What Kind of King is Jesus? (John 12:12-50)
Are you disappointed with Jesus? Do you feel like he has let you down, because of the troubles you face. It may be a sudden illness or a chronic health condition. It may be a strained relationship. It may be a difficult marriage, or the loneliness of singleness. It may be a wayward child, or the challenge of childlessness. It may be the difficulties of growing up, whether it’s not fitting in at school or falling behind in our studies. It may be a stressful job, a difficult boss, or the anxiety of unemployment. It may be the pain and hurt we have experienced in the church. Where is the blessing Jesus promised? Isn’t He supposed to make our lives better? Is He really worth following?
Some come to Jesus expecting their best life now. They expect Him to give them success, significance, and security. They expect Him to fix their worldly problems, and to shield them from suffering or setbacks. They want prosperity in the present. Maybe this describes you. But life happens. Our cares and troubles can lead to discouragement, disappointment, disillusionment, or even despair. Will we still trust in Jesus if He does not deliver what we expect from Him?
Believe in Jesus the humble King, whom God has sent for all people.
What do we expect from Jesus? Our expectations of Him are shaped by what we think of Him. But how does what we think about Jesus line up with who He really is? How do we know if our expectations of Him are actually right? The way to find out is to hear what Jesus says about Himself in his word. In our text, Jesus reveals the kind of King He is. This is the big idea: Believe in Jesus the humble King, whom God has sent for all people. We will unpack this in three points: (1) The King is humble and gentle; (2) The King is lifted up for all people; (3) The King is rejected, though sent by God. May we know and trust in Jesus for who He truly is. He will not disappoint us.
The King is humble and gentle (Jn 12:12-19)
With the feast of Passover less than a week away, many Jews had come to Jerusalem. According to Josephus, a first-century Jewish historian, more than two million people from all over Palestine and the Mediterranean would make the pilgrimage to the festival. The Passover was rich with significance. It celebrated Israel’s exodus from Egypt, and how God had saved His people from slavery. During the exodus, every Israelite household sacrificed a lamb and applied its blood to the doorpost of their house. When the plague upon the firstborn sons in Egypt came, it passed over the homes with the blood. The blood of the lamb saved the people from God’s judgement. Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem during the Passover is no coincidence. In John 1:29, John the Baptist said this of Jesus, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” His coming signals how God is about to save His people through the ultimate sacrifice. But are the people seeking such salvation?
Excited by what they had heard and seen of Jesus, a large crowd gathers to welcome Him to Jerusalem. A part of the crowd had come with Jesus from Bethany, having been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised Him from the dead (Jn 12:17). The raising of Lazarus is the seventh of seven signs recorded in John’s Gospel. It is the culminating sign, pointing to how Jesus is “the resurrection and the life” (Jn 12:25). He has power even over life and death. The crowd was impressed, for they continued to bear witness. Word about Jesus quickly spread. Others, who heard about the miracle, also came. The crowd is excited. But what kind of king are they expecting?
During World War II, Singapore was occupied by the Japanese. After Japan surrendered, the people of Singapore lined the streets to welcome the British troops, who were seen as liberators. Something similar is happening here. Look at John 12:13. The crowd greets Jesus with palm branches, which are a national symbol of Israel. The branches represent nationalistic pride and a zeal for political independence. The crowd hopes a messiah will come to free them from Roman rule. They expect Jesus to be their liberator. They expect Him to be a king with the might to defeat Rome and the power to establish an earthly kingdom for Israel. If Jesus can raise the dead, surely He can kick the Romans out. Hence, there is great anticipation. Quoting from Psalm 118, the crowd cries out, “Hosanna!”, which means “Save us now!” The long-awaited Messiah is here. The crowd exclaims, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” Less than 200 years prior, the Jewish priest Judas Maccabeus had defeated a foreign kingdom and entered Jerusalem triumphantly on a warhorse. To the crowd, Jesus’ coming is a glorious repeat of history.
But in a surprising twist, Jesus confounds expectations. He does not give the crowd what they want. He is no people-pleaser. He rides not a majestic warhorse, but a lowly donkey. Thus, fulfilling the words of the Old Testament prophet Zechariah: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zech 9:9) Jesus cares more about keeping God’s word than bowing to the demands of popular opinion. He brings peace, not wage war.
Jesus is the gentle and humble Servant-King. He came not to be served, but to serve by laying down His life for others. He saves through self-sacrifice.
