In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 12:9-16 [HCSB])

9 Then a large crowd of the Jews learned He was there. They came not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus the one He had raised from the dead.

10 Therefore the chief priests decided to kill Lazarus also

11 because he was the reason many of the Jews were deserting them and believing in Jesus.

12 The next day, when the large crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 they took palm branches and went out to meet Him. They kept shouting:

“Hosanna! He who comes in the name of the Lord is the blessed One the King of Israel! ” *

14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written:

15 Fear no more, Daughter Zion. Look, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.*

16 His disciples did not understand these things at first. However, when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.

Kill Lazarus, too?

Jesus gave everyone an equal opportunity to find fault with Him. He did not make people hate more than they already hated, nor fear more than they already feared, but He did galvanize those against Him in a way that guaranteed His journey to the cross. He became a spiritual lightning rod which undoubtedly worked in Lazarus’ favor.

The Seventh sign had not only put Jesus in danger, but Lazarus was as well; though there is no evidence that Lazarus was ever apprehended or punished. He remained, however, living proof of the supernatural power of Jesus.

It was now painfully clear to the religious elite that Jesus was no ordinary magician or seer. What He did went far beyond mere showmanship … and there were witnesses! This miracle of raising the dead openly refuted the belief of the Sadducees that there was no resurrection. If Jesus had not been on their radar before this event, He certainly was afterward.

The mold was set, the course was charted, and Jesus was no longer denying prophecy or avoiding praises. By riding into Jerusalem on a donkey’s colt, He fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah (putting the Pharisees on notice) and was even lauded from the Psalms of King David. The mantle of the Messiah was placed upon Him as though it were conferred by David Himself.

There was no turning back.

John says that while the Disciples did not yet understand the things Jesus did, in retrospect they could see that everything he had told them had come true. We can assume that this was a revelation to John, as well.

* Psalm 118:26 (verse 13)

* Zechariah 9:9 (verse 15)