Hosanna

Hosanna (by David Peterson)

The prophet Zechariah told of a king who would humbly arrive mounted on a donkey and He would be the one who brought salvation. Jesus knew of this prophecy and He enacted it by saying in Matthew 21:2-3; “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with it. Untie them and bring them to Me. 3 And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them on immediately.” The triumphal entrance into Jerusalem was jubilant and the people received Him with honor by laying their cloaks and palm branches in the road and proclaiming “Hosanna”. This Hebrew term means “please save us” and it is exclaimed as a cry of praise and recognition of the Messiah.

About this glorious event, Reverend C.H. Spurgeon wrote: “Our Lord Jesus literally came to Zion in this manner. As King he rode to his capital, and entered his palace. In his priestly royalty the Son of God went to his Father’s house, to the temple of sacrifice and sovereignty. Among the tribes of Israel is he seen to be “one chosen out of the people,” whom the Lord had given to be a leader and commander for the people“.

Spurgeon rightfully shows us the plan of Jesus as He enters His last week of earthly life. Zechariah says in 9:9; “Behold, your king is coming to you; He is righteous and endowed with salvation”. Jesus indeed came to Jerusalem to save His people.

“Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” was written in 1873 by Jennette Threlfall. This hymn’s third stanza reads;

"Hosanna in the highest!"

That ancient song we sing,

for Christ is our Redeemer,

the Lord of heaven, our King.

O may we ever praise him

with heart and life and voice,

and in his blissful presence

eternally rejoice.

This entire hymn captures the joy the people must have felt when the Savior King entered the Holy City.

Let us pray: Jesus, our King, you valiantly came to the city in which you would be judged and crucified. Yet, you did so with presence of mind and determination to complete God’s plan of salvation for all believers. Amen.