JESUS - Liberator or Savior?

Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, “What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs. If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” John 11: 47-48

On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, anTherefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, “What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs. If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” John 11: 47-48

On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.” Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him. So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him. For this reason also the people went and met Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him.” John 12: 12-19

Lazarus has been raised from the dead! The news is out! Everybody has heard it. There are witnesses who actually saw it!

Now, the One who raised him is on His way to Jerusalem. He is making the journey despite the earlier threats from high-ranking officials of the government.

The people are beginning to believe --- “this must be the Messiah who was promised to us. He is coming to take over to reign over us as King.”

We can imagine the madness; the frenzied emotions let loose by these crowds welcoming Jesus to Jerusalem.

Those who accompany Him are eager to tell anyone who will listen, the amazing things – miracles, signs and wonders – they have seen.

And, people in the city – a great host of people – who have come for the Passover feast, have heard He is coming and they surge out to meet Him.

What mighty hopes and expectations they have.

They knew about Jesus raising Lazarus from death. Surely, He can set them free from the domination of the Roman Empire on their lives.

Their belief here is that Jesus has come to occupy the throne of David.

Jesus is their “national liberator”, so everything they do at this point has political overtones.

Even the palm branches are a sign of Maccabean nationalism. For when Judas Maccabeus rededicated the temple altar in 164 B.C., after the desecration by the Syrians, the Jews came bringing palms  to the temple.

They were victors!

And, later when his brother, Simon, conquered the Jerusalem citadel in 142 B.C., the Jews took possession carrying palms branches.

Even the phrase – “went out to meet Him” – is a normal Greek expression used to describe the joyful reception of Hellenistic rulers coming as they came into a city.

And the shout of “Hosanna” – which means “save now” is an acclamation of praise, greeting Jesus as a conqueror.

There is even a subtle political reference in the cry, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” because the words, “king of Israel” are added (vs 13).

Their hopes and ambitions for Israel are man-centered and nationalistic. These people have misunderstood the meaning and implications of the raising of Lazarus, as did the crowd of 5000 whom Jesus fed.

They are about to proclaim Jesus as the King who will overthrow Rome and set them free.

Jesus answers the pressure and false expectations of this frenzied crowd with a prophetic – but a simple act.

He found a young donkey and sat on it. Another fulfillment of prophecy --- Zechariah 9:9 –

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

These words speak of the long-expected Chosen One.

If Jesus had come to fulfill the earthly, nationalistic ambitions of these people, He would not have come on a donkey. He would have ridden a horse – indicating that He was coming to liberate a nation through the use of military force.

But He comes on a colt of a donkey. He comes as a Man of Peace.

The disciples didn’t even understand what this all meant until much later when they were enlightened by the Spirit and they saw it – through the crucifixion and the resurrection.

Some Bible scholars have made the suggestion that the first part of this quotation – “Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion” may have come from the prophecy of Zephaniah 3:16 --- “

In that day it will be said to Jerusalem: ‘Do not be afraid, O Zion; Do not let your hands fall limp.”

This would be another of John’s compound quotations, using two passages to open up a world of larger meaning.

Who then is the Messiah?

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” Zephaniah 3:17

The raising of Lazarus is not a sign of nationalistic glory for Israel. It is a promise that when the Messiah comes He will share the gift of healing and life with all people.

In our humanness, we often have false and unholy expectations of what Jesus will do for us.

We may see Him as our errand boy – His duty is to satisfy our needs – or more often, perhaps – our wants.

We may see His purpose in our lives is to make our way easy and comfortable --- to be on our side in any conflict we may encounter in life.

But, all our perverted, self-centered hopes are radically altered by the One who comes riding on a donkey – instead of coming as a Warrior --- He comes riding on a lowly donkey.

And we – like the misinformed Pharisees – must realize that the mission of the coming of Jesus is universal.

John 12:19 – the power that flows from Jesus as Savior of the world, The Pharisees were forced to admit:

“You see that your are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him.”

