"The Palm Sunday Plot" - Dr. Gary Cass

THE PALM SUNDAY PLOT
John 12:9-23:
Palm Sunday 2022

No one to this day has been able to falsify the events of Holy Week, but it has not been for lack of trying.

Both time and eternity are divided by this singularly Holy Week.

I. PLOTTING FROM BEHIND THE SCENES

Vss.9-11; When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

John 11:4:  This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.

Resurrection Life is uniquely at work in the person of Christ.

Jesus came to defeat our last enemy: death.

John 10:10; The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I [Jesus] came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

In the most remarkable way God is about to put these wicked conspirators in checkmate.

II.  THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD PROCESSION

Vss.12-19: The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, 15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” 16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. 17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”

Ps 24:7-10: Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle! Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah.

The palm branch was their national symbol.

Ps 118:25-26: O LORD, save us, we pray. We beseech You, O LORD, cause us to prosper! 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.

“Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” from Zech 9:9:

Gen 49:10-11: The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his. He ties his donkey to the vine, his colt to the choicest branch…

Jesus wept because they didn’t get it. They didn’t understand the breadcrumbs that Jesus had left for them. It was only after Jesus’s resurrection that the disciples put the pieces of the puzzle together and understood what God’s plan was through Jesus.

Luke 19:41-44: And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But … you did not know the time of your visitation.”

The peace of Christ is spiritual & eternal, ultimate & everlasting, it is peace with God.

Ps 89:14: Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.

If we will ever see the world transformed, it must begin with individuals.

The day Jesus entered Jerusalem was called, “lamb selection day”.

Ex 12:3,6; … on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household… Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight.

Jesus rode into the city offering Himself as the One True and sinless Lamb of God.

III. THE PLOT COMES TOGETHER

Vss.20-23: Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

Contrary to Jesus’ prior accessibility, Jesus does not meet with these Greeks. The Greeks were the thinkers of that day and often proud of their logic. They probably came with false motives (intellectual curiosity). Perhaps they came to interview Jesus. Instead of accommodating the Greeks, Jesus answers with the actions ahead of him. The answer is in John 12:24   Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

Don’t presume to come to Christ as if He is on trial in your courtroom!

The city that killed the prophets is now the city that kills the Son.

Isa 53:4-5; Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

Christ’s glory will come through His sufferings, suffering we deserved He took upon himself.

Vs.24: Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

[Notes in green by listener.]