Jesus is not the kind of king the crowd is expecting. Many Jews viewed Jesus through the lenses of their nationalistic longings. They wanted a king to make their nation great again. What the Jews failed to understand is that Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world. His kingdom is not defined by race, nationality, or politics. It is a kingdom we freely receive as a gracious gift from God. We do not build the kingdom by our strength, we simply enter the kingdom through a humble trust in the King. It is by faith, not works. Jesus conquers in surprising ways — not by worldly means or might. Jesus is the gentle and humble Servant-King. He came not to be served, but to serve by laying down His life for others. He saves through self-sacrifice.
Popular opinion is fickle. In a matter of days, the crowd that welcomed Jesus will turn against Him. Do we also have the wrong expectations of Jesus? Have we made the mistake of expecting Jesus to give us what we want, rather than trusting Him to provide what we truly need? For example, many want Jesus to bless them with a happy, successful, and trouble-free life in this world. But when life gets hard, they are disappointed and walk away from Jesus. But Jesus did not come to satisfy our worldly wants. What He offers is far better, for He gives us Himself. Our sins have separated us from the holy God, who made us for His glory. Instead of worshiping of Creator, we have rebelliously lived for ourselves. The Bible calls this sin. As a result, we are far from God and deserve His judgement against us. But Jesus says to us, “Fear not.” (Jn 12:15) The King comes to save sinners, not to condemn. Will we trust Him?
Even Jesus’ disciples did not understand these things at first (Jn 12:16). Only after Jesus’ death and resurrection do they grasp the truth about him. But God is patient with them, as he is with us. We may not fully understand the truth about Jesus right away. But, like the disciples, we can listen to and remember what “has been written about him”. In other words, faith comes by hearing God’s word. This is why John wrote His Gospel: It is so that we might believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing we may have life in His name. So, ask God for help to know Jesus through His word. He is pleased to answer such prayers for faith and understanding.
This good news is for everyone. Last week, we heard how the high priest Caiaphas ironically spoke more truth than he realised when he said Jesus “should die for the people” (Jn 11:50). Indeed, Jesus will die “not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad” (Jn 11:52). Jesus will unite peoples from every language, race, culture, and nationality. In John 12:19, the jealous Pharisees are envious of Jesus’ popularity. “Look,” they complain, “the world has gone after him.” Like Caiaphas, they too speak better than they know. Jesus is indeed the Saviour of the world. This brings us to our second point: The King is lifted up for all people.
The King is lifted up for all people (Jn 12:20-36a)
Unlike the Jewish religious leaders, some Greeks wish to see Jesus (Jn 12:21). They are Gentile God-fearers, who also went up to worship at the feast (Jn 12:20). Their eagerness to learn from Jesus sharply contrasts with the Jews’ unbelief. However, these Greeks seem hesitant to approach Jesus themselves. They ask Philip, one of the 12 disciples. Maybe it’s because Philip has a Greek name and comes from Galilee, a Gentile region. Philip, in turn, speaks with Andrew and the two of them go and tell Jesus.
Jesus does not respond directly to their request. Instead, He says in John 12:23: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” It sounds like Jesus has ignored them, but He actually has not changed the subject. This is a wonderful invitation to the Greeks, assuring them that the way to God will soon be wide open to non-Jews also. In the following verses, Jesus explains how He will bring this about.
This is a key turning point in John’s Gospel. Up till now, Jesus has been saying the hour is coming. But now, the hour has finally arrived. What is “the hour”? It refers to the time of Jesus’ glorification. The mention of the Son of Man refers to Daniel 7:13-14: “There came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” The time has come for Jesus to rule over a global kingdom that includes all peoples of the world.
How will this come about? In John 12:24, we read, “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.” Unless a seed is sown, nothing can grow. There will be no harvest. Life will come through death. Jesus is thinking of His own death. He lives to die. He dies that others might live. The hour refers to Jesus’ death. His death is His glory. Now that the hour has come, the burden of what He is about to do weighs on Jesus. He says in John 12:27: Now is my soul troubled. Jesus is full of agony because He knows His death is coming and what it involves. It is His Father’s will. The religious leaders who wanted to kill Jesus meant evil against Him, but God meant it for good, to bring life through the death of His beloved Son. For this reason, despite His own agony, Jesus resolves to obey His Father, even to death. Not my will, but yours, be done, Jesus says. For this purpose I have come to this hour. God is well pleased with his Son who obeys. Look at John 12:28. The Father had spoken His approval at Jesus’ baptism and transfiguration. Once more, the Father’s voice thunders from heaven: I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again. This is for our sake—that we might believe that Jesus truly is the Son of God.
