Read and believe in Jesus

“Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” John 12:13 (Psalm 118:26a)

The Gospel according to John

REVIEW – At Sabbath, in the home of Martha, while they reclined at the meal, young, sweet Mary showed her love for her Master by anointing His feet with expensive oil and wiping them with her hair. Jesus accepted her worship, but sternly rebuked Judas, who claimed the oil was wasted on Him and the money much better spent on “the poor.” Jesus knew his heart, and that he had often stolen money from those very offerings for himself, and told him to “Leave her alone.” — Judas, disgusted, soon left to meet with the Jewish authorities to make his deadly deal of betrayal. Worship or betrayal, there is no middle ground.

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John 12:12-19.

Sunday, the day after Sabbath, Jesus sent two of His disciples to procure a young donkey. He told them where it would be and what to say. (Mark 11:1-9)

Jesus deliberately planned to present Himself to the nation in the manner prophesied in Zechariah 9:9. “Fear not, daughter of Zion, behold, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.”

Whether from hype or the natural celebration of Passover, which often involved the waving of palm branches, the crowds following Jesus and those coming out from the city to meet him cut and waved the branches as they sang Hosannas (O Save us!), and “Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!”

John comments that the crowds were those who had been with him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, and those from the city who’d heard about it and came out to meet Him for themselves.

They met around Jesus in a cacophony of celebration! What shouts of praise! What excitement! The title ot “King” was picked up and shouted. “Hosanna – Save us!” was repeated over and over.

Meanwhile the Pharisees groaned and said to each other, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look! The world has gone after Him.”

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It was just as they feared. Did they look around, expecting at any moment that the Roman guard would appear to quell the mob, to end their rule and take over Jerusalem?

“Shhhh!” “Shut up!” “Be quiet!” they cried among the manic crowds.

They even appealed to Jesus. “Teacher, rebuke them.”

But Jesus answered that if THE PEOPLE were quiet, the STONES would cry out. (Luke 19)