Not By Accident
John 12:12 - 19
The Triumphal Entry
[also found in: Matt. 21:1–9 ; Mark 11:1–10 ; Luke 19:29–38]
12 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out:
“ Hosanna! ‘ Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! ’
The King of Israel! ”
14 Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:
15(Zech. 9:9)“ 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 were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.
17 Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness.
18 For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign.
19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “ You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him! ”
Introduction:
Ø The waving of Palm Branches or Fronds as they are properly called was not and accident.
Ø It was not something that “just happened”
Ø It was an intentional demonstration.
Ø There are several reasons why Palm Branches (Fronds) were used:
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1. Palms Were A Symbol Of Life
A. An Oasis – usually water was present where Palm Trees were
B. The first mention of Palm Trees spoke of water as well:
Exodus 15:27 (NKJV) Then they (the children of Israel) came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters.
C. The Children of Israel entered the promised land through
Jericho – the “City of Palms”
2. Palms Were A Symbol Of Provision
A. Hugh fronds provided shade from the hot sun
B. The date was a source of food
C. Hundred’s of products were provided by the Palm Tree:
o Lumber; Rope; Medicine; Drink; Roofing for homes; etc.
o In fact, Hundreds of products were/are made from the Palm Tree
3. Palms Were A Symbol Of Victory
A. The Egyptians used the palm branch at times of victory
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B. The Roman traditionally placed palm fronds in the path of
conquerors as they returned to their cities after their victory
over the enemy.
C. The Romans would also wave branches to welcome their
triumphant war heroes back into the city
4. Palms Were A Symbol Of Resurrection
A. Ancient Egyptians placed palm branches on their coffins and
mummies
1) Because the palm tree lived so long, they associated it
with eternity
2) Because it grew so tall and straight up they saw a symbol
of reaching into the heavens where the “gods” were.
B. Christian Martyrs are depicted by ancient Christian artist with
palms in their hands
C. John the Revelator saw a scene before the throne of God that
describes those who came out of great tribulation
Revelation 7:9-17 (NKJV)
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
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12 saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen."
13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?"
14 And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.
16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat;
17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
5. Palms Were A Symbol Of Celebration
A. The scene in Heaven that John saw in Revelation 7 was also a
time of celebration.
1) They were waving their palm branches shouting,
“Salvation” unto God.
2) They didn’t hunger or thirst any more and were not crying
any longer.
B. The Children of Israel in the text did not have John’s
Revelation, BUT they did have the writings of Moses which told them in Leviticus 23 to use palm branches during the Feast of Tabernacles and REJOICE before the Lord.
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Leviticus 23:36-41 (NKJV)
36 For seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation, and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. It is a sacred assembly, and you shall do no customary work on it.
37 These are the feasts of the Lord which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to the Lord, a burnt offering and a grain offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, everything on its day--
38 besides the Sabbaths of the Lord, besides your gifts, besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill offerings which you give to the Lord.
39 'Also on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep the feast of the Lord for seven days; on the first day there shall be a sabbath-rest, and on the eighth day a sabbath-rest.
40 And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days.
41 You shall keep it as a feast to the Lord for seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations. You shall celebrate it in the seventh month.
Conclusion:
Ø They Had Reasons To Rejoice!
Ø This day was not an accident.
1. Palms Were A Symbol Of Life
2. Palms Were A Symbol Of Provision
3. Palms Were A Symbol Of Victory
4. Palms Were A Symbol Of Resurrection
5. Palms Were A Symbol Of Celebration
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Lazarus (in the text) was really rejoicing. He was dead for four days - BUT - Now He is alive. He has got the whole city in an uproar…..
Nicodemus who first came by night is now in the light…..
Bartimaeus who was blind and cried, “Thou Son of David have mercy on me” is now crying “Hosanna, I once was blind but now I see……”
The Man who once was carried in his bed because his palsy was so great now stands in the crowd waving both hands filled with palm branches.
I see a group of ten men in the MIDDLE of the crowd who once had to scream “Unclean, Unclean!” now are screaming, “Hosanna, now we are clean, we are healed, No More Leprosy!”
I see a teenage girl with her father Jarius…………..
I see a middle age woman standing straight and tall waving her palm branch and declaring, “I only touched the hem of His garment. Look at me now……….”
I see a short, little man pushing through the crowd into the street. Zacchaeus was declaring, “Hosanna, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord….”
I see a nicely dressed man with a child on his shoulder holding his wife’s hand. He is screaming, “Jesus, do you remember me? I’m the man from the tombs. Look, this is my family…………..”
I see a lady evangelist. She has a good portion of her converts with her. She declares, “Jesus, I’m the lady at the well in Samaria! You’re right, I’m not thirsty for the sins of the flesh any longer…………”