April 13, 2025

Look, The World Has Gone After Him – John 12:19

Ice Breaker

1. Read John 11:45-12:19 as a group.
2. Discuss: What are some short-lived trends you recall? Think about music, fashion, books and toys.

Loving God Unreservedly

3. Why do you think the crowd was interested in seeing both Jesus and Lazarus? (Jn. 12:9-11)
4. What is the significance of the crowd using palm branches and the word “Hosanna”?

(Jn. 12:12-15)

5. Why is it important that Jesus came riding on a donkey instead of a war horse? (cf. Zech. 9:9; Matt. 21:5)

Loving People Sacrificially

6. How do you think you would have responded to such instructions from Jesus?

(Matt. 21:2-3)

7. What different perceptions do the crowd have of Jesus? (Matt. 21:9–11) As a group, identify what group of people are identified in these verses?
8. Why was this group of people there and who were they? (Jn. 12:12-13)
9. Who was the crowd identified in these verses, why did they gather and what did they do? (Jn. 12:17-18)
10. What did the Pharisees’ reaction reveal about Jesus’ influence and what does it reveal about their attitude? (Jn. 12:19)

Making Disciples Purposefully

11. How can we be like the people who “continued to bear witness” to what Jesus has done? (Jn. 12:17)
12. Take a step of faith: identify someone by name, pray, then invite them to our Easter service.
13. In your own words, what would it look like today for “the world to go after Jesus”? How can your small group be a part of making that happen?

Dig Deeper (optional/personal study)

14. Research: Compare the other synoptic gospels Matt. 21:7-11; Mk. 11:7-10; Lk. 19:35-40; Jn. 12:12-19.
    • Ps. 118:25-56
    • Zech. 9:9-10
    • Consider how the people less than one week later treated Jesus. (Jn. 19:14-16)