Monday April 10, 2023
One Day, a White Horse
Before we all begin singing “Because He Lives” and “My Redeemer Lives,” or “Up From the Grave” and “Graves Into Gardens,” I wanted to stop for a moment and ponder, not just His second triumphal entry in to Jerusalem, but also His first triumphal entry. After all, what is Easter without Christmas?
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
Unto us…driven by His loving concern and compelled by His love to draw unto us and move toward us. This is why we celebrate the coming of this baby, born in Bethlehem, the city of David 2, 000 years ago…Immanuel, God with us, with the government resting upon His shoulders. But soon something else would rest upon His shoulders…a cross.
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,” 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)
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!” And now the very Savior has risen from the dead! I wonder what they were saying then?!
But before Jesus rode the donkey into Jerusalem, He rode another donkey in to Bethlehem within His mother’s womb. That entry was the beginning of the greatest triumph ever made in known history…the freedom from sin, and the victory over death. No one, other than Jesus, has ever been able to accomplish that for us!. The manger could not contain His glory… …the grave could not hold Him…Satan could not defeat Him!! Victory assured! We shall live because He lives. He is alive! He is alive! (See WORD WISDOM for a deeper study of shall live)
We can declare victory in our lives because the Lamb is on His throne. From manger to cross to throne, victory is assured. The same “King” who was born in a manger, adored by the shepherds, also 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 and both were triumphal victories. And now our cries turn to “He is risen just as He said!”
And here is a reminder…we still have one more triumphal entrance to look for…not on a donkey, but on a white horse…His Second Coming!! Amen!
