The Anointing and Triumphal Entry of the King

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 12:1-19

 

John 12:12-13

The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, ¹³ took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out:

“Hosanna!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
The King of Israel!”

(NKJV)

 

Jesus escaped death many times because His time had not yet come; however, now as He prepares to enter Jerusalem for the Passover, His time is about to come. The only disciple of Jesus who appears to understand what is coming is Mary who takes expensive oil and anoints Jesus for his coming burial (John 12:7). The crowds throng to Jesus as He enters Jerusalem but believe He is coming as a conquering king not as the suffering servant who will die for their sins. When Jesus moves in our churches and lives, will we recognize Him and that this is part of His plan, or reject Him?

 

Six days before the Passover, Jesus goes to Bethany, where a supper is prepared in His honor with Martha serving and Lazarus at the table (John 12:1-2). At the supper, Mary takes a pint of very expensive perfume and pours it on Jesus’ feet, wiping His feet with her hair with the whole house filled with the fragrance of the perfume (John 12:3). Judas complained asking why the expensive perfume was not sold and the money given to the poor (John 12:4-5). Judas was not concerned for the poor but as the one in charge of the money, he wanted more money from which to steal (John 12:6). Jesus tells Judas to leave Mary alone telling him that Mary used the perfume to prepare Jesus for His burial (John 12:7). Jesus tells Judas they will always have the poor but they will not always have Him (John 12:8).

 

When word went out that Jesus was in Bethany, a great many of the Jews came to see Him as well as Lazarus whom Jesus raised from the dead (John 12:9). Beside Jesus, the chief priests now devised a plan to kill Lazarus as well (John 12:10). This is because many Jews were coming to believe in Jesus because of Lazarus being raised from the dead (John 12:11).

 

The next day, many who had come to the feast of Passover who heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem took palm branches and went out to meet Jesus, shouting Hosana (John 12:12-13). Jesus found a young donkey and rode into Jerusalem, fulfilling Zechariah 9:9, which foretells the King coming on the back of a donkey’s colt (John 12:14-15). Jesus’ disciples did not understand what was happening until Jesus was glorified (John 12:16). However, the people present who had witnessed Lazarus coming out of the grave bore witness to this miracle (John 12:17). This caused even more people to come out to meet Jesus causing the Pharisees to believe they were accomplishing nothing with the world coming out to meet Jesus (John 12:18-19).  

 

The time of Jesus’ crucifixion nears, which corresponds to the time of the Passover. While Jesus has told them three times what will happen to Him in Jerusalem (Matthew 16:21-23, 17:22-23; 20:17-19), one disciple, Mary, must have understood and anointed Jesus for His burial (John 12:7).  Money hungry and greedy Judas did not understand and wanted the oil sold so there was more money for him to steal. The multitude praising Jesus as He entered Jerusalem believed their king was entering the city to throw out the Romans, only to be disappointed and call for His crucifixion a few days later (John 19:5-16). The Pharisees really missed it by not seeing the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9 fulfilled before their eyes, instead viewing Jesus as a threat to their religious power over the people (John 12:15, 19).

 

Will we recognize Jesus when he enters our lives, or be like the Pharisees who failed to recognize Jesus as the one fulfilling prophecy before their eyes (Zechariah 9:9), with them instead feeling threatened. A move of God within our lives or the Church may not come as we would expect, but may come like Jesus riding the colt of a donkey instead of coming as a conquering king on a white horse. Revival in the Church may not come with great fanfare or publicity but may come as people are drawn to Jesus as He is lifted up in our churches (John 12:32). Will we as a church praise God for these new disciples or feel threatened because their turning to Christ does not bring praise to a celebrity pastor or some great Church program. We must remember that true revival is not about us or our programs but about people coming to Christ for forgiveness and salvation.

 

If you are reading this and understand you have sinned (Romans 3:23) and need a savior to rescue you from the death penalty of sin (Romans 6:23), I invite you to pray with me now.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

I invite you to let someone know of your decision, especially anyone who has been praying for you, or to comment on this post about your decision. I also encourage you to become involved in a Church that teaches the Bible and following through with baptism. May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post.