John 12:12-19
Inspite of the command of the leaders of Jerusalem to take Jesus, He came into the city in a very public way that all could know, and see Him. He rode on a young ass, or donkey, and a great crowd of people were with Him, waving palm branches and shouting a welcome to Him as King.
The disciples had placed their cloaks and palm branches on the road to cover the stones to make the way smoother. Some palm trees have long flat, graceful branches, not like other trees, and were used in lands where they grow, to wave before a hero, or conqueror, as people in other lands would wave flags.
But a just king for Israel did not come as one to conquer them, but as a servant to the people and for God; that was why Jesus rode on an animal used to carry burdens. At that time there was no king of their own nation, but they were ruled by men appointed by the ruler of Rome, who cared only for the tribute money and their labor, not for the people’s good. So the people wanted a just king of their own.
Besides the company of people who were coming with Jesus, many people who were in the city who heard He was coming in, went to meet Him. They also waved palm branches to welcome Him, for since the raising of Lazarus they were very certain Jesus was the Messiah to come from God and they wanted Him made King.
The words they shouted were from the Psalms, “Hosanna”, which meant, “Save us, we beseech.” They also called out, “Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.” See Ps. 118:25, 26.
So there was much joy that day, just as was written by the prophet, “Rejoice greatly (or fear not), daughter of Sion; behold thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.”
Jesus and the crowds with Him went to the temple that day, and the priests there were angry at the children’s cries, “Hosanna.”
It was the duty of the high priest and prophets of that nation to proclaim a new king, to annoint him with oil and to blow the trumpets: a just king does not proclaim, or make, himself king, and Jesus did not make Himself King of Israel, and He knew the men of the temple would reject Him, but He gave them the opportunity to honor Him as the King sent by God, and fulfilled the prophecies which they knew, It is told here that the disciples did not realize that day that they were carrying out the words of the prophet. But after Jesus was gone back to Heaven, they remembered the scriptures and knew they had done the things for Him, just as written.
Other scriptures tell of a time after sin is judged that Christ shall rule over all people, from “sea to sea”, but not as the lowly King, as He came that day. He will be “KING OF KINGS and LORD of LORDS” (see Rev. 19:16; 20:6; Ps. 72:8).
ML 12/01/1946