First, consider the way Rome governed its outlying provinces. At this time, Rome is the world power that has conquered the major part of the known world. Politically, Rome was THE power. For the outlying provinces, there was a governor over a region who answered to the Caesar. Within the individual countries (such as Judah) the local authorities were allowed to carry on the government AS LONG AS THERE WAS NO UNREST! As soon as some sort of civil disorder or uprising appeared, Rome would sweep in with her power and might and do away with the local, failed government. That helps me understand the dramatic opposition the Jewish leaders had to Jesus and the masses of people wanting to see and hear Him. And remember, it's Passover, so the population of Jerusalem has swelled considerably ... an environment ripe for uprisings!
Secondly, the date palm was plentiful in Judea. And during the Maccabaen period when the Jewish resistance movement was victorious, the palm became a symbol of Jewish nationalism. It was even stamped into the coinage used by the resistance. So this "waving of palm branches" carries all sorts of symbolism.
Third, the word "hosanna" literally means, "save now". It is the exact equivalent to crying out "God save the King".
With that bit of information ... read John 12: 12 - 50.
How desperately these people wanted Jesus to rise up as their king ... their ruler ... reestablish Judea as a national presence to be dealt with ... drive the Romans out. I am reminded of a scene in "Fiddler on the Roof" when the Russians are exercising their power over their Jewish neighbors. Another pogrom is about to happen ... the Jews are being driven from their homes. One of the characters in the movie says, "Rabbi, we have been waiting for Messiah all our lives. Wouldn't now be a good time?" I suspect so many Jews in Jerusalem that day felt the same way. "Wouldn't now be a good time for Messiah?" They just did not understand all the prophesies about the suffering that must take place for redemption to happen. They wanted it all about earthly things ... earthly kingdoms ... earthly prosperity and rule. Have you ever been guilty of that kind of thinking? Have you ever been guilty of wanting Jesus to behave just exactly like you want Him to? I mean, you know what you want ... you know what would seem 'good' to you ... so Jesus, perform! How do you respond when He does not behave as you would have Him behave? Would you be one of the crowd ... crying 'Hosanna' one day and 'Crucify' the next?
Lord ... keep us steady and faithful. Grow in us the absolute certainty that Your ways are not only good, but are the best. Yes, we cry 'Hosanna' ... and we submit again to Your rule in our lives ... You are our King!
Jesus entered Jerusalem on a young donkey. In the Roman world, the conqueror would ride into a city on a horse ... a symbol of war. In the Hebrew world, riding into a city on a donkey was a symbol of peace. As Jesus fulfills the prophecy that He would indeed ride on a donkey, He is also making a statement as to the kind of king He was to be at this point. King Jesus ... Prince of Peace. In our Tuesday class, one of our class members said, "But when He comes back, it will be on a horse!" She is exactly right!
Revelation 19: 11 - 16
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on His head are many crowns. He has a name written on Him that no one knows but He Himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him ... On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Chapter 12 closes the public ministry of Jesus. He is going to focus His final teachings on His own disciples. He has given the signs of His deity to the crowds ... He has taught the crowds ... He has used the Old Testament scriptures to confirm His identity ... He has brought light ... some choose belief ... others do not. One of His final cries to the crowd is found in verse 46: I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." And in verse 50: I know that His command leads to eternal life.
Remember with me the way John began this gospel. In that magnificent prologue John said in 1:5 "The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." Indeed, we are watching the darkness gathering ... and the misunderstanding taking center stage. But, thanks be to God ... we do not have to be in the dark. Believe ...
Lord, we do believe. Help our unbelief. We choose faith. We choose to walk in light ... to walk in You. May we, also, bring glory to Your Name by the way we live our lives.
No comments:
Post a Comment