WTTW: GOD'S WORD

SUNDAY

“Enter In”

Psalm 95:6

Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;

GOD'S WORD: John 12:12-19

Paraphrase

The day after Jesus ate at Lazarus' house the great crowd gathered in Jerusalem for the Passover heard he was on his way from Bethany to the city. Taking palm branches they went out of the city to meet him shouting, “Save us now! Blessed is the One who comes in the LORD'S name! Blessed is the King of Israel!”

Fulfilling the prophecy of Zachariah foretelling Israel to no longer fear when they witness the KING of Kings, the Messiah, riding into their city on the back of a lowly donkey, Jesus found a young donkey and sat on its back as he rode into Jerusalem.

Jesus' disciples didn’t comprehend the significance of what he was doing in fulfilling Zachariah’s prophecy concerning the Messiah and other prophecies regarding his need to suffer and die, until after he was resurrected.

Many who had seen Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead continued to tell others resulting in multitudes going out of the city to meet Jesus as he arrived. Furious, the Pharisees acknowledged their not having taken prior action against Jesus was ruining them as it appeared the entire nation of Israel was coming to believe He was the Son of God - the Messiah.

Principles

Central Idea of the Text (CIT)
Interrogatory (INT)
Answer (ANS)


A. Meaning for 1st Century Readers


I. CIT: John told his 1st Century Readers that Jesus fulfilled prophecy confirming he was the Messiah when he entered Jerusalem on a donkey as the people praised God and Pharisees’ cursed themselves.


II. INT: Why did the people praise God when Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey and the Pharisees cursed themselves?


III. ANS: The people praised God and the Pharisees cursed themselves because:

A. The people recognized he came in the LORD’s name as Messiah. vv 12-15

B. The people were amazed he was able to raise Lazarus from the dead. vv 17-18

C. The Pharisees recognized him as a threat, not as the Son of God. v 19a

D. The Pharisees were jealous because so many in Israel believed in Him. v 19b


B. Meaning for 21st Century Readers

I. CIT: John tells us today that Jesus fulfills prophecy confirming he is the Messiah when he enters in bringing peace to the heart resulting in Believers praising God and Unbelievers cursing themselves.


II. INT: Why do Believers praise God when Jesus enters in bringing peace to their heart and Unbelievers curse themselves?


III. ANS: Believers praise God and Unbelievers curse themselves because:


A. Believers recognize he comes as the risen Christ.

B. Believers are amazed he raises them from the dead.

C. Unbelievers recognize him as a threat, not the Son of God.

D. Unbelievers are jealous because so many believe in Him.


Prayer

LORD, Hosanna! You save us "now" in the name of Your Son!

LORD, We thank You for the witness of others that we have come to know You through Your Son’s death and resurrection.

LORD, Take away the threat that some perceive that keeps them from recognizing Your Son is the Messiah, the Savior of the World.

LORD, We thank You for the Peace we have in our heart because Your Son entered in.

LORD, Use us this week, have the Peace in our hearts shine through so that those who feel threatened by the name of Jesus Christ will have their barriers removed so that He may enter into their hearts as well, so that He can come gently into their lives and so that they can find the Peace they have been searching for.

In the name of Jesus our Lord and Savior,

Amen.