Devotion 2.11/63: John 12:13: Save us!

Presented to the River Street Cafe, 06 April 2016

Read John 12:12-19[1]

Hosanna means ‘O Save!’, ‘Salvation!’, ‘Save us!’ Jesus is triumphantly entering the historic capital of Judah – which is occupied by the Romans and people are saying, ‘Jesus! You are our rightful king! Jesus, you – not Caesar, not the Romans, not the chief priests, not the rich, not the powerful elite – Jesus, you are our King; save us from Rome; save us from our leaders!’ Hosanna. Save us!

While shouting ‘Save us’ they are waving palm branches. The crowds didn’t just pick up palm branches because they happen to be near-by; they pick up palm branches because palm branches are a nationalist symbol (cf. 1 Mac 13:51, 2 Mac 10:7; cf. also Lv 23:40, Ps 92:12, Mt 21:8; Mk 11:8). It would be like if Canada was seeking independence and we were waving maple leaves or flags with the maple leaf on it – everyone recognises that as a symbol of Canada.

The people are yelling ‘save us’, waving nationalist symbols, and Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey: a donkey is not a war horse, it is an ambassador’s mount. It is an animal of peace (cf. Gn 49:10-11, Is 40:9, 44:2)! The Romans claimed that their wars brought the ‘Pax Romana’, the Roman Peace, but John here is pointing out that Jesus – not Caesar – is the Prince of Peace. Jesus is King of the Jews and more than that Jesus is King of the World!

These are exciting times. Jesus’ riding into Jerusalem at this time and place in history is his ‘crossing the Rubicon’. There is no turning back. And this is what Palm Sunday is: Palm Sunday is the point of no turning back. Jesus is marching into the capital to great fanfare and we can celebrate this moment even here today. We can cast ourselves alongside the men, women and children watching the parade and cheering as our King rides into town. This is a bigger deal than anything that has ever happened to that point in time. This moment in our text is a moment when the world recognizes the arrival of the one whom, as Isaiah 9:6-7 declares, “The government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever! The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this!”

Praise the Lord. In out text today it is Palm Sunday and Palm Sunday is a day of celebration because Jesus is King (President/ Prime Minister)! Do you believe that? Do you serve Him?

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[1] Based on the sermon by Captain Michael Ramsay, John 12:12-19: St. John’s Palm Reading. Presented to Corps 614 Regent Park Toronto, Palm Sunday, 20 March 2016