The Gospel of John: John 12.12-26

Read and meditate on John 12.14, 15.
Here is a scene of great majesty and humility, celebration and foreboding, prophetic fulfillment and glorious hope, and Jesus is at the center of it all.

                                           ¹⁴And when Jesus knew
that they were coming, and what He must do,
then He sat on a donkey He had found,
as it is written, ¹⁵“Let not fear surround
you, Zion. See, your King is coming! He
is sitting on a donkey’s colt.”

- John 12.14, 15

Reflect
1.  Meditate on Zechariah 9.9-11. Looking at Zechariah, as John intended we should, what did Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem signify? What did it portend? Complete this prayer: Lord, let me be found always at Your feet, for…

2.  Compare John’s account with Matthew’s in Matthew 21.1-7. What differences can you identify? Does this necessarily mean that one or the other of the evangelists got the story wrong? Explain. Thank You, Lord, for four gospels, to give us a rich and varied portrait, and to prepare us…

3.  Let’s assume that Matthew’s account is more complete than John’s. John’s is true, but Matthew gives us more details. However, from John, as well as Mark (Mk. 11.1-7) and Luke (Lk. 19.29-35), Jesus appears to have sat only on the colt, with the mother donkey accompanying. This would seem to be in line with Zechariah’s prophecy. What significance should we attach to this? Lord, as You humbled Yourself to come amongst us in the flesh, and humbled Yourself to enter Your city on a donkey’s colt, so let me…

4.  Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem on the back of a donkey was the announcement that Israel’s King had arrived, and with Him, His Kingdom (v. 15). Review John 1.49, 3.3-5, and look at John 18.36. What is the Kingdom of God? Given the large amount of teaching Jesus offered on the Kingdom, especially in Matthew and Luke, why do you suppose there are so few references to the Kingdom in John’s account? Lord, John seems almost to direct us to the other gospels for more details about Your Kingdom. You have commanded us to seek Your Kingdom, Lord, and I…

5.  John, quoting Zechariah, focuses us on one large consequence of the coming of our King. What is it? What fears does the King’s coming banish in His people? Do you experience this freedom from fears? Explain. Bring together into one prayer the prayers you wrote from questions 1-4.

Summary
“Zechariah gave this prophecy after the return from Babylon toward the conclusion of prophecy. But there is no record of a Jewish king since that time, such as the prophecy predicts, except our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in whom this prediction was fulfilled.… But what was his riding on a donkey meant to show but the lowly and humble manner that marked his first coming?” Eusebius of Caesarea (260-340 AD)

Jesus came to earth under the most lowly of circumstances. He would gain His great victory and Kingdom by an act of supreme lowliness. So it made sense for Him to enter Jerusalem in such a humble and lowly manner. He is King, and we are His ambassadors. But He counsels humility and lowliness as the proper demeanor for His citizens. Explain.

Closing Prayer
You who fear the LORD, praise Him!
All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
And fear Him, all you offspring of Israel!
For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;
Nor has He hidden His face from Him;
But when He cried to Him, He heard.
My praise shall be of You in the great assembly;
I will pay My vows before those who fear Him.
The poor shall eat and be satisfied;
Those who seek Him will praise the LORD.
Let your heart live forever!
All the ends of the world
Shall remember and turn to the LORD,
And all the families of the nations
Shall worship before You.
For the kingdom is the LORD’s,
And He rules over the nations.

Psalm 22.23-28

Psalm 22.23-28 (Darwall: Rejoice, the Lord is King)
All you who fear the Lord, now praise His holy Name!
You children of His glorious Word, declare His fame!
We stand in awe of our eternal God, and on His mercy call.

For He has not despised the anguish of our King,
Nor from Him hid His eyes, Who knew such suffering.
Let praise arise from all who love and serve the Ruler of the skies!

The suff’ring King shall eat and praise with us the Lord.
Forever we His praise repeat and trust His Word.
Praise God above, all you who keep His vows and who His mercies love!

All nations shall repent and hasten to the Lord;
All those to whom His truth is sent shall praise His Word.
The Lord is King!  His sovereign rule on high now we His people sing!

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.