Like the caterpillar that transforms into a beautiful butterfly, we are changed when we accept Jesus in our heart. This day with God, we seek to understand and help others understand the Way taught by Jesus. Because of Jesus, we have been given the opportunity to let God’s Spirit live inside to guide.

Today as we focus on the passage John 12:12-19, we note the growth in the number of people who began to believe in Jesus. Many gathered for the Passover festival in Jerusalem. There was the hope that Jesus would be there, so a crowd gathered in the temple courts to meet Jesus.

Jesus was in their thoughts, and they knew what Jesus could do. He had turned water into wine (John 2), healed the nobleman’s son (John 4), healed the man at the pool (John 5), fed the 5,000 (John 6), walked on water (John 6), healed a man born blind (John 9), and raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11).

They had heard about or even seen these miracles as Jesus put in the effort to care for people. He was passionate about His purpose and taught people about how to live.

Jesus was interesting and His inspiring teachings along with His actions motivated the people towards improvement of their situation in life. For these same reasons, many continue to be drawn to Jesus to improve their life now and for eternity.

The crowd grew as the word spread. They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting (v.13).

“Hosanna!

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

“Blessed is the king of Israel!”

Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it.

“Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion:

   See, your king is coming,

   Seated on a donkey’s colt.”

Only after Jesus had surrendered all to accomplish His call on the cross do the disciples understand the significance of the event for it fulfilled the prophecy as written in Zechariah 9:9.

On the other hand, the Pharisees reacted to the event differently. They wanted to kill Lazurus as well as Jesus because they despised their popularity. A good portion of the people were beginning to believe Jesus was King. The Pharisees believed the Romans would be threatened by Jesus who they began to call “King of the Jews” and take away their temple and their nation.

Lord, we live in gratitude for each day. Your love demonstrated on the Cross tells us we are Your treasure beyond measure. In this world, there is bitterness, hate, anger, and envy which block us from being all that we can be. By accepting what You did on the Cross, we have the Spirit inside to guide. What we thought was undoable by ourselves is now unstoppable with You. Day by day, we step ahead being changed into who You want us to be. For all these reasons, we praise you again and again … Amen.

Photo Source – “Bing.” Microsoft. N.p., n.d. Web. Images >.