Though it’s difficult
to conceive of this, Jesus was perceived as something of a corruptor of the
people and a subverter of faith and practice. Thus, those that followed
Him, who believed in Him as the Messiah, and who thus began mimicking His
practices---especially in the area of table fellowship with “sinners”,
interaction with Gentiles, involvement with those that were ritually unclean,
and general acceptance of all who were considered to be outside of the bounds
of covenant---would invoke the anger of Israel’s God and delay His long-awaited
entrance into history to work on behalf of His covenant people.
As far as many were
concerned, especially the Chief Priest and Pharisees, if more and more people
began to disregard the works of the law (covenant markers that identified those
holding to the covenant of the Creator God in thankful response) that were then
in place and somewhat stridently enforced, then all that would result would be
the extension of the curse of their God under which they continued to find
themselves, as they were in exile from their God’s promises to them. That exile was primarily evidenced by the
fact that they were ruled by a foreign power (Rome), in accordance with the
clear enunciation of curses to be found in the Torah (in both Deuteronomy and
Leviticus).
Generally, this would
have been the attitude that would have been adopted by the Pharisee Saul, as
before his “conversion,” he was, according to his own testimony, doing
everything in his power to stamp out the pestilent heresy (the crucified man
from Nazareth was resurrected and was the Messiah) that was serving to drive
the people of Israel away from the keeping of the required marks of covenant
(remember, these were not good works designed to earn their God’s favor so that
they could be saved and go to heaven when they die), and thus delaying their God’s
redeeming action (deliverance, exodus).
Continuing on in
chapter twelve of John, subsequent to the raising of Lazarus and the return to
Bethany, the reader learns that “The next day the large crowd that had come to
the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem” (12:12). Part of this
great crowd, of course, consisted of those that were causing great consternation
amongst the chief priests and Pharisees---specifically, those that “were going
away and believing in Jesus” (12:11b). By way of reminder, they were
believing in Jesus in these great numbers because of the knowledge that Jesus
had raised Lazarus from the dead.
This belief was
foundational in the growing movement towards that which was going to show forth
the Creator God’s glory. This crowd “took branches of palm trees and went
out to meet Him. They began to shout, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is the One
Who comes in the Name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!’”
(12:13) This was a large-scale messianic confession. This was a
widespread identification with Jesus’ kingdom movement. Significantly, this
was being done openly, before both Jewish leaders and Roman officials.
As if that was not
enough, “Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, ‘Do
not be afraid, people of Zion; look, your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s
colt!’” (12:14-15) Why is it significant that this was being done in
front of both Jewish leaders and Roman officials? Well, in chapter
eleven, following Lazarus’ raising, in acknowledgement that Jesus was
“performing many miraculous signs” (11:47b), the Jewish council had already
said, “If we allow Him to go on in this way, everyone will believe in Him, and
the Romans will come and take away our sanctuary and our nation” (11:48).
This reminds the reader that there had been other messianic claimants that had
risen up, movements that had gained some small measure of popular support, and
had been subsequently put down by the Romans.
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