How do we know God? Only through His Son. Jesus has come to reveal the glory of the Father, as only the Son of God can. The Father has glorified his name through Jesus’ teaching and signs. He will glorify it again through Jesus’ death. The Son’s obedience glorifies His Father. His death is not a defeat, but a victory. It is the triumph of God’s grace, justice, and love. Thanks to the Son’s selfless humility, God will accomplish His plan to save sinners. What kind of death will Jesus die? He will be lifted up from the earth (Jn 12:32). Jesus will suffer a shameful, painful death on a cross. He will be hung up and nailed to a tree like a condemned criminal. God’s word says: Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree. Jesus bore the curse of sin at the cross. Not for His own sin, but for ours if we trust in Him. We have all gone astray like lost sheep. But God, in His amazing grace, sent His Son for us and for our salvation. In Isaiah 53, the Servant is “pierced for our transgressions… crushed for our iniquities”. God laid on Jesus the guilt and shame of sinners. He suffered God’s judgement and wrath in the place of all who would believe in Him. Jesus was forsaken, that we might be forgiven by God. He died that we might live.
Jesus will be glorified because of His death, not in spite of it.
But Jesus’ death is not the end of the story. In John’s Gospel, lifted up refers to Jesus’ crucifixion as well as His exaltation. Because Jesus was lifted up in shame, He will also be lifted up in glory. His humiliation will turn out to be His honour. Jesus will be glorified because of His death, not in spite of it. The sinless Suffering Servant, who dies for others, will be vindicated and declared righteous. Therefore, death has no power over him. Isaiah 52:13 says, “Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted.” Jesus is surely thinking of this verse when He speaks of being lifted up. The cross will lead to the crown.
In John 12:31-32, Jesus tells us what His death and resurrection will achieve: Now is the judgement of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. Satan, sin and death will be defeated. By dying for sin, Jesus will destroy the one who has the power of death. Death will lose its sting, for Satan no longer has grounds to accuse us. In Christ, we are right with God, completely cleansed of our sin and guilt. So, fear not, beloved. If we belong to Jesus, we have been set free from the power of Satan, sin and death. Our sins are great, but our Saviour is greater still.
Jesus will also draw all people to (himself) through his death and resurrection. Here is the heart of Jesus’ response to the Greeks who wish to see him. Jesus has come to save sinners “from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” (Rev 7:9). He will gather true worshipers into one new people of God. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, says, “I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. (Jn 10:16)” His death will result in a great harvest of the nations.
As Gentiles, the Greeks could not enter the inner court of the temple in Jerusalem. But Jesus will break down the wall that divides Jew and Gentile. He himself is the true temple of God. Hence, Gentiles like us can come freely to Jesus, who brings us all near to God. There are no second-class citizens in God’s kingdom. In Christ, Jews and Gentiles become children of God, brothers and sisters in one family of faith. Beloved, Jesus has made us one. He has bought our unity with His own blood. Therefore, let us love one another. Be a peacemaker; be slow to anger. Do not easily take offence. Patiently bear with one another. Forgive as we have been forgiven. Keep moving towards one another in love and understanding. Do not look down on others. Let the Greeks who wish to see Jesus come! Let all who seek a Saviour come to Jesus! He is ready to receive all who repent and believe in Him. May Jesus’ heart for the world draw us to Him and propel us outwards to make disciples of the nations. Jesus was lifted up to draw all people to Himself. May God help us repent of any prejudice that draws lines between us and others — the very barriers that Jesus died to remove.
How should we respond to such good news? Look at John 12:25 — “Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” Our response to Jesus must follow the pattern of his self-sacrifice. If Jesus died for us, then shouldn’t we deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him? Stop worshiping the idol of self. Repent of pride and stop putting ourselves first. Give up our self-rule and surrender ourselves to Jesus. Trust in Him and live for Him. We gain eternal life by dying to our life in this world. The way up is down. Jesus is worth it. As the missionary Jim Elliot said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” To follow Jesus is to walk in His footsteps. Listen to John 12:26 — If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honour him. As servants of the Servant, we serve rather than expecting to be served. If Jesus gave up His rights for us, how can we still be self-entitled or self-righteous? We are to die to ourselves. Do nothing from selfish ambition or pride, but in humility count others more significant than ourselves. If our Lord laid down His life for us, shouldn’t we also stoop to wash one another’s feet?
