Simo Frestadius
Palm Sunday: ‘Behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt’
Jesus is welcomed as the King of Israel, who comes in the name of the Lord.
Reading
John 12:12-19
Thoughts
As Jesus was coming to Jerusalem people picked up branches of palm trees and cried out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’ (John. 12:13).
In the time of Jesus, ‘Hosanna’ was as an acclamation of praise, but initially this word – which comes from Aramaic and Hebrew – was used as a prayer for help and can be translated as ‘(please) save.’
In John’s portrayal of Jesus approaching Jerusalem there is an underlying sense of the crowd both praising and calling for Jesus to save them. Indeed, Jesus is welcomed as ‘the King of Israel’ who comes in ‘the name of the Lord’.
So, what kind of King were the crowd expecting? The branches of palm trees might give us a clue.
Almost two hundred years before Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, the Jewish nationalistic and military leaders Judas and Simon Maccabeus had liberated the temple and Jerusalem from occupying forces.
On both occasions palms and their branches had been carried as signs of military conquest. It is likely that the people who were now welcoming Jesus with their palm branches desired a similar nationalistic saviour who would throw out the Roman occupiers.
In response to this seemingly nationalistic expectation, Jesus performs a prophetic action by finding a young donkey and sitting on it (John. 12:14).
Matthew’s Gospel emphasises the humility of Jesus, the King of Israel, sitting on a donkey as he comes to save (Matthew. 21:5).
In John’s Gospel, the focus is more on the universal nature of Jesus’ saving action.
Interestingly, as well as ironically, at the end of this passage the Pharisees remark that ‘the world has gone after him [Jesus]’ (John. 12:19).
Just as in the previous chapter the high priest Caiaphas had prophetically, and unknowingly, proclaimed how Jesus would die for the nation and for those who are ‘abroad’ (John. 11:49-52).
Again, the Jewish leaders in John’s Gospel seem to unwittingly proclaim theological truth.
In other words, Jesus is not just the saviour of one nation, but the saviour of the whole world. This means that both who and how Jesus saves is beyond the expectation of the crowd.
Application
As the saviour of the whole world, Jesus is not just my saviour that fulfils my interests, my way and in my time.
Of course, he is also my saviour, but with Jesus things are not always what they seem. Even ‘his [first] disciples did not understand these things at first’ (John. 12:16).
Today, as you thank Jesus for being your saviour, allow him to expand your understanding of salvation.
Invite him to surprise you, as you behold your king ‘coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt’ (John. 12:15).
As you pray for particular issues and people, don't just welcome Jesus’ saving activity, but let Christ also shape the desired outcomes of your prayers.
May you desire Jesus and his Kingdom.
Prayers
Jesus, thank you for being our saviour and coming king.
‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel’ (John. 12:13) and the King of the whole world.
Save us in your way and for your purposes. Amen.
Revd Dr Simo Frestadius is Dean of Research and Executive Director of the Institute for Pentecostal Theology at Regents Theological College. Regents is at the heart of the Elim Churches training programmes, and has been releasing people into ministry and mission for over 95 years.
These daily thoughts and responses are part of a series of eight by members of the Regents faculty covering Holy Week 2022. They were written with the idea that they can be to used as a personal reflection over Easter, or with home groups, and also as part of a wider church ministry.
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