Faith in God

John 12:12-19

John 12:12-19, 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!” Triumphal entry is recorded in all the four Gospels.

Looking for popularity? Approval rating will go up and down for the Prime Minister and Presidents. For Jesus this is the highest approval rating time for Jesus. Within next 120 hours Jesus approve rating will go down completely.

Jews all over the world gathered to celebrate what God had done centuries before from Egypt. They gathered to worship and praise God for the Lord has done for them. Historian says that about 2 million people gathered to celebrate.

Over 250,000 animals were sacrificed at this time. Rome always watchful of what happens when the Jews gathered because they were concerned about the uprising. Religious leaders are also edgy since if there is any uprising then the Rome will strip away their privilege, power and they will lose their authority and their position.

There was a growing jealousy about Jesus Christ.

People gathered here to see who Jesus is. If we turn back one-chapter earlier John 11, we can see Jesus had done a great miracle to raise the dead Lazarus. It is a definite proof that He is the Messiah. The people gathered not to hear the sermon by Caiaphas or any priest.

They all gathered here to see who Jesus is. The city of Jerusalem gathered to celebrate their Psalm Sunday. 2 million people gathered They gathered a processional route for Jesus. They were having palm branches. They were laying their clothes on the path.

They were singing Psalms 118. They didn’t have bible, no hymn book, no overhead projector. From the depth of their heart, they started singing.

Psalms 118:25-26, Save now, I pray, O Lord; O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity. 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.

Massive voices of people praising Jesus. Raising the palm leaves. Approval rating is sky high. Wait for 120 hours. You could hear crucify Him!

• There are times people are willingly praise God.
• There are times you don’t like to praise Him.

You prise the Lord on Sunday, but you sober on Friday. You are frustrated with God. The people got frustrated since God did not do what they wanted them to do. Times you are also frustrated when God does not answer what you want Him to do! His approval rating for God goes down.

You read your bible, You pay your offerings, You pray regularly Yet God doesn’t do what you want Him to do. People were singing Psalms 118.

Psalms 118 is a victory song. Military victory. Whenever king of Israel goes out for a war and won they sing this song. They were raising the palm leaves. 167 A.D, Seleucid Empire was brought down by the Maccabean Revolt.

When the Maccabean thrown out of Seleucid from Judea they did bring the palm leaves and celebrated it. So now the people of Jerusalem singing and raising palm leaves hoping that Jesus will overthrow the Romans out of Judea.

They were hoping that Jesus will bring the military victory over Romans. Only to find out after 5 days that Jesus did not do what they wanted rather He humbled Himself. They expected Jesus to Military victory. They knew He did not do that.

They heard about Jesus miracles,

Walking on water, Turning water into wine, Raising the dead, Casting out demons, Healing the sick, Calming the storm. So now their expectation as that Jesus will conquer the Romans. Because Jesus did not do what they expected Him to do they were disappointed.

Many inside and outside the church wrecked their faith because God did not do what wanted Him to do. Here someone sitting maybe frustrated with God for what you have been praying for you and He is not doing what He was supposed to do.

Why were they frustrated? 1. Be with Jesus every day. These crown who hailed Him as King 5 days later cried out crucify Him.

Why?

They were not with Jesus every day. They had to come to perform the religious rituals. They showed up to the church not being with Christ. These are people like who come to Christmas, New Year and Easter. Daily devoted disciples are different!

• Religious people know enough knowledge about God to have expectation from God.
• They don’t like God be sovereign over them.
• Ritual religion enough knowledge of God to do something.
• Not enough faith to what wants to do!
• They know enough to expect something from Jesus.
• They have no faith what Jesus wants to do in their life.
• They were shouting Psalms 118.
• Jesus gives them Zachariah 9

Matthew, Mark, and Luke give the information that Jesus’ rode on a donkey.

But John says that they shouted Psalms 118 and then Jesus got on to a donkey. Jesus got onto a donkey in response to their shouting praise of military victory.

• They want military victory.
• Jesus gives the salvation.
• People want Psalm 118 military victory.
• Jesus gives them Zachariah salvation for the world.

Zachariah 9 is the eschatological message of salvation to the nations.

• They want military victory.
• Jesus gives them spiritual victory.

Will you be able to appreciate even though you want Psalm 118 and I give you Zachariah 9? People have got enough scripture for them to demand from God to do something for them but not enough faith for God to do what He wants to do in their life.

Even when God does not answer the way you want Him to but what He answers is the BEST for you in your life!

2. Don’t limit God

Will you accept what God gives you? There are few types of Restaurants.

• Buffet
• Ala carte
• Table d’hote

Table d’hote where the food is served according to the chef. You don’t get an opportunity to chose what you want to eat. You trust the chef to choose the menu and the pricing is done according to them. When you come to God, you just trust Him to supply!

Trust God’s preparation for your life. God knows everything! Let God deliver what He had prepared. Jesus did not do what they want.

Do you know why?

They did not come to see Jesus. V 17-18, 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.

They were there to see Lazarus. They were looking for another miracle. They gathered and praised Jesus and see some miracles. They wanted to see more miracles in front of them.

John 20:30, And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book;

Do you know how many miracles Jesus performed after this? None! Jesus completely shuts down. From Triumphal entry to Calvary, He did not perform any miracles. Praise is not a way to bring miracles. You can’t manipulate God by worshipping to get some miracles.

Coming to church and praising God is not on demand miracles. Pastors some of them ask you to send miracle seed/praise or do something for their church or ministry will bring miracle. Jesus said no! Real praise comes from pure heart.

Real praise goes to the person who God is! Not for what God will do. Is your praise is trying to bring some miracle from God?

Do you worship God simply who He is? You may be sick You may be broken, You may lose loved one, You may have numerous problems, Yet do you worship Him for who He is.

3. Right perspective

They did not know what they did. They never understood what they did. V 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. God sends you through some struggle so that you will know what God is doing. They understood only after Jesus glorified. Unless you go through some trouble you will not know who God is.

Until you put into the furnace of fire you will not know the Lord.

Daniel 3:24-25, Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counsellors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the[e] Son of God.”

God takes you through trouble to show His glory in your life. Some people may not know what they had gone through. Some may not know how to be single and cry out to the Lord.

Some may not know how you prayed all night cried unto the Lord. When you come through the other side then you will have the right perspective.