John 12:12-19
The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! ” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him. Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”
To fully understand todays scripture, you may want to start at Zechariah 9:9. Over 500 years before Jesus was even born, Zechariah aptly described the scene we now refer to as Palm Sunday. And not only did Zechariah envision Palm Sunday, he prophesied the coming Kingdom of our Lord in its power and might. Although the events of his predictions are not linear or date specific, there’s no doubt that they all have or will someday happen.
This however begs the question, “Why?” Why the lapse of time between the prediction and fruition of the promise. Why would the King of Glory be relegated to riding a donkey instead of a powerful white horse (like in the movies). Why did Jesus come into Jerusalem with such fanfare and promise, only to be murdered before the week was out?
Let’s be honest, we already know only one person can answer questions of this magnitude. We have to take these questions to the Lord and pray we like His answer. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been in circumstances where I’ve questioned God. I used the best logic I could. I mustered up all the tears I could and pouted as deeply as possible to make my very valid and well thought out point, only to have God pay me no attention. Even worse, have you ever been in a situation where He kindly, calmly, without ambiguity replies, “because I said so”? When you’re in an emotional state, ‘because I said so’ is the last thing you want to hear.
Though it may sound unreasonable, there’s a simple explanation for the curt response from the Lord. He knows, and we don’t. His knowledge base is inexhaustible and ours, severely limited. While we use intuition, conjecture and speculation to deem the correctness of our actions, God uses eternal knowledge. Unlike us, God does not use logic to determine right or wrong. He uses legislation, because in every situation, He has the final say.
I’m reminded of Job and how he challenged the Sovereignty of God in his inquisition concerning his treatment as a just and kind man. Without apology or explanation God began to remind them of who He actually was. Job 38 - Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. And with many other questions did God grill Job.
But Job wasn’t the last person to question the plan of God. Even Christ in his grief and anguish prayed to the Father to change His plan and let the test of the cross pass by. But the Father didn’t budge. And He never will. God doesn’t make decisions, He enforces the laws He already made. And with that we have no choice but to yield and declare, not my will but Thy will be done.
But don’t lose heart. His sovereign will not only extends to you, but to everyone and everything. And by everything I’m including every enemy, sickness, disease, demon, devil or adversary you ever have. While you and I are subject to the will of God, so are our sicknesses. The reason some of us are still alive is not because of doctors, science or technology, it’s because God said so. The reason some of us haven’t lost our minds, our jobs, our family and friends is not because we are wonderful people. It’s only because God said so. And the reason why you are still holding on to God’s hand, believing, trusting and rejoicing is simply because God said so.
God bless
