⁹ 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.

¹² 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. ¹⁸The 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.”

Reflection Questions

John 12:9-11, 17-19
• Think about the absurdity of the chief priests’ plan to put Lazarus to death. What does this reveal about people’s relationship to truth?

John 12:12-19
“Hosanna” is a Hebrew expression meaning literally “Save now!” It may be interpreted as a plea for immediate action on the part of the king (John 12:13).”
“There is no doubt at all that Jesus’ claim was a messianic claim. […] The point is that a king came riding upon a horse when he was bent on war; he came riding upon [a donkey] when he was coming in peace. This action of Jesus is a sign that he was not the warrior figure men dreamed of, but the Prince of Peace. No one saw it at that time, not even the disciples, who should have known so much better.”

• When the crowd cried out what they did in v.13, what picture did they have in mind of who Jesus was and what he would do?

• How would their expectations of Jesus have overshadowed the truth of who he was and what he came to save people from?

• Am I interested in Jesus more for solving my life problems than for finding peace with God?

• When were the disciples able to understand fully all that was taking place?

• Why is the death and resurrection of Jesus the key to understanding the person of Jesus?