We have a video of my wife and me holding our oldest son when he was just a few weeks old. In that video, as we talk about the excitement of our newborn baby, we also make strange comments that don’t make sense to the casual observer. They are cryptic references to a television show that we had watched not long before our son was born.
To almost everyone else our words sound silly, hard to understand, almost stupid. But to my wife and me they make perfect sense because we know what we were talking about at the time.
As Jesus entered Jerusalem a crowd gathered. What did the crowds shout? What does the word “hosanna” mean? Where does the sentence “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” come from?
This symbolic parade of which Jesus is a part continues with participation from the crowd that goes ahead of him and follows behind. To the outsider, the rulers, the Roman soldiers and governor, the words probably did not mean a great deal. The people were shouting “hosanna,” and reciting a line from a psalm.
Outsiders may have realized that this triumphal entry and the words being shouted had some religious significance, but only the people who were in the know realized what was being expressed in all this.
The word “hosanna” is a Hebrew expression that means “save.” Those in the crowd who were calling out to Jesus were declaring that the Messiah had come. A real and powerful threat to the existing government and the status quo had arrived. They were declaring that a savior had come.
They also quoted from Psalm 118. Warren Carter points out that this psalm was one traditionally recited at Passover (the holiday that would be celebrated soon after Jesus arrived) but a psalm that also had significance because it speaks of God’s victory over Israel’s oppressors.
Those in the know were aware that Jesus had come to Jerusalem to do something mighty and earth-changing. They may not have completely understood all of Jesus’ plans but they knew good was about to come about.
As we approach Easter we must be aware that Jesus has changed the world forever. We must be aware that God has saved us from the death of sin and blessed us with His grace.
DAILY CHALLENGE: What changes will you have in your life knowing Jesus is your Savior?
