Hosanna!
It echoes through the ages. 2000 years ago as a crowd of people shouted a refrain written by King David a thousand years before. And even today we repeat these words.
Hosanna! God save us!
The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Matthew 21:9 NIV
The shouts sound out from an excited crowd that is slowly making it's way down the Mount of Olives and is entering the city of Jerusalem.
Hosanna!
People from all over the country have come up to the city to celebrate and today is the day they will be selecting their passover lamb.
Hosanna!
Perhaps there are different people in the crowds, parents concerned about their children and details of the holiday, rural folk overwhelmed with crowds and sort of chaos, some that are excited and anticipating all that is coming.
Yet there is a tension, Jerusalem isn't exactly free. The Romans are still here and they are watching, making sure that things don't get out of control.
Hosanna!
God save us!
Save us from this oppression as you saved Israel from Egypt so long ago.
Hosanna!
God save us!
Save us from our struggling, from the hardships, from the foriegn nations, save us!
Hosanna! God save us!
Perhaps we are crying this too.
God save us! Save the vulnerable from sickness. Save our communities from this pandemic. Save our nations from economic disasters. Save those who are working on the front lines. Save those who are grieving. Save those who feel like they are going crazy.
Hosanna! God save us!
But then Jesus pauses on his descent down the Mount of Olives and weeps.
As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.
Luke 19:41-42 NIV
Did the people understand what was happening? Did they think that this king, riding in on a donkey was going to save them from the Roman empire and heavy taxation?
Did they think that this miracle worker was going to save the sick and suffering from their pain here on earth?
Did any of them realize what he was coming to Jerusalem to do?
Hosanna! God save us!
There was nothing else that could save us from the penalty and guilt of sin. Only God could do that and Jesus, being fully God, was the only one who could save us.
Just as the passover lambs in Egypt saved those who were in each house, Jesus is the perfect passover lamb whose blood saves all.
Hosanna! God save us!
As we cry out those same words this year.
Do we realize what is real of importance?
Are we crying out more for God to save us from a virus? God save us from chaos and need. God save us from uncertainty and loneliness.
God, thank you that you have paid the price and saved us from sin.
And through all of this chaos, need, uncertainty and loneliness I long for God's redemption and trust that He can save us from all this, yet even through all this, I will praise His name, for through Jesus Christ we are saved!
Hosanna! God save us!
Psalms 118:22-29 NIV
The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
The Lord has done it this very day;
let us rejoice today and be glad.
Lord , save us! Lord , grant us success!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord .
From the house of the Lord we bless you.
The Lord is God, and he has made his light shine on us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, and I will praise you;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.
Give thanks to the Lord , for he is good;
his love endures forever.
