Government of Jesus

"John 12:12-36

Are you troubled by something you are facing? Are you distressed by some trial in your life? If you are, you have a leader who understands. Jesus said ‘my soul is troubled and distressed’ (v.27a, AMP).

Jesus gives us a model of how to respond to suffering in our lives and to a suffering world. Then, as now, was a time of crisis. Jesus said, ‘the world is in crisis’ (v.30, MSG).

At the time of the Feast of Passover, ‘the great crowd’ came to Jerusalem (v.12). Josephus estimated that around 2.7 million people would assemble. This may well be an exaggeration. Nevertheless, it was a massive festival and there must have been a great sense of excitement and expectation.

At the time of Jesus, people were awaiting the Messiah. They were looking for a human king, in the line of David, who would free them from their oppressors. As Jesus enters Jerusalem he is seen to be that king: ‘Blessed is the King of Israel!’ (v.13b). The crowd probably saw Jesus as a military king and were hoping for an immediate liberation from Roman rule.

Then, as now, there were different attitudes to the government. The Pharisees (v.19) took the view that Roman occupation, oppressive though it might be, must be endured until God removed it. The Sadducees favoured cooperation with the government. The Zealots were the most popular with the people. They wanted a violent revolt led by a messianic king.

Jesus is indeed the King. But he did not ride into Jerusalem on a stallion. He came in humility on a donkey. He is a different type of leader: ‘See, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt’ (v.15b). He is the messianic king but not a military one. This acted parable was designed to correct the misguided expectations of the crowds and show the city of Jerusalem the way of peace.

He came as the victorious King – not by doing violence to the oppressors but by having violence done to him. He says, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified’ (v.23) – and yet he is talking about the cross. “I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die’ (vv.32–33).

We see an insight here into the inner struggle in Jesus’ heart as he faces his imminent trial, suffering and death. ‘Now my heart is troubled and what shall I say? “Father, save me from this hour”? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!’ (vv.27–28a).

The victory of Jesus came not through military force but through his self-sacrificial death, which defeated the demonic powers (v.31). The death of Jesus signifies judgment on the world, the overthrow of evil, the glorification of Jesus and a drawing of all people to him.

Here, indeed, was a different kind of victorious king. Jesus not only fulfilled the prophecies about the messianic King, he also fulfilled the prophecies about the suffering servant. He brought the two lines of prophecy together.

One day Jesus will return as the triumphant King to rule and reign for all eternity. In the meantime, we are called to be light in the darkness. If you live under the leadership of Jesus ‘then the light will be within you, and shining through your lives. You’ll be children of light’ (36, MSG).

Lord, thank you for the example of leadership through humility and self-sacrifice. Help me to serve you in such a way that my life brings light to a dark world."

1. Lord, thank You for always instilling in my heart to bring light.

2. Praise God for keeping my busy, and a good kind of busy at that. 

3. Thank You, Lord, for short but happy moments.