HOSANNA!

The word Hosanna, in the Hebrew, means “We beseech you Lord, save now!”  The word originally a prayer and cry for God’s help, taken from Psalms 118:25, was recited at the Feast of Tabernacles in the great Hallel (Psalms 113 to 118) in responses with the priest, accompanied by the waving of palm and willow branches and shouting “Hallelujah,” or, “Hosanna.”  “The last day of the feast” was called “the great Hosanna”; the boughs also were called “hosannas.”

By the time in Jewish history of our Lord's triumphal procession into Jerusalem, the word had become a cry of joy or a shout of welcome, but it was also associated with Jewish hopes for deliverance by a political hero.  When shouted to Jesus by pilgrims and children, it indicates they saw in him the fulfillment of their Messianic expectations.  But Jesus came as a spiritual deliverer on a lowly donkey—not as a conquering military hero on a prancing horse.

In Matthew 21:9, it is “Hosanna to the son of David!” Followed by “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!”; In verse 15 it is also “Hosanna to the Son of David!”; In Mark 11:9-10, it is “Hosanna; Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that comes in the Name of the Lord!  Hosanna in the highest!”; and in John 12:13, it is “Hosanna!  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!  The King of Israel!”  Thus, in the Gospels it is an acclamation or ascription of praise.

Palm Sunday

The week we now call Holy Week started with Palm Sunday.  Why was this week so important that three of the gospel writers (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) devote a full third of their contents to reporting this week, and The Fourth (John) dedicates its entire last half?  Jerusalem, which had a normal population of about 50,000 at this time, had at least tripled in size because of the influx of pilgrims celebrating the Jewish holiday Passover.  Early Sunday morning Jesus made his very public entry into the city.  This was the end of all privacy and safety, and the beginning of what would be an inevitable collision course with the religious and political authorities.  Crowds began to gather to see the rabbi from Galilee.  The procession began accompanied by shouting and singing from the throngs as they threw down their garments on the pathway to cushion his ride (an early form of “rolling out the red carpet”)—an Oriental custom still observed on occasions—as well as waving and throwing down palm fronds, the symbol of triumph.  The Old Testament prophet Zechariah had foretold the arrival of the Messianic King in Jerusalem via the humble conveyance of a colt—a young donkey (Zech.9:9).  It is also no coincidence that there was a custom in Israel for the judges to ride upon white donkeys (Jud.5:10), and their sons on colts—young donkeys (Jud.12:14).  Christ would thus enter, not as a Conqueror, but as THE SON of THE JUDGE—The Deliverer of Israel, who for judgment (deliverance) came into this world (Jn.9:39).  Matthew’s Gospel indicates that Jesus sat on both the donkey and the foal of the donkey, indicating that He was both Judge and Son of The Judge.

Here the crowd hailed Jesus as "THE SON of David," a loaded name used at a loaded time.  The priestly establishment was understandably disturbed, as the palm was the national emblem of an independent Israel.  These were Jewish flags.  What if Jesus should claim to be the heir of King David?  Recent archeological excavations have turned up Roman coins, which have the head of Tiberias (idolatrous to the Jewish subjects) but over stamped with a palm.

In pre-Christian times, palm branches signified joy and victory over enemies.  Early Christians adopted the symbol as one of victory of the spirit over the flesh, hence their association with Christ and with martyrs in general.

Psalm 118:24–29  24 This is the day which the Lord hath made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.  25 Save (hosanna) now, I pray, O Lord; O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity.  26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!  We have blessed you from the house of the Lord. (NKJV)

Matthew 21:1–11  1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her.  Loose them and bring them to Me.  3 And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”  4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: 5 “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”  6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them.  7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them.

8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road.  9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David!  ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’  Hosanna in the highest!”  10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?”  11 So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.” (NKJV)

“Hosannas” in Heaven

Revelation 7:9–12  9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 

11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” (NKJV)

Jesus wept over Jerusalem

Luke 19:28–44  28 When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.  29 And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here.  31 And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’”  32 So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them.  33 But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, “Why are you loosing the colt?”  34 And they said, “The Lord has need of him.”  35 Then they brought him to Jesus.  And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him.

36 And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road.  37 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, 38 saying: “‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 

39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”  40 But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”  41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace!  But now they are hidden from your eyes.  43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” (NKJV)