2BC BIBLE STUDY NOTES

Wednesday in the Word

Second Baptist Church

November 19, 2025

John 12:9-26

1. Verses 9-11. From our last study, we know Jesus has returned to Bethany to spend time with Lazarus. This was a huge moment because Jesus had not been to the area since raising Lazarus from the dead. By the time Jesus returned, many came to see Lazarus and see the miracle for themselves. This huge miracle caused many to believe in Jesus. Of course, the chief priests were furious. The chief priests included many Sadducees, and the Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection- Lazarus was a living example of life after death and having him around was an embarrassment to their theological system. For them, there was only one solution to this embarrassing problem – to put Lazarus to death also. Lazarus was a walking problem for the chief prIests.

2. Verse 12. If the chief priests were mad about Lazarus, what happened the next day must have sent them into a royal fit. News that Jesus would come to Jerusalem spread like wildfire. A great crowd assembled to welcome Jesus into the city. This was the large crowd that came for the greatest holidays of Judaism – Passover. During Passover that the population of Jerusalem multiplies significantly. Estimates are that approximately 30,000 Jews normally lived in Jerusalem, but that during the Passover, exaggerated estimates run into the millions. More realistic estimates are approximately around 180,000. Many of them came from Galilee. When they came, they came with lambs. Jewish law required that the Passover lamb live with the family for at least three days before sacrifice (Exodus 12:3-6). This would mean that there were literally thousands of lambs being brought to the city for the Passover celebration. Jesus times his entrance into the city on the day that the lambs were brought to the city. The day that the Israelites picked the lamb for their families was known as Lamb Selection Day. All the pilgrims were anxiously making their way into the city to pick the lamb from the flocks that the Sadducees had bred and raised for this occasion. On the very day that the entire nation of Israel was picking their special lamb, Jesus rode into Jerusalem to also celebrate Passover with his disciples. Jesus is the lamb that is without blemish (sin).

3. Verses 13-15. The crowd took palm branches and waved them as Jesus entered the city. Palm branches were a symbol of Jewish nationalism and the crowd looked to Jesus as a political and national savior, not so much as a spiritual savior. This was the welcome that was reserved for a king. But Jesus was not ushering in a worldly kingdom, but a spiritual kingdom. The people shout, “Hosanna.” This large, enthusiastic crowd greeted Jesus with words from the Messianic Psalm 118:25-26. Psalm 118 is a messianic psalm, and one of the six Psalms most often referred to in the New Testament. This Psalm is one of the Hallel songs (Psalms 113-118). The Israelites would sing it as they ascended to Jerusalem to worship at one of the feasts. It is, therefore, a song that may well have been sung at Passover every year. The cry Hosanna meant “save now,” and on this day the crowd received Jesus as a triumphant Messiah. Jesus did this both as a fulfillment of prophecy (Zechariah 9:9) and as a demonstration of the character of His kingdom. It was a spiritual kingdom, not a military kingdom. He came in peace, not war. “He did not come as a conqueror but as a messenger of peace. Saying “ Blessed is The King of Israel”: This shows that the crowd, in shouting "save now!” had in mind political salvation from the oppression of the Romans. The phrase “Daughter of Zion” is also referenced in Zech 9 as a personification of the city of Jerusalem. Jesus is fulfilling old prophecy to the letter. Those who enthusiastically welcome Jesus to Jerusalem as the “King of Israel” are some of the same people who, in a week’s time, will be crying out, “We have no king, but Caesar!” (John 19:15). Those who cry out, “Hosanna!” (Save now!) in our text, will be shouting, “He saved others. Let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, his chosen one!” (Luke 23:35). The celebration will be short lived. Their praise for Jesus will turn into condemnation when it becomes obvious he won’t be the kind of king they want.

4. Verse 16: John makes a point of telling us that the disciples do not understand the meaning of this event until after the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord. The disciples are obviously eager for our Lord to establish His kingdom quickly, as are the people (Luke 19:11 ; Acts 1:6). They are very aware of the opposition to Jesus, and of the dangers which face them in Jerusalem (John 11:7-8). They accompany Jesus to Jerusalem with fear and trepidation (John 11:16). What a shock it must have been to see what appears to be the entire city of Jerusalem welcoming Jesus (and them!) with open arms.

5. Verses 17-22. The crowds adored Jesus because they believed that the raising of Lazarus from the dead proved that Jesus could be the conquering Messiah they longed for. The popularity of Jesus was offensive to His enemies. The Pharisees said in disgust that the “whole world has gone after him.” After John records this, he mentions how some Greeks that came to worship requested a meeting with Jesus. We can assume they wanted to know more about Jesus since they heard about the miracles. Why won’t Jesus give the Greeks an audience at this time? Quite simply, because it is premature–it is not the time. It was “His time” to die on the cross of Calvary. It was not the time to begin proclaiming the gospel worldwide, with the result that many Gentiles would come to faith.

6. Verses 23-26. When Jesus hears about the request, he speaks to the crowd about his purpose. At least twice before, Jesus said that the time was not ready (John 2:4,7:6). He took this seeking interest of Gentiles as the signal that now the hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Jesus sets down an important principle: fruit bearing does not result from one’s efforts to save his life, but from one’s willing sacrifice of his life. Jesus first employs an agricultural image, which enables His audience to grasp the principle as illustrated in everyday terms. One can preserve a grain of wheat, protecting it from the elements and from corruption, but doing so will never produce a crop of wheat. On the other hand, one can place this same grain of wheat in the ground, causing it to die. The “death” of this seed will produce much fruit. Jesus speaks primarily of Himself and of His imminent death. Jesus means that He will soon die, and that by means of His death, He will produce much Life. He cannot be the Savior of the world without dying. At the “triumphal entry,” those who heralded Jesus as the “King of Israel” expected Him to “save now” (this is what “Hosanna” means). What the masses failed to grasp was that He could only save men by giving up His life. It was not our Lord’s immediate coronation and their praise that would save many, but His death. It was not His acceptance, but His rejection, that would produce “much fruit.” Jesus also points to how his followers would have to become servants like him. Anyone who strives to save his life will destroy it, so far as bearing fruit is concerned. And anyone who despises his Life in this world preserves it. Those who would follow Jesus must follow the same principle and practice as their Master. If they would serve Him, they must follow Him. To follow Him, they must do as He does. If they do so, they will not only enter His suffering and death, but they will also enter God’s favor, for the Father will honor them as He does His Son.

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