The Triumphal Entry (John 12:12-19) To Begin Have you ever met a celebrity? What was it like? Digging Deeper Read John 12:12-19. Jesus public ministry is coming to an end. In John 12, we read of Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem. This event is in all four gospels which helps us understand the importance of this occasion. Let s dig in. Starting in verse 12, we read that there was a great crowd. These people have come to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of Passover. John focuses in on the great crowd and their reaction to Jesus. Many of these people had heard or even witnessed Jesus ministry and were excited to proclaim him as the Messiah. As Jesus approached Jerusalem on a donkey, people began placing palm branches on the ground before him. Their messiah, their king had arrived and the people couldn t be more ecstatic. The cry of Hosanna! is an Aramaic phrase meaning Save us now! and occurs in a number of the psalms, especially in Psalm 118:25. The closing words of verse 13 continue to quote from Psalm 118:26 and announce a blessing. The people who are calling Jesus king likely think that He has come to save them from foreign oppression and will fight on their behalf.
How often do we expect God to do something, and he does something totally different? How often do you think we misunderstand what God is doing? What can we do differently to listen and follow God s leading? Why was it important for Jesus to choose a donkey? Read Zechariah 9:9 aloud. By riding in on a donkey, Jesus fulfilled Zechariah s prophecy found in 9:9 as quoted in John 12:15. The triumphant king is humble, riding on a donkey. This humble king is not a man of battle chariots, warhorses, and weapons but a king who will bring peace to the nations. What s so important about this triumphal entry? Triumphal entries were common in the ancient world. When John says that the crowd went out to meet him, this is a common expression used for cities meeting their triumphant, returning king. They were a people under oppression and their king was coming to save them. What do you think the crowds, the disciples, and the Jewish religious leaders were feeling? What about one week later? Had you had been there, use one word to describe how you would have been feeling? John concludes this part of his story in verse 16-19 with a closing section. It s interesting to note that not only do the crowds fail to understand the true nature of Jesus entry, but the disciples misunderstand the deeper meaning of his entry too. They did
not understand the deeper meaning of the triumphal entry until Jesus was gloried and they were filled with God s Spirit. What has convinced you that Jesus is your King? What is the best thing that you ve seen about the type of King that he is? What does your worship look like towards Jesus today? What is the Holy Spirit challenging you with through this passage? Praise & Prayer Points
Resurrected Relationships (John 20:1-18; 24-29; John 21:15-19) To Begin Growing up, what was your favourite thing about Easter? Digging Deeper Read John 20:1-18. In this passage, we read about Mary Magdalene, a devout follower of Jesus. Mary has come a long way in her journey with Jesus. At one point she was demon possessed and then she met Jesus and became a woman full of freedom and hope. As she watched Jesus die on the cross, her hopes are destroyed. How could this be? She is having a very difficult time saying good bye to her much loved friend and teacher. However, her sorrow is turned into joy when she discovers that the tomb is empty! After his resurrection Jesus appears to her and calls her by name, Mary and everything changes. From this point forward there is nothing that can reverse the Good News for Mary. She is secure in her joy. We all have experienced sorrow at one point or another. The resurrection is a reminder that sorrow and grief will not have the last word. How do you think Mary was feeling after Jesus death? What do you think motivated her to go to the tomb? How has Jesus spoken your name in a time of grief or trouble? What effect did it have on you? Has your life been more like the darkness of Good Friday or the joy of Easter, or somewhere in between?
Continuing reading through John 20:24-29 In this passage, we read about Thomas and his spiritual struggle and doubts. Maybe you ve heard him before referred to as Doubting Thomas. When Jesus first appeared to the disciples, Thomas was not in the room. He didn t believe that Jesus was alive and this lead to a very pessimistic attitude around those that had seen Jesus. He simply refused to believe that Jesus was alive. Thomas has followed Jesus all the way, but obviously struggled to believe something he couldn t see for himself. However, Jesus does not judge him for his guarded response. Instead he singles him out and says, Don t be faithless any longer. Believe! The resurrection requires a response of faith from everyone, even those who struggles with doubt. Jesus offers compelling evidence for the skeptic and lovingly invites all of us into a relationship of belief. Jesus leaves us with a blessing, Blessed are those who believe without seeing me. What would convince you to believe that someone really came back from the dead? When you have struggles and doubts in your faith, what have you found helpful? How would you describe your spiritual life right now? Read John 21:15-19. This defining moment for Peter comes at a time after he d failed Jesus. Peter hated failure and did everything within his power to prove himself to Jesus. In a moment of weakness, he denied
every knowing Jesus not once but three times. After Jesus resurrection, he clearly goes out of his way to restore Peter. In verse 19, Jesus restores Peter with the following words, Follow me. These are the same words Peter heard on the beach three years earlier. Many people struggle with shame believing that their failure separates them from the love of God. However, in Jesus we discover that God never lets failure and disappointment have the final word. Jesus invites us to confidently journey with him even in the midst of our brokenness. Will you follow him? How would you have felt after Jesus asked you three times if you loved him? Whom do you know who needs to feel forgiven by God? How can you share about God s forgiveness through Jesus with them? What is the closest you have come to giving up and going back to your old way of life? How did Jesus meet you in this experience and bring you back? If Jesus showed up today and asked you to go eat with him, what would he want to talk to you about? What is the Holy Spirit challenging you with through these passages? Praise & Prayer Points