Hosanna!

And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

Matthew 21:6-9

 And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him. And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.”

Mark 11:7-10

And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

Luke 19:35-38

Hosanna is not a word we hear every day, but it is the perfect word to use in celebration of Jesus’ entry in Jerusalem.

As Jesus triumphantly, yet humbly, enters Jerusalem during the week of the Feast of the Passover, the people begin shouting (and probably singing) Psalm 118. The word Hosanna is a combination of two Hebrew words found in Psalm 11:25:

“Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.”

Psalm 118:25

The people are celebrating the fact that they know Jesus is the Messiah and the true King. They are praying that God would give prosperity in the work of salvation that Jesus will do for them. Although they may not have understood what that would require, they knew and were not afraid to shout in the streets that their Redeemer had come!

They saw their salvation was complete in Jesus Christ.

At the birth of Jesus into the world, the angels proclaimed that Peace Himself was on the earth. Simeon declared that he had seen the salvation of the Lord while holding Jesus as a baby. Those that sought from Him throughout His ministry, called Him the Son of David. And now these people are proclaiming that salvation is the work of the Lord alone!

It is only theologians, both then and throughout the past 2,000 years, that have tried to complicate the issue. They insist that Jesus did not really accomplish what He came to do. But the simple fact that these common people proclaimed is true.

Jesus IS salvation! In Christ alone our hope is found!

As further evidence of this fact, we find that the beginning and ending of Psalm 118, states this fact. It is the mercy of God that endures forever!

Hosanna in the highest!