Behold, Your King Is Coming

John 12:12–36 – That You May Believe
Palm Sunday – April 13, 2025 (am)     

As we might expect, Jesus raising of Lazarus after four days in the grave (11:1-44) caused quite a stir. It’s so easy, even for people who believe the Bible is true, to lose touch with the reality, the real-life context, of it’s more remarkable accounts like this one. It can help to bring them into the present. What would happen today if someone were called out of the grave after four days, and they came out, still dressed for burial? It would cause quite a stir! Every news outlet, social media platform, and coffee shop would be abuzz!

That’s the sort of buzz we’re seeing here. This is the next day (12) after the dinner in Jesus’ honor just a couple miles east of Jerusalem in Bethany (1-2). It was Sunday morning, much like our Mondays, and by Friday afternoon Jesus would be hanged on the cross. He’s entering Jerusalem knowing that was coming (cf. 27). He’s tried to explain it to His followers, but they just can’t process a [Messiah] dying (cf. 34). Regardless, He’s entering Jerusalem to lay down (cf. 10:18) His life, not to take up His throne. And He’s telling us just what that means for us. John is turning big corners in today’s text. Let’s look at it under three headings.

Jesus Enters Jerusalem as Messiah King – 12-19

12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast, but hadn’t headed out to Bethany (cf. 9), heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees, probably one palm shoot tied together with two willow branches and three myrtle twigs which was called a lûlāb. The connection was so strong that many Jews referred to [these] as hosannas. In this instance, it [likely expressed] nationalist hope that a messianic liberator was arriving on the scene (cf. 6:14-15) (Carson 1991 432)—and [they] went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! (originally a transliteration of Hebrew [lit. ‘give salvation now’]) (Carson 1991 432) Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, signaling pretty immediately and clearly that He was arriving in peace, not for war.

But He was also fulfilling prophecy: just as it is written, 15 “Fear not (Rejoice greatly [Zec.9:9]), daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” In Zec.9, this was a shepherd/king and a sign to Israel of God’s sovereign care for them as His people. But they rejected this shepherd/king, valuing Him at only thirty pieces of silver (Zec.11:12; cf. Mat.27:5), the same as the Law required for the accidental death of a slave (Exo.21:32) (Duguid). This whole scene was just dripping with Messianic images and prophecies from the OT, however: 16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.

17 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, talking widely about what they’d seen even though we don’t even know whether they’d embraced Jesus as the Son of Man, as [Messiah]. Regardless: 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign, again casting doubt on the nature of their belief, but also causing 19 … the Pharisees [to say] to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Or, to turn it around, we’re fighting a losing battle here! Look, the world has gone after him.”

This is one more rich piece of rich irony: the Pharisees using this word world (κόσμος) to say that everyone from all around the world now in Jerusalem is following Jesus. John generally uses world to refer to people everywhere without racial distinction… who are lost and in rebellion against God (Carson 1991 435). And in the very next verses here, he’ll be saying that the overwhelming reaction to Jesus was unbelief (12:37ff.) (Carson 1991 435). So, once again, the growing opposition to Jesus among the leaders of Israel in John is built on a foundation of misperception, ignorance, and unbelief. And even the crowd that’s following Him is divided at this point (17-18), one group that witnessed the raising of Lazarus and the other that just heard about it.

Jesus Exposes How His Kingdom Works – 20-26

This whole scene was pretty volatile, but John leaves it behind in the very next verse toward making a far grander point regarding the true nature of Jesus’ coming kingdom and how it works, evidently in contrast to what we’re seeing here. 20 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. Wow, this comes out of left field! Something significant must be happening here. But it’s not immediately clear what, or why they’re asking to see Jesus. 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Why we’re given these details is unclear. But it does suggest that everyone involved here is just feeling his way along toward grasping the significance of what’s happening.

But Jesus’ answer once again comes from an unexpected direction: 23 … “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified, its arrival evidently touched off in some way by this question from some Greeks. But from here on, Jesus turns His full attention toward describing what the arrival of the hour will involve—its aim, and how that is achieved. The aim: the Son of Man is to be glorified—the beginning of the realization of one central theme in John (cf. 17:1; 1:14).

