Why did the crowd go to meet Jesus according to John 12:18? Setting the Scene John 12 finds Jesus entering Jerusalem just days before His crucifixion. Word has spread like wildfire about His most recent, jaw-dropping miracle. Key Verse “That is also why the crowd went out to meet Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign.” (John 12:18) What “this sign” Was • John 11:43-44 – Jesus called, “Lazarus, come out!” and a man four days dead walked from the tomb. • The resurrection of Lazarus was public, undeniable, and in the very suburb of Jerusalem (Bethany), making it impossible to ignore. Why the Crowd Flocked to Jesus • They “heard” (John 12:18) – testimony about the miracle spread by eyewitnesses (John 12:17). • They wanted personal confirmation: seeing Lazarus alive and Jesus in person proved the miracle was genuine (John 12:9). • Messianic expectation – Zechariah 9:9 foretold Israel’s King riding a colt. The miracle added weight to Jesus’ Messianic claim and stirred national excitement. • Curiosity turned to hopeful anticipation; raising the dead signaled divine authority unrivaled since the prophets (cf. 1 Kings 17:22; 2 Kings 4:34-35). Other Scriptural Echoes • John 2:23 – “Many believed in His name when they saw the signs He was doing.” • John 20:30-31 – Signs were recorded “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.” • Luke 7:16 – After Jesus raised the widow’s son, “Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, … ‘God has visited His people!’” Take-Home Truths • Jesus’ miracles were not random; they authenticated His deity and His mission. • Eyewitness testimony matters—hearing leads to seeking, and seeking leads to meeting the Savior. • The same Jesus who called Lazarus forth still calls hearts to life today (John 5:25). The crowd gathered because they could not stay away from the One who holds power over death. |
    |