2. The context of “The Party” John 12:9-11 9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.

3. DUCCIO di Buoninsegna Entry into Jerusalem 1308-11 Tempera on wood, 100 x 57 cm Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena The Party begins! John 12:12-13 12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!”

4. DUCCIO di Buoninsegna Entry into Jerusalem 1308-11 Tempera on wood, 100 x 57 cm Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena The Party begins! Psalm 118:25, 26 25 O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success. 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you.

5. DUCCIO di Buoninsegna Entry into Jerusalem 1308-11 Tempera on wood, 100 x 57 cm Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena The Party begins! Luke 19:36-40 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. 37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” 40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

6. DUCCIO di Buoninsegna Entry into Jerusalem 1308-11 Tempera on wood, 100 x 57 cm Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena The Party begins! John 6:14, 15 14 After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

7. What’s the deal with the palm branches?

8. GIOTTO di Bondone No. 26 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 10. Entry into Jerusalem1304-06Fresco, 200 x 185 cm, Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua The whole donkey thing is REALLY important for the Party John 12:14-15 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written, 15 “Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”

9. GIOTTO di Bondone No. 26 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 10. Entry into Jerusalem1304-06Fresco, 200 x 185 cm, Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua The whole donkey thing is REALLY important for the Party Zechariah 9:9 9 Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

10. LORENZETTI, Pietro Entry of Christ into Jerusalem (detail) c. 1320Fresco Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi Whoa, it all makes sense now – so cool! John 12:16 16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.

11. “That Party Rocked! Let’s tell a lot of people about it!” John 12:17-18 17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him.

12. Of course, there has to be Party Poopers… John 12:19 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”