John 12:12-50 | What's the connection?

As we highlight connections in this passage, I want to look at what the people are crying out during the triumphal entry of Jesus. They are proclaiming a Psalm of Ascent, Psalm 118.

    25      Save now, I pray, O LORD;
    O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity.
    26      Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!
    We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.
-Psalm 118:25-26

As stated previously, the people were believing that Jesus was going to over throw the Roman empire. They would not just greet everyone with waving palm branches and proclaiming what they are proclaiming. They were getting a savior and they were rejoicing over that.

Even though they expected a savior, they did not know what kind they would get at that. As is typical among Israel, they are looking at things with the wrong perspective. Jesus did enter in to save them and over throw the powers of darkness. He just was not establishing a physical rule and reign. The irony of the passage they are proclaiming is what comes before it.

    22      The stone which the builders rejected
    Has become the chief cornerstone.
    23      This was the LORD’s doing;
    It is marvelous in our eyes.
    24      This is the day the LORD has made;
    We will rejoice and be glad in it.
-Psalm 118:22-24

The irony here is that this is the passage quoted throughout the New Testament to describe what happened with Jesus. He was the stone that the builders rejected. He became the chief cornerstone. Yet again, the people were not looking for that fulfillment, just the fulfillment of what they had hoped to see.

How many times does that happen with our prayer requests? We have an expectation that the Lord will work a certain way, and when He doesn't work that way, we take offense or hurt with the Lord. It is just interesting.

Regardless, it is apparent that the people truly had no idea what they were getting with the Messiah. A king was welcomed in, but you will see what happens when He does not do precisely what they wanted Him to do.

What connections are you making here?