Blessed Is He Who Comes In The Name of The Lord
A Reflection On John 12:1-18
Six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazaros was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; Martha served, and Lazaros was one of those at table with him. Mary took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was to betray him), said “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box he used to take what was put into it. Jesus said, “Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of my burial. The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”
When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came, not only on account of Jesus but also to see Lazaros, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazaros also to death, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.
The next day a great crowd who had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” And Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it; as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” His disciples did not understand this at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that this had been written of him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazaros out of the tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign.
John 12:1-18
Yesterday marked the end of Great Lent, and today, with Lazarus Saturday and tomorrow Palm Sunday, we observe key moments that foreshadow Christ’s Passion and Resurrection. These events help us understand their profound meaning and prepare us to receive the risen Lord on Pascha.
In the Gospel of Palm Sunday, taken from St. John, we hear two accounts that reflect the aftermath of the previous day’s raising of Lazarus and foreshadow what is to come: the Passion and Resurrection of our Lord.
Six days before Passover, we are told that Jesus comes to Bethany and dines with Lazarus and his family after raising him from the dead. During this meal, Martha serves, while Mary, the second of Lazarus’ sisters, takes a pound of costly ointment and anoints His feet, wiping them with her hair, filling the house with its fragrance.
To make matters more complex, John tells us that Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples (he who was to betray Him), criticizes this act, asking, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” John further adds, “This he said, not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box he used to take what was put into it.”
This exchange may seem puzzling. Why is this woman anointing Him and wiping His feet with her hair? And why is Judas’ corruption emphasized? The key lies in the words of our Lord: “Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of my burial. The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”
In Mary’s humility, we see the posture with which we are called to approach Christ. Her reverence prefigures His Passion, burial, and Resurrection. Her act of devotion invites us to reflect on our own sincerity of faith, for our humble movement toward Him lies at the very heart of our salvation.
As we noted, these feast days reveal prefigurations of what is to come. This is clearly seen in the foreshadowing of Christ’s betrayal and burial. Yet it is precisely through His burial that we are given the Resurrection and God’s triumph over sin and death.
Judas sees what is good and twists it for his own gain. In doing so, he blinds himself to the truth of who Christ is. Yet even in betrayal and evil, we see that God uses all things—both good and bad—to lead us toward His saving presence. Thus, through Judas’ betrayal comes the Passion, and through the Passion comes the Resurrection.
After this, we hear that a great crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was at Lazarus’ house and came not only to see Him but also Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. There is wonder at the sight of one who was dead and is now alive. Yet at the same time, there is hardness of heart, for we are told that “the chief priests planned to put Lazarus also to death, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.”
Rather than receiving the revelation before them, the chief priests harden their hearts. This too points to what is to come, for without their hardness, God’s plan for salvation would not unfold as it does. Thus, even here, we see that God uses the actions of Judas and the chief priests to reveal His mercy. Yet what stands in their way is their hardness of heart—for as we saw in Mary, only humility allows us to receive the fullness of Christ.
We are given free will, and each of us must choose how we will respond. Mary, in her humility, entrusts herself to Christ. Judas, in greed, and the chief priests, in hardness of heart, turn away. Yet through all three, God’s will continues to shine.
The next day, the crowd hears that Jesus is coming to Jerusalem. We are told: “They took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, crying, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’”
Here, Christ is received as a king. After what He has done in Bethany, the people recognize that something greater is at work. Yet we know they do not fully understand, for in only a few days many will cry, “Crucify Him!” Still, this entrance reveals something deeper: this is not merely a king, but the Lord Himself, revealed through His Passion and Resurrection.
We see this further when Christ sits upon a young donkey, fulfilling the words: “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” These words do not describe a worldly ruler, but God Himself—who liberates His people in humility.
Here we encounter a profound paradox: Christ is welcomed as a king, yet He enters humbly, seated on a donkey rather than a royal steed. The people sense that there is something greater, but they will not fully understand until He is risen.
This is made clear in the Gospel: “His disciples did not understand this at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that this had been written of Him and had been done to Him.” Likewise, we hear: “The crowd that had been with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness… they heard He had done this sign.”
The fullness of who Christ is is not revealed until He is glorified in the Resurrection. Thus, throughout this Gospel, we see His Passion and Resurrection held together as one reality.
Without Christ offering His life, we cannot fully understand the gifts He gives—and these gifts are revealed in their fullness through the Resurrection. Therefore, in this day, in Holy Week, and in our entire life in Christ, we are called to encounter the fullness of who He is.
Jesus is not only our Savior but also the suffering servant. He is the Logos through whom all things were created. He is the Christ whom we proclaim as “blessed… who comes in the name of the Lord.” He is Lord and God, and through Him we are invited into the fullness of divine life.
Holy Week—and indeed our entire faith—does not reveal merely parts of God, but the fullness of who He is, revealed paradoxically in every service. In Christ, we encounter both who God is and who we are called to become in His love.
To receive these gifts, we must have the humility of Mary. When we lower ourselves before Him, He reveals Himself to us. Like the apostles and the crowds, we too will experience moments of confusion. Yet as we draw near to Him—in Scripture, in the Church, and especially in Great and Holy Week—the fullness of His presence is revealed.
This week, we are given the opportunity to place Christ at the center of our lives: by deepening our prayer, renewing our fasting, and participating fully in the services that prepare us to receive the risen Lord.
Let us, then, humbly pursue Christ throughout Holy Week and throughout our lives.
As we continue our journey toward the Resurrection, let us strive to meet God as He truly is—for He humbly meets us where we are. In humility, let us fall before our Lord and God, proclaiming, “Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
So that even if we struggle to see Him clearly, through humility we may receive the light of His Resurrection—and in a few short days, cry out together as one Christ is Risen!
If any of the topics in today’s reflection interest you, give our Bible Study Make His Path Straight: A St. John the Baptist Bible Study a stream!
We have completed sessions on Mark, Luke, Acts, Romans, First and Second Corinthians, and are now in the middle of Hebrews.
Stream Make His Path Straight: A St. John The Baptist Bible Study Here
This publication is free to all, and if you are interested in supporting my work, please consider supporting this work through the link below. Any support is greatly appreciated!
Visit our website for more information about our St. John the Baptist Community, and consider joining us every Sunday for Orthros at 8:30 a.m. and Divine Liturgy at approximately 9:45 a.m. Our faith as Orthodox Christians is an embodied reality; therefore, to understand our theology, one must become part of a community.
If you aren’t in the Boston area and are looking for a parish to start attending, the following is a link to the GOA parishes directory to aid you on your journey toward Christ.