"Hosanna!"

“Hosanna!”

During Passover Jesus entered the City of Jerusalem on a donkey’s colt. The vast crowd that was there to celebrate this holy day heard He was coming, showed up en masse, laid their coats down In His path and waved palm branches with great exaltation. They shouted out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (John 12:13). (“Hosanna” is the Greek form of a Hebrew exclamation of praise that literally means “save now” or “save, we pray” taken from Psalm 118:26. It became an expression of praise in Christian worship.)

But the real meaning the people had in mind would have been more accurate: “Save now! Save us from Roman rule; save us from hardships; save us from sickness and disease.” Many had seen Jesus work miracles—probably all in that large Passover crowd had at least heard about Him. Kings save people from their enemies, right? And this Man showed such power—surely He would save them.

But they were looking for a political savior, not a Savior for their hearts, which were under even greater bondage than their country. For this bondage was eternal—unless they recognized that this King—this Jesus—could save them from their sin. Could the same be said of us? When we sing the words, “Sing Hosanna! Blessed is the King of Israel; Hosanna!” do we realize what Jesus really came to earth to do?

If you have never made a personal choice to ask God to forgive you from your sin and ask Jesus to come into your life to be your Savior—to be in charge of your life—then you can sing, “Hosanna, save now!—save me now” and He will. But if you already know Jesus personally, what do you mean by “Hosanna”? “Save me from the many problems I’ve gotten myself into? Save me from this school assignment? Save me from my co-worker?” Or have you over the years turned the word “Hosanna” into more of an expression of praise—“Praise to the King of Israel”—but more importantly, “Praise to the King of my heart”?

Grace and Blessings!

Karen McMillan

(Karen wrote these thoughts as a devotional many years ago for a rehearsal of The Dove Singers {see “Undivided” for a description of this ministry.} The truth is timeless because Jesus came and died once to save us for all time {“He came once for all time, at the end of the age, to remove the power of sin forever by his sacrificial death for us.”—Hebrews 9:26, NLT}. Nothing more needs to be done. God is waiting to welcome you into His family. We pray you’ll accept His offer.)

More Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan