John 12:12-19

12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,

“Hosanna!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Blessed is the king of Israel!”

14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:

15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”

16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.

17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”

-John 12:12-19

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I know we’ve been doing the Book of Mark but today we’re going to look at a passage from a different part of the Bible because yesterday was Palm Sunday.  Palm Sunday kicks off Holy Week.  It’s the one week in the year where Christians all around the world observe and reflect upon together the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Why is it called Palm Sunday?  Because people during Jesus’ time used palm branches to welcome a king back to his kingdom after a battle or a trip elsewhere.  In this case, they laid down palm branches for Jesus as he was returning to Jerusalem for the last time from his ministry journeys.  Later in the same week Jesus would be crucified and after three days rise from the dead!

While this picture of people honoring Jesus and accepting him as a king seem super wholesome, it’s not.  Most of the people here honored Jesus because of all the crazy miracles he has done in their midst.  He even raised a dude named Lazarus from the dead.  Most people pursued Jesus because of what he can do for their earthly lives.  They treated Jesus as a magical genie whose sole purpose is to make their earthly lives more comfortable.

We’re no different.  Some of us only come to Jesus right before a difficult test in school.  Even though we don’t usually pray, we’ll say a token prayer because we’re desperate.  Some of us come to Jesus to help us get into the college we want.  Some of us come to Jesus when there’s a guy or girl we like and we’re praying he or she is the one.  Some of us only come to Jesus when our health or the health of a loved one is failing.  

Jesus did not come to earth to give us good test grades, help us get into college, or find a significant other, or even to heal us physically.  Yes, sometimes he answers those prayers and he does want us to ask for things, but that’s not the reason why Jesus came to earth.  Jesus came to earth to give us Himself.  Jesus came to earth to give us the greatest gift we can possibly get—a relationship with God.   

This is why Holy Week is so important to the Christian faith.  it reminds us that Jesus died on the Cross and then resurrected to wipe away our sins so that our relationship with God can be fully restored.

As you come before God in prayer today, put a pause on your usual laundry list of prayer requests.  Tell God that you only want Him.  Instead of asking for things that will make your life more comfortable, ask for things that will help you to grow in your relationship with God. Put on your favorite Christian praise song and sing it to Him alone.  Instead of treating God like a vending machine today, just enjoy His presence.  It might actually be a little awkward NOT treating God like your personal butler, but that’s when your relationship with God starts becoming a true relationship.

Have a great and reflective Holy Week!