if they don’t the stones themselves would cry out.
8. As the city came into view, Jesus was overcome with emotion realizing the coming judgment for their unbelief.
9. Jesus entered Jerusalem to the shouts of the crowd causing others to question who they were following.
10. Jesus healed the blind and the lame in the temple
11. Children in the temple shouted praise. The chief priests question Jesus and he quotes Scripture concerning the perfect praise form children’s lips.
12. The Pharisees are frustrated that there is nothing they can do to stop this.
13. Jesus and the twelve retire to Bethany for the night
14. The disciples realized later that all this was in fulfillment of Scripture
15. The next day Jesus makes a final public plea to the multitude to believe.
I. The Adoring Crowd 12-15
A. The people’s Response
We are talking about a large multitude already assembled from all over Israel for Passover celebrations, perhaps in the millions. One massive multitude gathered and followed Jesus from Bethany and another sizeable swam from Jerusalem edged the road the city. Expectations ran high. Could this be the day. The two waves of anxious people converged chanting and shouting “Hosanna” meaning -- Save now! The time has arrived, save us from political tyranny. This is it! We are ready for the Kingdom of our God. The words of a most familiar Psalm that every good Jew would have memorized as a child, somehow seemed highly significant.
The stone rejected by the builders has now become the cornerstone.
This is the LORD'S doing, and it is marvelous to see.
This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Please, LORD, please save us. Please, LORD, please give us success.
Bless the one who comes in the name of the LORD. We bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, shining upon us. Bring forward the sacrifice and put it on the altar.
You are my God, and I will praise you! You are my God, and I will exalt you!
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 118:22-29
“Blessed is he who is coming in the name of the Lord. Even the King of Israel, the restorer of the Kingdom.”
Jesus rode toward Jerusalem on a young donkey the symbol of peace not war. The disciples didn’t realize it at the time but even this detail had been prophesied many years previous by the Old Testament prophet Zechariah 9:9.
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation,
Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; and the bow of war will be cut off.And He will speak peace to the nations; and His dominion will be from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth. Zech. 9:9-10
The fullest understanding of prophetic passages comes after the fulfillment. It is futile at times to try to figure it all out before hand.
Some commentators assert that Jesus thought through this whole event from his knowledge of prophecy and planned every step according what was written. Jesus simply did things as the Father instructed and predicted. It would have been impossible for any one person to orchestrate and personally fulfill all of the numerous specific prophecies related to Jesus. Many events were far outside the parameters of Jesus’ human control.
He had no control over the place and time of his birth or even his death.
He had no control over what other people would do or how they would respond. Yet three hundred or more details related to the person and work of Christ were recorded hundreds of years before the actual facts.
The probability of just eight of these coming true all in one person is 1017.
Consider 48 of them and the probability figure jumps to 10157.
B. The King’s response
From the other accounts we discover the response of the King to this adoring crowd.
Much of the time Jesus tried to downplay the sensational. John informed us earlier that Jesus eluded their previous attempt to make Him king. But now is the Father’s timetable. Now is the hour for which he came. The Pharisees pressed Jesus to rebuke the resounding cheers of the crowd.
And some of the Pharisees in the multitude said to Him, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." And He answered and said, "I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!" Luke 19:39-40
One day the world will again acknowledge Jesus as Lord. We today have a unique privilege to offer our praise and adoration to the King. Cry out to him in your pain – “Hosanna” Lord, save now? Cry out to him in praise – “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”
II. The Remembering disciples 16
John comments briefly here concerning the disciple’s response.
These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him.
We won’t always understand everything that happens when it happens. If we continue to search the Scriptures we may later remember and see how it fits the puzzling events of our life.
III. The giving citizen (Matt 21)
John only tells us that Jesus acquired a donkey. The other gospels recount the means.
An ancient law required any citizen to render to the king any item or service he or one of his emissaries might request. When told that the master of the donkey had need of him, the owner granted willing permission. If is fitting that Matthew should include this part in His symphony emphasizing Jesus as King. What do you have that might become part of God’s kingdom purposes?
IV. The Testifying believers 17-18
And so the multitude who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, were bearing Him witness. For this cause also the multitude went and met Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign.
The reason many of the crowd gathered was because of the testimony of those who personally encountered Jesus and were not afraid to tell others. Oh how we need today those who are engaging in personal communion with Christ and are not afraid to tell others about it. It is my prayer that many lining the path to heaven to meet the coming King because of our testimony.
