HOSANNA!

From the four gospels you may find the reference for this post.  They are Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:29-40, and John 12:12-19.

“Hosanna” is defined as a fervent and worshipful praise.

In my studies, the gospel of John says that the next day after the supper at Bethany, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said, “Go your way into the village over against you; and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.  And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? Say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.”  (Mark 11: 2,3.)

So the disciples went their way, found the colt, and were asked by the ones there why they needed the colt.  After their explanation, just as Jesus instructed, they let them go with the colt in tow.    They brought the colt to Jesus and laid their garments on it and Jesus sat upon it.  Now most all the time Jesus walked wherever he went and had very little possessions other than what others provided for him.  Now he would ride.

Because of the feast of the Passover, many people had come to Jerusalem.  Common people.  News of Jesus’ miracles had gone before him.  When the people heard Jesus was coming, they cast their clothes on the ground for him as well as took branches of palm trees and went to meet him.  Palms signified victory.  They cried out to him, “Hosanna: blessed is the king of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.”

At first the disciples didn’t understand but when Jesus was glorified, they remembered what was written and prophesied by Zechariah:

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee; he is just, and having salvation;  lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”  (Zechariah 9:9)

I wonder how Jesus was feeling in HIS heart, knowing He was coming into Jerusalem for His own death?  Riding up to Jerusalem to do His Father’s will--the King of Kings and Lord of Lords riding into Jerusalem, not in a big showy “parade” of sorts as many regal kings and rulers would require for themselves but slowly on a borrowed colt to the shouts of “Hosanna!  Hosanna!” 

I wonder, too, how those in the crowd felt seeing him there.  Many were just curious, many were angry of the attention He was getting, many just wanted to be in the crowd for the “fun” of it, but many were there because they knew Jesus as King and believed the prophecy....Jesus, the Lamb of God.

The last book in the Bible, Revelation, is written by John, focusing on prophetic events of things to come.  John says in Revelation 7:9-10, "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;  And cried with a loud voice, saying, SALVATION TO OUR GOD WHICH SITTETH UPON THE THRONE, AND UNTO THE LAMB."

Palms...of victory!

On most every calendar on the date of the Sunday before Easter, you will find it says “Palm Sunday”.   A true description reminding us of that day of the triumphal entry and victory to come!