Going After Him – Sermon 29 March 2015
“Going After Him”
John 12: 16 – 19
In the television program Australian Idol we see special guests, well known celebrities, come in to listen and coach young talented performers and to give advice. It is interesting to note the reactions on the young performers’ faces when they first meet these “famous” people. Most seem to be in some kind of shock. As for most of them that meeting is most probably a once in a lifetime meeting. They become so excited.
Meeting or even catching a glimpse of some famous person can draw out people by the hundreds.
We recall in previous years the visits of Royal Family members, world political leaders, religious people like the Pope, where we see people who want to be near, and to hear what those famous people might say. Thousands of people, young and old, endeavour to get near as much as they can, to touch or lay a hand on them, hand out the program, piece of paper, a musical album, a tennis ball, or anything with a significant meaning to get a signature.
Last week we saw on TV an Italian Pizza man running to the Pope with a tray of Pizza and handing to him with the hope of getting his blessing. People do similar things to express their feelings and loyalty.
On Palm Sunday, some two thousand years ago, a great man came to Jerusalem. To this point, Jesus had performed many miracles, but it seems that the healing of Lazarus had been the last push for the Pharisee’s.
The story of Palm Sunday is related in John chapter 12, but chapter 11 relates his bringing back to life of a dead man named Lazarus. In response to this act, multitudes of people believed Him and know that there was something different about Jesus. He was not like other prophets and teachers. He was really Son of God and hence they went after Him and followed him.
On the other hand the response of the Pharisee’s was a bit different. In John 11, 47-48 we read: Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”
They were worried and were looking for a way to deal with this matter.
The Passover was at hand and the celebration of God’s provision for Israel was about to commence. And with Jesus entry into Jerusalem, God’s ultimate Passover lamb was coming to be sacrificed.
I have often wondered why the crowd of people that came to hail the arriving king, so quickly turned from praise and adoration to the desire and even pleasure at seeing Christ crucified. Here they are going out to honour the arrival of a king, the waving and laying of palm branches was a common greeting for kings. Crowds often gather to welcome dignitaries. But the reason for their turning becomes more apparent with an understanding of what the crowd was looking for.
The Pharisee’s didn’t understand the mission of Christ. If we remember what they said: “If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”
They thought that Jesus will take their place as spiritual leaders of Israel. Yes, He certainly will. Jesus will take their place as national leaders of Israel. Yes, He will. But that was not why He was coming to Jerusalem on that day. The people were in fact looking for this king that would set them free from Rome, and restore them to national fame.
Hosanna, Hosanna; we sing it today, but do we know what the words mean. Literally the words mean, “Save Now, Save Now.” Set us free, give us prosperity, give us health, do for us what you have done for Lazarus and so many others, Give us, give us, give us and give us NOW.
But Jesus response to their call for a military hero was “I come in peace.” You see kings don’t arrive on a lowly donkey, they arrive in style. Kings arrive on private planes, Kings are driven in limousines, and barricades are set up for kings, in order to keep the peoples arms away.
In that period, kings came to town on the back of a mighty stallion, restrained in armour. But Jesus came on the back of a donkey. John states as a fulfilment of prophecy. Jesus didn’t come to fulfil the expectations of the people for a national leader, to overthrow some government. He came as the prince of peace. He came to offer his life as a ransom for all that would believe. He came to offer eternal life – “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (Jn. 17:3)
Many people were coming to see Jesus because they thought he was going to set them free from bondage. But there were actually three groups of people that were present on the first Palm Sunday.
Notice in verse 12 it states that “a great multitude” came out of Jerusalem to meet Jesus. Then notice verse 17 states that a “multitude” was with him when he raised Lazarus, and this multitude was “bearing witness” about Jesus.
The three groups were:
- There was the group that heard Jesus was coming, and went out to meet him.
- There was the group that were traveling with Christ, and went into the city to proclaim His coming.
- There was this third group that responded based on testimony.
Now I have no doubt that none of these realized who Christ was. They all came because Jesus had raised Lazarus. Verse 16 states that even the disciples didn’t understand what was happening yet.
My question is:
Why have you and I come to follow Jesus?
- If we have come because of the miracles he has done, even in our lives; we can quickly become disillusioned and fall away.
- If we have come because of what we believe Christ can offer to meet our physical needs, what will be our response when He doesn’t meet them?
But if we come, because He is God, who loves us, and who came to bring peace between us and God in heaven, then we will become true followers.
On the first Sunday of every month we share the Lord’s Table and celebrate Communion.
This celebration is for those who believe that in His death on the cross, Jesus gave eternal life to all those that will believe.
This is for those that are followers of Christ, not based on what He can give, but because of what He has already given.
In verse 19, the Pharisee’s said, “…look, how the world has gone after him.”
Our notice board outside says: Will you go after Him?
Will you be willing to leave everything and go after Him.
I thank God that He has come after the world.
A notice board said:
Don’t make me come down there! – God
But He did.
Krikor Youmshajekian