As Jesus approached Jerusalem, Matthew 21: 9; Mark 11: 10; John 12: 13 wrote, the crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” The word “Hosanna” was directed at Christ Jesus who was also called the Son of David because he traced his genealogy to King David. It was also directed at God in his dwelling place, the highest heaven.
In only Christ Jesus is God glorified in Christ Jesus at the same time. In Matthew 21: 15-16 when the chief priests and the scribes saw the amazing things that he (Jesus) did, and heard the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became angry and said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, ‘Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise for yourself?” God will glorify Jesus through other ways.
What is the meaning of Hosanna?
It is a Judaic word which expresses adoration or praise or joy regarding someone or an event or an occurrence worthy of praise to show honest satisfaction. It is from the Hebrew phrase, “Save us, we pray.” The world needed a Saviour and Jesus filled that void.
The crowds also perceived him as a political Messiah to liberate them from the Romans. Christ Jesus indeed brought hope to the world and praise to God for such a magnificent opportunity of redemption. All Jesus’ did was to bless and glorify and honour God’s name, hence the Hosanna was also ascribed to the Lord God Almighty. The Hosanna was a fulfillment of what the angels said of Jesus at his birth in Luke 2: 14, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours.
In spite of the Roman dominion, the crowds were bold and without shame, joyfully expressed their faith with their voices and deeds in the word of Hosanna. Can we say the same as our Saviour comes to die for us as a Good Shepherd? Let the shout of Hosanna be our prayer this season and always. To the Israelites there were special or unparalleled reasons for their shouts of Hosanna which include;
Jesus’ resolve to die for the world
Christ Jesus was ready to die for the world in spite of his looming death. Jesus said in John 10: 11 I am the good Shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. Are we aware that Jesus came to die for us? If so, how do we live our lives? Romans 6: 1-2 say… Should we continue to sin in order that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it?
Jesus said in Luke 4: 18 ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” (See also Isaiah 61: 1). Jesus went every length to live up to his mission to save the world. What is our mission for Jesus?
God’s grace was through Christ Jesus
Jesus had proven himself as the channel of God’s grace for the world. The extent of his amazing grace expressed through his love and humility in spite of his Godly nature was humbling. God’s faithfulness was also epitomized in Christ Jesus our Lord. He was accessible to everyone and loved everyone equally.
Philippians 2: 6 says though he (Jesus) was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death even death on the cross. The cross symbolizes shame, suffering and sacrifice yet Jesus endured it. Are we ready to sacrifice and suffer shame for Jesus so we may partake in his Hosanna glory?
Christ Jesus conquered the world
The crowds had walked with him and were satisfied that Jesus was more than a conqueror. The crowds believed that through him, they would conquer the world also. Jesus said in John 16: 33 I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world. If our shouts of Hosanna mean Jesus has conquered the world, it must reflect in our lives and set our souls free from the tyranny of sin.
The crowds found Jesus as the light of the world. John 12: 46 says I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. He showed the world the way back to God through him. He said in John 14: 6 Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. He said in Luke 5: 32, I have come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance. As we shout Hosanna, let Jesus be our true conqueror over our sins.
Jesus sought only God’s glory always
All Jesus did was not personal but the Father’s will. Jesus said in John 8: 18 I testify on my own behalf, and the Father who sent me testifies on my behalf. Throughout his ministry, he subjected his personal will to that of his Father which the crowds became aware of. By the Father’s will, he faced the cross for us. As we commemorate Jesus’ triumphant entry to Jerusalem to die for us, let God’s will be done in our lives so that our shouts of Hosanna will be meaningful to God.
Jesus said in John 12: 49 for I have not spoken of my own, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to say and what not to speak. Jesus is God’s medium by which he speaks to the world. So, his word is life to our dead souls. The crowds shouted Hosanna because they knew the power of Jesus’ words from God. As we shout Hosanna meaning “Save us, we pray” let the Holy Spirit take hold of our hearts to bring fulfillment to the world in his holy name. Let our Hosanna be true praise and adoration for Jesus as he journeys towards the cross.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, as we shout Hosanna, open our eyes to see what the crowds saw of you; open our ears to hear the heavenly choir singing to your praise; open our understanding to your word of life that we may live; open our heart to receive you into our dwelling so we may be covered by your blood; and open our lips to praise you in truth as the Saviour of the world in your holy name, Amen!!
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