V. The Frustrated Pharisees 19
The Pharisees therefore said to one another, "You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him."
All their effort to curtail the influence of Jesus had failed. People were turning from the religious rulers to the Ruler of religion. Even their attempts to get Jesus to stop the praise gathering met with added frustration. Today the world system becomes frustrated when people demonstrate devoted allegiance to the King of kings. The biased news refuses to give such demonstration proper press. Take heart! Nations will continue to rage against the King to the end. Yet to no avail. God continues to draw his chosen people from every tribe and language and people and nation for a kingdom and priests to serve and give praise to the Lamb upon the throne. The word of God will not be thwarted. It will accomplish its intended purpose of justification or judgment. God’s purposes will not and cannot be blocked. One day every human who ever lived will be forced to bow the knee in acknowledgement of Jesus as the Sovereign Lord and King of all kings. John demonstrates that the Pharisees were not just paranoid in their concern about the whole world seeking Jesus as he includes an encounter with Greeks seeking Jesus.
VI. The Curious Greeks 20-26
A. The people’s response
Now there were certain Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast; these therefore came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Philip came and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip came, and they told Jesus.
These Greeks, who had already embraced worship of the one true God, recognized something significant in Jesus. They had greater insight than many of the Pharisees. They did not just want to see Jesus as a celebrity. They wanted to hear words of salvation.
B. The Kings Response
And Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
The expectation of both Jews and Greeks familiar with the Scriptures was that the Son of man prophesied in Daniel would come in glory to establish a righteous rule on the earth. With great anticipation, they hear the words of Jesus expecting him to outline a marvelous supernatural coup beginning in Rome and extending worldwide. What they heard however next was utterly unexpected. Jesus communicated a philosophy of life not taught in Greek schools of philosophy.
He presents two paradoxes with a similar core truth.
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
He speaks here of his own impending substitutionary death that is necessary for all life. Not a new concept. “Bread of life given for the world.” Without death there is no life. Just as the grain of wheat must fall to the earth and suffer death to the flesh if it is to bear fruit, so Jesus must die in the flesh that he might live in the spirit. It is the shell of flesh that prevents the life of the spirit from bearing fruit.
Jesus applies the same principle of death to every individual.
"He who loves his life loses it; and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.
One must be willing to give up his life. The one who tries to hang on to life ends up loosing it.
The one who offers his life in service of the King will actually uncover a life of eternal value that is not limited to eternity. We are citizens of another Kingdom not of this earth. The more we try to protect our life or make our life significant the more we loose. Until we realize the reality of that fact and actually hate our life in this earthly kingdom as compared to the coming heavenly kingdom, we will never experience the satisfaction of eternal life here and now as well as hereafter. The other gospel writers add a deeper dimension to the idea of hating life in this world. It includes denying self, taking up suffering, following Jesus, not looking back as well as allowing nothing to become more important than service to the King including family.
Jim Elliot: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
Parallel “life and death” passages
"He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. "He who has found his life shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake shall find it. Matthew 10:37-39
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. "For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it. "For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:24-26
And He summoned the multitude with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. "For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's shall save it. "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? "For what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." Mark 8:34-38
And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. "For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. "For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Lu 9:23-26
"Remember Lot's wife. "Whoever seeks to keep his life shall lose it, and whoever loses his life shall preserve it. Luke 17:32-33
No easy believism here. Jesus maintains a costly invitation.
These Greeks wanted to know what it would take to be part of this King’s kingdom. Jesus did not conceal the cost of discipleship but highlighted both its cost and its reward.
"If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall My servant also be; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. John 12:20-26
Jesus assures all who follow and serve Him his continual presence as well as honor by his Father.
VII. The Confused multitude 27-36
"Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour. "Father, glorify Thy name."
Jesus experienced intense emotion. The word used to describe the state of his soul is a perfect passive verb meaning to be disturbed, troubled, or stirred up. The passive voice indicates an outside action causing the troubling. He is troubled by the coming events so prevalent in his mind. His humanity longs to avoid the ordeal but his spirit clings to eternal purposes. The Father responds to his prayer of submission and willingness to lose his life in order that it may bear much fruit.