Come to Jesus now. He died and rose from the dead, never to die again. The Christ remains forever, but only through the cross. Jesus is the light of the world. Turn to Him while the light still shines. Pay heed to John 12:35-36. The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where He is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.
The King is rejected, though sent by God (Jn 12:36b-50)
The second half of John 12:36 marks a turning point in John’s Gospel. Jesus brings His public ministry to a close. It makes His words even more urgent. Friends, do not take for granted the opportunity we have to hear the gospel. We may not always be able to do so. If we continue to reject God’s word despite hearing it regularly, the light of the gospel may be removed from us. So, believe in Jesus while we have the light, lest darkness overtake us. Today, if we hear God’s word, do not harden our hearts.
Faith comes by hearing God’s word.
From this point on in John’s Gospel, Jesus no longer speaks to the crowds. Instead, He devotes Himself to His disciples until His crucifixion. In chapters 13 to 16, Jesus comforts them and prepares them for His departure. Chapter 17 records Jesus’ prayer for His followers. The turn towards focusing on His disciples follows the widespread unbelief among the Jews. Jesus is gathering a new people of God. We are the children of the light if we believe in Jesus, the light of the world. John 12:37-43 speak of the unbelief confronting Jesus. Look at John 12:37 — “Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him.” Signs do not necessarily lead to faith. Seeing is not believing. A key message in John’s Gospel is that it is better to believe by listening to Scripture. Faith comes by hearing God’s word.
The poor response to Jesus is as John 1:11 described — "He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.” Still, Jesus’ apparent lack of success is troubling. The Gentiles may be seeking Jesus, but what about the Jews? Has the Son of God failed in His mission to His own people? It might seem as though God’s promises had failed. It is a problem for us too: If God failed to keep His word to Israel, then can we expect Him to be faithful to us? John 12:38-41 make it clear that God’s plan has not failed. His word cannot be broken. The unbelief of the Jews fulfils Scripture. It is so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled (Jn 12:38). John 12:39-40 put it in even more clearly: The unbelief of the Jews is a part of God’s plan. Humans rebels against God, but God is still in control. God judges unbelief by giving people over to their sin. Friends, heed this sobering warning. If we stubbornly reject Jesus, God might give us over to what we want and choose for ourselves. I pray this will not be so for any of us! May God have mercy on us, so that we understand with (our) heart, and turn, and be healed of our sins. The prophet Isaiah saw (Jesus’) glory and spoke of Him. May God also open our eyes to behold the glory of Christ.
Brother pastors and fellow church leaders, I am thankful so many of you can join us for the Weekender. Some of us labour in hard places where we’re constantly confronted with unbelief and spiritual darkness. Beloved, I pray we will not grow weary in the work of the gospel. Jesus faced unbelief in his ministry too. We can trust that God is still faithfully working out his salvation plan for the world. As Romans 11 reveals, according to God’s wisdom and knowledge, the unbelief of the Jews means “riches for the world”. The gospel will go out to the Gentiles, so as to make the Jews jealous. And, in this way, all Israel shall be saved. To God be glory forever!
How should we respond to Jesus now? Do not be ashamed of Him, as some of the Jewish authorities were in John 12:42. Believe in Jesus and confess it. Go public with our faith. Believe and be baptised. A secret “faith” might not be true faith at all. Fear God, not man. Do we love the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God? Would we rather have the approval of the Creator and Judge of all creation, or that of this world, which is passing away?
What kind of King is Jesus? Do we have the right expectations of Him? It is vital that we believe in Jesus for who he truly is. In John 12:44-50, Jesus sums up what He has revealed about Himself. Jesus is the Son sent by God to make Him known (Jn 12:44-45). Apart from Jesus, there is no other way for us to come to God. Jesus is also the light of the world (Jn 12:46). Only Jesus can rescue us from the darkness of sin and death. Jesus is the Word made flesh, who perfectly obeys and speaks for His Heavenly Father. Listen to Jesus, for only he has the words of eternal life (Jn 12:49-50). Each one of us will have to answer to God for whether or not we have believed in his Son. His word will judge us. Hear what Jesus says in John 12:48: “The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.” So, believe in Jesus the humble King, whom God has sent for all people.