Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!

Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.

The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 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!"

Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:

"Fear not, daughter of Zion;

Behold, your King is coming,

Sitting on a donkey's colt."

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. Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, "You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!"

- John 12:9-19

In yesterday's reading, we learned that Passover is near. This will be the third Passover in John's Gospel. Many went up to Jerusalem from the country before the Passover, to purify themselves. The leadership seeks Jesus to arrest Him. The chief priests and Pharisees had given a command, that if anyone knew where Jesus was, they should report it so He can be seized. Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, to the home of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. Bethany is about two miles East of Jerusalem. We've just read (in last week's readings) about the raising of Lazarus: see Wednesday's, Thursday's, and Friday's readings. In yesterday's reading, Jesus and His disciples came to their home and a supper was made; Martha served, and Lazarus was one who sat at table with them. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. Judas, who will betray Jesus, said, "Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" John tells us this was not because Judas cared for the poor, but because he kept the money box, and would take from it. But Jesus said, "Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always." See The Extravagance of Love.

Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus. As Jesus comes to Bethany (in yesterday's reading), He begins the last week of His earthly ministry. He has spent the Saturday before Palm Sunday with His close friends, whom He loves. But now Lazarus is sought also by the authorities, because of this seventh and great final sign of Jesus' ministry, Lazarus' raising from the dead.

The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him . . . Jesus comes into Jerusalem from the East, as prophesied of Messiah. My study bible notes that "earlier Jesus had come to Jerusalem in a hidden, private way. But now He enters the Holy City publicly."

. . . and cried out: "Hosanna! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' The King of Israel!" Hosanna means "Save now." The people are quoting here from Psalm 118. That the crowds welcome Him as King is certain to terrify the leadership for their places.

Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: "Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt." My study bible says, "Jesus' deliberate action of riding in on a donkey signifies He is the prophesied Messiah of peace (Zech. 9:9), for kings and military leaders rode on horses or in chariots. The Triumphal Entry marks a high point in Jesus' ministry as He brings His message to the Holy City and encounters the central authorities. This event is celebrated on Palm Sunday, an acclamation of the lordship of Christ as King of kings."

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. The people respond, welcoming Jesus to Jerusalem, but here the Gospel tells us that even the disciples were baffled. That is, until Jesus was glorified. Here we have a hint of what is to come, the sending of the Spirit to lead the Church, and to illuminate history. Events are happening that draw Jesus' earthly ministry to a close. It's truly a movement of history as "crowds" are involved, the stage is set, and Jesus reveals Himself openly.

Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, "You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!" The seventh sign, the raising of Lazarus, has sealed Jesus' fate with the authorities. All the people go after Him, both those who witnessed what happened in Bethany at the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus, and the ones who have heard what happened there from those witnesses. In the leadership's eyes, their efforts have been futile. The world has gone after Him!

Today's reading speaks to us of great world events, "the world has gone after Him!" The crowds follow Christ and proclaim Him King, after the raising of Lazarus. The leadership is determined not only to rid themselves of Jesus, but also of Lazarus. Great movements of history are happening. But in the midst of it all, a terrible aloneness, and a sadness, that Jesus will be taken away from them in the flesh, that as a human being, He will die. We're left with so many conflicting images and feelings. It's a great paradox -- not the first, and not the last. Let us put ourselves in this scene. He is a hope for many. He has disciples who are loyal to Him. But there is the element of evil that afflicts our world, of envy, betrayal, deceit, a lie, all the things that poison our earthly lives. In the great economy of salvation, our Christ's incarnation in this world, He has been sent to overturn the power of affliction of this kind. Yet more paradox: by His death, He will be raised up as a sign of power over death, of overcoming the world. He will draw us to that Cross, in the hope of Resurrection, the things that give us life far beyond the afflictions of this world. The crowds gather around Him, but He knows where He's headed. He has warned the disciples often enough. How do you go toward that Cross? What meanings in life does it give you?