A. The people’s confusion
There came therefore a voice out of heaven: "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again." The multitude therefore, who stood by and heard it, were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, "An angel has spoken to Him." Jesus answered and said, "This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes. "Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world shall be cast out.
The crowd is not sure what happened but Jesus indicates that for their sake God continues his certification of His chosen King and those who do not choose to follow Him will suffer the same judgment as the ruler of this world. This is the third recorded direct declaration from the Father regarding the Son. Baptism, Mount of transfiguration, here
"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself." But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die.
More confusion in the multitude.
The multitude therefore answered Him, "We have heard out of the Law that the Christ is to remain forever; and how can You say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this Son of Man?"
B. The King’s response
Jesus therefore said to them, "For a little while longer the light is among you. Walk while you have the light, that darkness may not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. "While you have the light, believe in the light, in order that you may become sons of light."
These things Jesus spoke, and He departed and hid Himself from them. John 12:32-36
Jesus does not present an argument but an invitation to become sons of light by belief in him.
VIII. The Blind and hardened 37-41
A. The people’s response
But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him; that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke, "LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT? AND TO WHOM HAS THE ARM OF THE LORD BEEN REVEALED?" For this cause they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, "HE HAS BLINDED THEIR EYES, AND HE HARDENED THEIR HEART; LEST THEY SEE WITH THEIR EYES, AND PERCEIVE WITH THEIR HEART, AND BE CONVERTED, AND I HEAL THEM." These things Isaiah said, because he saw His glory, and he spoke of Him. John 12:37-41
There are those bent on not bending the knee to any other king but themselves. These are the one’s with hardened heart. There is a point when man hardens his heart against God that God graciously blinds them to any further understanding lest they come under further condemnation.
Jesus solemnly warned the Pharisees of his day.
"And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You shall descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. "Nevertheless I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you." Matthew 11:23-24
B. The King’s response
Although not written here, Jesus responded to the unbelief of the people of Jerusalem.
And when He approached, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, "If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. "For the days shall come upon you when your enemies will throw up a bank before you, and surround you, and hem you in on every side, and will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation." Luke 19:41-44
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. "Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! "For I say to you, from now on you shall not see Me until you say, 'BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!' " Matthew 23:37-39
Don’t harden you heart! There may come a day when it is too late. There is still time to respond to the King at his first coming It will be too late after the second coming.
And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. Hebrews 9:27-28
IX. The Reluctant rulers 42-43
Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God. John 12:42-43
What a convicting picture of many today. Even though we believe and want to follow Christ, we do not openly acknowledge our commitment because we think more of the response of people than God. That is why baptism is so important. It is a public declaration of your commitment to Christ.
John concludes his section of the public teaching and ministry of Jesus with a final plea.
And Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me does not believe in Me, but in Him who sent Me. "And he who beholds Me beholds the One who sent Me. "I have come as light into the world, that everyone who believes in Me may not remain in darkness. "And if anyone hears My sayings, and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. "For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me commandment, what to say, and what to speak. "And I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me." John 12:44-50
Once again there will be a great crowd gathered to welcome the coming king, people from every tribe and language and people and nation.
His coming will not be as suffering servant but a sovereign king.
To Him who loves us, and released us from our sins by His blood, and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father; to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. Even so. Amen. Rev. 1:5-7
And I saw heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True; and in righteousness He judges and wages war. And His eyes are a flame of fire, and upon His head are many diadems; and He has a name written upon Him which no one knows except Himself. And He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood; and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. And from His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may smite the nations; and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." Rev. 19:11-16
Psalm 2:1-12
"And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. "And then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory. "But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Luke 21:25-28
Conclusion
Do you identify with any of the responses?
Are there any of the responses you would like to imitate?
• Adore your present and coming King.
• Remember the truths that illumine the path of life.
• Willingly offer all that Savior requires.
• Testify to what you have seen of Christ’s work in your own life.
• Let your spiritual curiosity culminate in significant commitment. Death to the self-life!
• Let your confusion be transformed into belief that you may become children of light.
Are there any responses you would like to ignore?
• Don’t hinder people from responding to Jesus due to your own personal frustration.
• Don’t just stay curious.
• Don’t remain confused.
• Don’t harden your heart against the truth you already know.
• Don’t be afraid to let your commitment to Christ be known.
Let us live like children of the heavenly King!
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. Philip. 3:20-21
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:10-13
