Hosanna!
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The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting,
“Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord—
the King of Israel!”
Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written:
“Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion.
Look, your king is coming,
sitting on a donkey’s colt!”
His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him. So the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify. It was also because they heard that he had performed this sign that the crowd went to meet him. The Pharisees then said to one another, “You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!”
This scene is totally loaded with imagery that usually doesn’t go together. Remember Sesame Street. Three of these things belong together. Three of these things are kinda the same. Can you guess which thing just doesn’t belong here? One commentator said this is like you fell asleep and woke up from a nap. Everyone is gathered around the Christmas tree eating Easter eggs. It’s the Passover that celebrated how God set his people free through the lamb that was sacrificed.
But it’s also Hanukkah because they are celebrating by waving Palm fronds as Jesus arrives, just like they had welcomed Judas Maccabaeus into the city. He defeated pagan invaders and cleansed the temple almost 200 years before. So it’s clear what they were hoping Jesus would do.
Although it’s the wrong time of the year, the symbols of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem go with Hanukkah—which John has already mentioned in 10:22. When Judas Maccabaeus defeated the pagan invaders and cleansed the Temple in 164 bc, his followers entered the city waving palm branches in celebration (; ). Now, even though it’s in the spring, not mid-winter when Hanukkah is celebrated, Jesus’ followers wave palm branches to welcome him.
Wright, T. (2004). John for Everyone, Part 2: Chapters 11-21 (p. 25). London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
The cry “Hosanna” will have been linked with the palm fronds in the minds of the people. הושׁיעה־נא (hôši˓āh-nā) is a strengthened form of the imperative “save”! (“do please save!”), but it came to be a greeting and even an ascription of praise.
Beasley-Murray, G. R. (2002). John (Vol. 36, p. 210). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.
Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 36: John (Second Edition) The Triumphal. Entry of Jesus Intro Jerusalem (12:9–19)
The greeting “Blessed in the name of the Lord is the coming one” originally applied to the pilgrims on entering the temple, but it came to have a particular application to the Messiah, as may be seen in the Midrash to Psalm 118 (244a) (see Str-B 1:150)
Hosanna! Blessed is He Who Comes in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna!
Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion!
Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem!
Lo, your king comes to you;
triumphant and victorious is he,
humble and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
John says...
His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him.
So wow! This is one of those times when everything is coming together. It’s undeniable that something is happening. The history of God working out a grand plan was becoming more clear. Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus was a king. Jesus was also a sacrificial lamb that would bring freedom like never before. Something worth remembering forever was happening. But not everyone was glad to see it.
Something worth remembering. But not everyone was glad to see it.
The Pharisees then said to one another, “You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!”
And Jesus had to keep his head in all of this. Because as we all know, the praise of human beings can be very fickle. Today they essentially call him Messiah, the King. Within the week some of the people will be calling for his crucifixion.
But Jesus changes things when he enters the scene. He changes lives. He brings people back from the dead.
His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him. So the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify. It was also because they heard that he had performed this sign that the crowd went to meet him.
Resurrected lives are the most powerful thing in the world. When it seems like a life is about to be snuffed out but God goes to work, it’s God’s best work. This brings hope to the world. It doesn’t matter who you used to be if God gets ahold of your life. People with power and wealth don’t like these stories unless they can somehow benefit from or control them. We all know they plotted to kill Jesus, but did you know they actually plotted to kill Lazarus?
So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus.
How many times does this poor guy have to die for powerful people to be satisfied? What’s that old saying, “just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean people aren’t out to get you!” Poor Lazarus. It’s not easy coming back from the dead. But it’s kind of awesome, I’m sure.
Do you need to be brought back from the dead? What areas of your life could use some resurrection power? Hosanna! “Save us, God!” “Deliver me!” Maybe you don’t want God to actually resurrect your life. You just want him to take the edge off of a few problems you have. God’s not very good at that. He doesn’t just medicate our pain. He heals it. Do you want to be healed? He doesn’t wipe out our enemies. He forgives them. He asks us to do the same. Yeah, when you wave the branches and you cry out for Jesus he really actually comes. He really actually goes to work. Fully-surrendered lives find a peace and a strength the world could never give! Even if the commander-in-chief was your best buddy he could never do for you what Jesus can.
Do we come to Jesus with our hands out but our hearts closed? We won’t find what we’re looking for. But if you come to him waving the white flag of surrender, he will help you put the pieces back together. He heals challenged marriages. He heals those who are broken in spirit. He gives grace to overcome suffering. He helps you find purpose in work and in life. But if he’s the King, you’re not. Doing the wave with a Jesus branch won’t change your life. But coming to Jesus admitting that you’re part of the problem opens up amazing possibilities.
Some of the people were there because they wanted a seat in his administration. But the best ones were there because they witnessed his saving power. They wanted all that he had for them. They knew they couldn’t live life the same old ways anymore. Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. He is my King. He is my Lord. He is what everyone needs.
I think these folks stuck with him all the way to the cross. The others, they walked away when things got interesting. How about you?
How About Us?
How About Us?
Jesus is visiting us with his presence and power. We did the big wave. Will we let him be Lord? He’s going all the way to the cross. Are we with Him? If we are it’s great. Because beyond the cross there’s a crown. Even better. In between we get to join Him in making all things new. Our lives: made new. Our neighbors marriage? Made new. A planet that’s growning? Made New. A new creation is coming. Has it begun in you? Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes. Blessed is the messiah, the savior of the world. May he be our savior. May we follow him. May we reign forever with him. May we live as his people now on his mission of love together. Let’s pray.
Although it’s the wrong time of the year, the symbols of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem go with Hanukkah—which John has already mentioned in 10:22. When Judas Maccabaeus defeated the pagan invaders and cleansed the Temple in 164 bc, his followers entered the city waving palm branches in celebration (; ). Now, even though it’s in the spring, not mid-winter when Hanukkah is celebrated, Jesus’ followers wave palm branches to welcome him.
Wright, T. (2004). John for Everyone, Part 2: Chapters 11-21 (p. 25). London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
Wright, T. (2004). John for Everyone, Part 2: Chapters 11-21 (p. 25). London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.