Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 12:17-19

"The multitude therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, bare witness. For this cause also the multitude went and met him, for that they heard that he had done this sign. The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Behold how ye prevail nothing: lo, the world is gone after him." — John 12:17-19 (ASV)

The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record. For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle. The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.

No doubt many of his disciples thought so too, yet how mistaken were both the friends and the foes of Christ. For you recollect, brothers and sisters, that Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem was followed, within less than a week, by a far different scene, when the same crowd that cried "Hosanna!" shouted "Away with him, away with him, crucify him!" The world, that was supposed to have gone after him, nailed him to the cross; so short-lived is human popularity.

So short-lived also is the admiration of Christ by carnal minds, for they do admire him after a fashion; they cannot help doing so. There have been written lives of Christ which have been full of admiration of him, yet equally full of opposition to his Deity.

We must not always regard it as an encouraging sign when men praise Christ; for very soon, if the root of the matter is not in them, and they do not accept him as their Lord and Master, they will change their note, and instead of "Hosanna!" it will be "Away with him, crucify him!"