Monday March 25, 2024
Hosanna!
By Jenny Pfister
At Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the people shouted, “Hosanna.” Some paraphrase this as “hooray.” “Hosanna” is a word used in some songs of praise, particularly on Palm Sunday. It is of Hebrew origin and was part of the shout of the multitudes as Jesus entered Jerusalem.
It is also interesting to note that when the crowds cried out, “Hosanna to the son of David: blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!” (Matt. 21:9 NKJV), they spread their garments in the way and cut down branches spreading them in the way too. The use of palm branches in praising Jesus was unusual because they were normally used during the Feast of Tabernacles which took place in the fall (Lev.23:40).
They greeted Jesus not as the spiritual Messiah who would take away the sins of the world, but as a potential political leader who would overthrow the Romans. Their shout, “Hosanna,” meant “save now.” In their praise of Jesus, the Jewish crowds were quoting Psalm 118:25-26, an acknowledged prophecy of the Christ.
Save now, I pray, O Lord; O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity. (Ps.118:25 NKJV)
“Hosanna” is often thought of as a declaration of praise, similar to “hallelujah,” but it is actually a plea for salvation. So, not only was the multitude acknowledging Jesus Christ as King and praising Him, they were asking Him to save and deliver them. This is crazy important!
The Hebrew words “yasha’” (“deliver, save”) and “na’” (“beg, beseech”) combine to form the word that, in English, is “hosanna.” Literally, hosanna means “I beg you to save!” or “please deliver us!” The Hebrew phrase was used by people asking a king to help or save them. For example:
When the woman of Tekoa came to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and paid homage and said, ‘Save me, O king.’” (2 Sam.14:4)
So, as Jesus rode the donkey into Jerusalem, the crowds were perfectly right to shout “Hosanna!” They were acknowledging Jesus as their Messiah, as shown in their address “Son of David.” Theirs was a cry for salvation and a recognition that Jesus is able to save.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We have blessed you from the house of the Lord. (Ps.118:26 NKJV)
The cry for help, “yasha’ na’” (Ps.118:25), was answered almost before it came out of the psalmist’s mouth. And over the centuries the phrase “yasha’ na’” stopped being a cry for help in the ordinary language of the Jews. Instead it became a shout of hope and exultation.
Something happened to that phrase, “yasha’ na’.” The meaning changed over the years. It used to mean, “Save, please!” But gradually, it came to mean, “Salvation! Salvation! Salvation has come!”
By the time of the triumphant entree, “hosanna” had curiously evolved from expression of deep anguish to a kind of cheer. It is the bubbling over of a heart that sees hope and joy and salvation on the way and can’t keep it in. The word moved from plea to praise, from cry to confidence!
So when we sing “hosanna” now, let’s make it very personal. Let’s make it our praise and our confidence. The Son of David has come. He has saved us from sin, guilt and fear and hopelessness.
That entry was the beginning of the greatest triumph ever made in known history…the defeat of death…a victory over death. No one, other than Jesus, has ever been able to defeat death. Death could not contain Him…the grave could not hold Him…Satan could not defeat Him!! Victory assured! We shall live because He lives. (See WORD WISDOM for a deeper study of shall live)
We can declare victory in our lives because the Lamb is on His throne. The same King who entered Jerusalem to cries of “Hosanna!” would soon be put to death with cries of “Crucify Him!” I wonder if they ever understood that both were victory shouts. Amen.
