Hosanna

Read Mark 11:1-11
¹ Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples ² and said to them, "Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. ³ If anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.'" ⁴ And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. ⁵ And some of those standing there said to them, "What are you doing, untying the colt?" ⁶ And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. ⁷ And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. ⁸ And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. ⁹ And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! ¹⁰ Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!" ¹¹ And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

Jesus has now turned the corner. After three years of quieting the declarations of others about his messianic calling, he now allows the loud cries of the crowd to declare that he is indeed the messianic King. People rejoice, quoting the psalms, shouting “Hosanna,” which means, “Lord, save us.” And he does. He enters Jerusalem to the praises of the people knowing it will provoke the religious leaders to take action against him. While we refer to the events of Palm Sunday as Jesus’ triumphal entry, his great triumph was not riding on a donkey, but being crucified a cross, laying down his very life. In a week, churches around the world will celebrate Palm Sunday. We will rejoice together, for the Lord saves us. Hosanna!