OUR FATHER WHO SENT HIS SON TO BE KING OF ISRAEL

The book of John chapter 11 verses 12 - 19 records the formal entry of the awaited Messiah into the city of Jerusalem. The raising of Lazarus from the dead was a catalyst for the anticipation that the people in Jerusalem had to receive the Messiah and they waved palm branches to welcome Him.

The political and religious establishment of Jerusalem were feeling that Jesus was drawing infleunce and authority away from them and became more desperate when the Lord Jesus publically entered their domain and the people were hailing Him as the king of Israel.

 12 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!”

14 Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:

15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion;

Behold, your King is coming,

Sitting on a donkey’s colt.”

16 His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.

17 Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. 18 For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. 19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!”

The tension in Jerusalem was climbing as the people polarized around the question of who Jesus was and the time was getting close to where the authorities would make a risk everything to get Jesus and try to destroy Him.

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