And the imagery of how this aim is accomplished is a vivid illustration. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. What an amazing picture this is of what will happen through the death of the Son of Man. He came to produce fruit. But He must die in order for that fruit to be produced, cultivated. And He goes on to affirm that His followers must also die. They must surrender their lives, following Him into death, and so into the eternal life to which that leads. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, forfeits eternal life; and whoever hates his life in this world, recognizing that it has no enduring worth or value, will keep it for (inherit) eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also, meaning both in death and in life. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. This is how it happens. This is how His kingdom truly works. We serve the Son.

Jesus Explains What His Kingdom Requires – 27-36

Having provided this description seems to have brought fully into Jesus’ mind all that it means for Him. And it’s here in John’s Gospel that we see Jesus wrestling with the thoughts the other three Gospels record in His prayers at Gethsemane (Mat.26:36-46; Mar.14:32-42; Luk.22:40-46). He said: 27 “Now is my soul troubled. Clearly His heart is deeply [disturbed] to the point of revulsion, horror, anxiety, agitation (Carson 1991 440) at the thought of the cross. But here He immediately reasons by way of personal enquiry: And what shall I say? What should be My response? Should it be: ‘Father, save me from this hour’? That surely matches Mar.14:36 … Abba, Father, … Remove this cup from me. … But as that one finishes: Yet not what I will, but what you will, here He finishes: But for this purpose I have come to this hour. I don’t want to turn away now. 28 Father, glorify your name.” There’s the heart of the Son. Let’s finish the work I came to do to the praise of Your glory.

And surely this pleased the Father because He answered audibly, a rare occurrence (Jesus’ baptism, transfiguration, and here; this is the only one in John). Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, likely meaning in all the Jesus has done to this point, and I will glorify it again,” through His death and resurrection (Carson 1991 441). 29 The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Bottom line, they didn’t hear this as a voice making a discernible statement. Even so: 30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. This is more confirmation that something big is going on here. A big corner is being turned in this encounter. The triumphal entry shows it, both in the difference between the crowd’s expectation (with their lûlābs) and Jesus’ expression (in choosing a young donkey). Jesus’ response to the Greeks shows it, and the instruction that has involved. Now the voice of the Father from heaven is showing it.

And Jesus explains what it means, why it’s for [their] sake. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. God’s judgment is going to fall on this world and on the enemy himself even as Jesus goes to the cross to provide salvation for all that the Father has given [Him] (6:39; 10:29). His death to absorb God’s wrath on behalf of all who believe is confirming His coming wrath on all who don’t. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth—a word that’s intentionally ambiguous to allow for His being ‘lifted up’ on the cross and ‘lifted up’ to glory all at once (Carson 1991 443-4)—will draw all people to myself.” This sounds much like what Jesus said back in 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. … There the focus is on the security of each individual whom the Father has given to the Son as a gift. Here, the focus is on Jesus’ work on the cross being the means by which all people without distinction, Jews and Gentiles alike, … will [have access to] him (Carson 1991 444).

All of this is wrapped up in what it means that His hour has come (23). And more, this is the heart, the high point, of His response to Philip and Andrew regarding the Greeks (20-22). Only by His going to the cross will they be able to see Jesus in a way that will make any difference for them. So, John adds: 33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. But that, then confused the others: 34 … the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? At least they understood that part: His lifting up would mean His death. And the Son of Man is [Messiah]! But what Jesus was saying just didn’t make sense to them.

So, they asked: Who is this Son of Man?” The faithful reader of John’s Gospel will recognize Jesus’ answer here from His amazing statement at the Feast of Booths: 8:12 … I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. And even prior, John’s prologue: 1:9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. But even so, Jesus’ response here only implies that He’s the light. Yet, it’s tied so closely to what He’s been saying that we get not only that His answer recalls His response to the woman at the well: 4:26 … I who speak to you am he. And at the same time, He’s keeping their attention on His pending death and departure. 35 … Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you, a heavy thought. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” He’s essentially saying: Follow Me while I’m here, and in the long run you’ll understand how important it was to do that.

Conclusion

This is so important for us to hear as well. The light of the world (8:12) isn’t still here. He’s already been lifted up on the cross and lifted up in glory. But by trusting in Him, by believing in the light (36), laying down our lives to and serving the Son, following Jesus (25-26), we do, even now, today become sons [and daughters] of light (36). And Jesus Himself tells us what that looks like. Mat.5:14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. We bring His light into this world, we who believe, as we follow Him, living the life He provided for us through His death on the cross, serving Him as faithful sons [and daughters].

Let’s remember His death now, and in so doing brighten our light.

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Resources

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NEXT SUNDAY: Resurrection Sunday, Seeing and Believing, John 20:1–31