Sedition!

March 31, 2021 (Wednesday)

 

In the week we call “Holy Week” Jesus begins Sunday with a show. “The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.” [John 12:12 ESV] In modern terms, Jesus had gone viral and everyone wanted to see for themselves.

 

This was one time when Jesus allowed to crowd to dictate events. “So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” [John 12:13 ESV] Notice they are declaring Jesus to be the “King of Israel.”

 

Jesus rode a “young donkey,” one that had never been ridden. This was a sign from Zechariah 9:9 about the Messiah’s entry to Jerusalem as King. Notice Jesus did not arrive on a horse. Horses were for war, they were for conquerors. Donkeys were ridden as a symbol of peace. Remarkably, “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.” [John 12:16 ESV]

 

How many times do we not see Jesus, or God at work, until after the fact? We tend to forget with scripture says while things are happening. Afterwards we gain perspective and are able to perceive the truth. It’s strange that Jesus’ disciples missed the sign because we read, “The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign.” [John 12:18 ESV]

 

I wonder if the disciple’s familiarity with Jesus dulled their sense of who He is. They had seen Him cry, sleep, eat, and generally live life. How could this be God-in-the-flesh? I wonder how many times I have lost perspective in the grind of life. Minutes melt into hours. Hours hover into days. Day drift into weeks. Weeks waffle into years. Time seems to drag us away from the one who created time.

 

The crowed celebrates the religious elite panic, “So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.” [John 12:19 ESV] Two totally different reactions to Jesus betray perspective. The crowed eagerly wanted a Messiah. The Pharisees wanted anyone but Jesus.

 

Jesus then drops a heavy teaching, “Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” [John 12:25 ESV] It seems humans do everything we can to hang on to life. Fear of losing our life reduces us to blubbering bowls of jelly. Jesus is challenging this jubilant crowd to be willing to die. This is unquestionably sedition.

 

Jesus continues to explain, “Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.” [John 12:31 ESV] Just how is this going to be accomplished? I am so glad you asked!!!

 

Explaining His intent to die on the cross, Jesus declared, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” [John 12:32 ESV] How can a dead Messiah accomplish anything? The crowd is puzzled. Jesus explains crypto-logically, “While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” [John 12:36 ESV]

 

Throughout the book of John, light is used as a contrast to the diseased, dying, and decaying world. Sin sends us into the darkness. King Jesus calls us to be light, defeating, disarming, and dispersing the darkness and bringing salvation, health, and wholeness in this evil world.