In the face of Christ and His power and His authority, the world cannot gain – ultimately. In the end --- Jesus Christ wins the battle. And, in the end, the battle is over. He has conquered all of creation.d began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.” Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him. So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him. For this reason also the people went and met Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him.” John 12: 12-19

Lazarus has been raised from the dead! The news is out! Everybody has heard it. There are witnesses who actually saw it!

Now, the One who raised him is on His way to Jerusalem. He is making the journey despite the earlier threats from high-ranking officials of the government.

The people are beginning to believe --- “this must be the Messiah who was promised to us. He is coming to take over to reign over us as King.”

We can imagine the madness; the frenzied emotions let loose by these crowds welcoming Jesus to Jerusalem.

Those who accompany Him are eager to tell anyone who will listen, the amazing things – miracles, signs and wonders – they have seen.

And, people in the city – a great host of people – who have come for the Passover feast, have heard He is coming and they surge out to meet Him.

What mighty hopes and expectations they have.

They knew about Jesus raising Lazarus from death. Surely, He can set them free from the domination of the Roman Empire on their lives.

Their belief here is that Jesus has come to occupy the throne of David.

Jesus is their “national liberator”, so everything they do at this point has political overtones.

Even the palm branches are a sign of Maccabean nationalism. For when Judas Maccabeus rededicated the temple altar in 164 B.C., after the desecration by the Syrians, the Jews came bringing palms  to the temple.

They were victors!

And, later when his brother, Simon, conquered the Jerusalem citadel in 142 B.C., the Jews took possession carrying palms branches.

Even the phrase – “went out to meet Him” – is a normal Greek expression used to describe the joyful reception of Hellenistic rulers coming as they came into a city.

And the shout of “Hosanna” – which means “save now” is an acclamation of praise, greeting Jesus as a conqueror.

There is even a subtle political reference in the cry, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” because the words, “king of Israel” are added (vs 13).

Their hopes and ambitions for Israel are man-centered and nationalistic. These people have misunderstood the meaning and implications of the raising of Lazarus, as did the crowd of 5000 whom Jesus fed.

They are about to proclaim Jesus as the King who will overthrow Rome and set them free.

Jesus answers the pressure and false expectations of this frenzied crowd with a prophetic – but a simple act.

He found a young donkey and sat on it. Another fulfillment of prophecy --- Zechariah 9:9 –

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

These words speak of the long-expected Chosen One.

If Jesus had come to fulfill the earthly, nationalistic ambitions of these people, He would not have come on a donkey. He would have ridden a horse – indicating that He was coming to liberate a nation through the use of military force.

But He comes on a colt of a donkey. He comes as a Man of Peace.

The disciples didn’t even understand what this all meant until much later when they were enlightened by the Spirit and they saw it – through the crucifixion and the resurrection.

Some Bible scholars have made the suggestion that the first part of this quotation – “Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion” may have come from the prophecy of Zephaniah 3:16 --- “

In that day it will be said to Jerusalem: ‘Do not be afraid, O Zion; Do not let your hands fall limp.”

This would be another of John’s compound quotations, using two passages to open up a world of larger meaning.

Who then is the Messiah?

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” Zephaniah 3:17

The raising of Lazarus is not a sign of nationalistic glory for Israel. It is a promise that when the Messiah comes He will share the gift of healing and life with all people.

In our humanness, we often have false and unholy expectations of what Jesus will do for us.

We may see Him as our errand boy – His duty is to satisfy our needs – or more often, perhaps – our wants.

We may see His purpose in our lives is to make our way easy and comfortable --- to be on our side in any conflict we may encounter in life.

But, all our perverted, self-centered hopes are radically altered by the One who comes riding on a donkey – instead of coming as a Warrior --- He comes riding on a lowly donkey.

And we – like the misinformed Pharisees – must realize that the mission of the coming of Jesus is universal.

John 12:19 – the power that flows from Jesus as Savior of the world, The Pharisees were forced to admit:

“You see that your are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him.”

In the face of Christ and His power and His authority, the world cannot gain – ultimately. In the end --- Jesus Christ wins the battle. And, in the end, the battle is over. He has conquered all of creation.