August 30 / John 12:12-19

John 12:12-19

Finally, today – up to date…!!

Let’s remember to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” John now adds a number of items that the Synoptic Gospels do not mention. First, …the great crowd that had come for the feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem…and went out to meet Him (v. 12-13). Simple, yet enlightening! As we read through the Synoptics it seems that the “very great multitude” consisted primarily of His disciples and followers and people from the Bethany and Bethphage area, such that any of the Pharisees in the crowd were probably local Jewish leaders. However, with pilgrims coming from Jerusalem to meet Jesus, it’s easy to imagine that a “very great multitude” could have formed. In addition, people who had come for the feast would surely have included a number of Galileans who had followed Jesus’ ministry for some time and were supportive of “one of their own”. A crowd “coming from Jerusalem” adds a lot to this triumphal entry.

Second, So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after Him.” (v. 19, NIV) Here we have members of “the Passover Plot”, Jewish leaders who have determined to have Jesus arrested and killed. They are part of the crowd that has met Jesus, either on the way or as He arrived in Jerusalem. John makes it clear that they were watching Him closely, hoping to find a time when they could apprehend Him. Later we learn that John “was known to the high priest” (John 18:15), when he intervened to get Peter into the courtyard. If he was known to the high priest, he clearly was known to other Jewish leaders. So we have another of John’s account of these Jewish leaders’ conversations; others included “the Passover Plot” itself (John 11:49-53). Awesome!

We have covered all four accounts of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The accounts differ in many respects, but they also each add clarity to our larger understanding of the Gospels. As 21^st century followers of Jesus, we have to be thankful for the efforts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John to write these things down. With them all together, we come to know Jesus better – and with that we can’t help but love Him more and serve Him more faithfully!! GLORY!! Hosanna to the King!!

Slava Bohu!