DAY #166: John 12:12-36

Jesus part of the large crowd moving toward Jerusalem, others came out to meet him from the city itself. Expectations that something marvelous was soon to happen must have been at fever pitch! The crowd began to shout. As they shouted “Praise God,” they thought that their conquering King had finally come to liberate them from Roman rule.

Therefore, the Jews thought they were hailing the arrival of their King! But these people who were praising God for giving them a king had the wrong idea about Jesus. They were sure he would be a national leader who would restore their nation to its former glory; thus they were deaf to the words of their prophets and blind to Jesus’ real mission. When it became apparent that Jesus was not going to fulfill their hopes, many people turned against him.

Indeed, their King came to them—but not the kind of king they had expected. He did not arrive as a political ruler might, on a mighty horse or in a chariot. Rather, Jesus came to them in the way prophesied by Zechariah: “Don’t be afraid, people of Israel. Look, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.” The Old Testament prophet Zechariah had prophesied the arrival of a great king, possibly Alexander the Great, in Zechariah 9:1-8. Then contrasting that, he had prophesied the arrival to Jerusalem’s people of their King. In this coming, Israel’s King would be a humble servant, not a conqueror. He would not be exalted to a throne, but lifted up on a cross.

The Pharisees were exasperated by such exultation. They were hoping to find some sly way to get hold of Jesus and get rid of him while they knew his whereabouts, but it was impossible with the huge adoring crowds surrounding him. Their statement, “the whole world has gone after him!” is ironic—for most of those people did not really believe in Jesus.

The picture of a kernel of wheat reveals the necessary sacrifice of Jesus. When a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, it actually dies before producing many new kernels. In the same way, Jesus, by his death, produced more fruit than could have been gained had he become the king of Israel on an earthly throne. Indeed, by being lifted up on the cross, Jesus would draw all people to himself. We also, when we "die" to ourselves, when we die to our pride and ego, when the out shell of self-centerdness is shattered, we allow the life of Christ to work in our lives.

True followers of Jesus must have their priorities in order; if they choose to love their life more than their Master, they will lose the very life they seek to maintain. True disciples must be willing to suffer and experience rejection, even unto death if need be. To serve and follow Jesus means making radical lifestyle changes. To follow Jesus means going the way he went—not the way of earthly power and honor—but the way of humility and death.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Lord, work in the lives of kids at camp this week. Breakthrough the barriers that separate them from you and break through the walls that stop them from living wholeheartedly for You. Work in my life in this same way. Break through the walls of EGO (edging God out) and pride in my life.

"Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?" Luke 9:23-25 (NIV)

Father, have your way in my life, in my families life and in the lives of every family at COV.