Verse for Meditation:

“Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, ‘Hosanna!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!’ ‘Hosanna in the highest!’” (Mark 11:9,10).

Sermon

During the triumphal entry of Jesus to the Holy city of Jerusalem the crowd was shouting, “Save us now”. They spread out their clothes and branches of the trees on the roads. The Messiah is their savior.  In other words they were acknowledging that Jesus is the Messiah and the king. The word Hosanna is extended in Hebrew as “hoshi Aahna” which means “save us now”. At the references found in 2 Sam.14:4 and 2 Ki.6:26, where some weak women came for help and protection to the kings of Israel, David and Jehoram the same words are found to be used. Hosanna is not a word of praise to Jesus rather a cry of the people to lead them from slavery to freedom – the reason, the expected Messiah has arrived! This is a quotation from Ps.118:25, 26. This is a Psalm recited during the feast of Tabernacle. Trumpets were blown during all the seven days of the feast when the people at the precepts of the temple going forward towards the alter and shout Hosanna lifting the palm leaves in their hands. From this incident when people shouted Hosanna around Jesus we learn many things (Mat.21:9, 15; Mk. 11:9; Jn.12:13).

i.    This is the way in which the pilgrims were greeted as they assembled during the feasts and festivals. “Blessed is he who comes in the name of LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you (Ps.118:26).

ii.    “Who comes in the name of the LORD” – this term indicates the Messiah. This is to say that they are here accepting Jesus as the Messiah. The Jews expected a victorious king who will redeem them from the hands of their enemies. But here comes Jesus as the king of love and humility.

iii.    The prophecy of Zechariah speaks of a Messiah who comes on a donkey, ‘the colt, and the foal of a donkey’ (Zec.9:9-12). In the oriental countries the donkey is considered to be a humble animal. Jair of Gilead who judged Israel for 22 years had 30 sons who could ride on the mule. Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth used to travel on a donkey (2 Sam.16; 1). The talented minister Ahithophel who gave advice to the king David and Absalom travelled on a donkey (2 Sam. 15:12; 16:23; 17:23). Mephibosheth the son of Saul came to David upon a donkey (2 Sam.19:26). Usually a king rides on a horse for battle and upon a donkey for peace. Jesus came to Jerusalem as the prince of peace.

iv.    This incident has been reported by all the four evangelists. Hence we understand this is an important incident in the life of Jesus (Mt. 21:1-17; Mk.11:1-10; Lk.19:29-46; Jn.12:12-19). Let us see the important spiritual thoughts from the message of Palm Sunday.

1.    Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace: In our personal lives (Ps.24)

Jesus should enter into our personal lives as the Prince of Peace (Is.9:6; Heb.7:2). Just as the temple is cleansed, our bodies, that is, our lives also need cleansing (1Cor.3:16; Ro.12:1, 2) by Jesus. Let today be a day of dedication as we pray “Save us now”, being freed from all the enslavements of evils, the powers of darkness and selfishness. Pray that Jesus will enter into our families to become ‘the king of the family’. Open the doors of the ancient days and let the king of glory enter (Ps.24:7-10).

2.    Needs a donkey for Jesus (Mk.11:1-11)

When Jesus and his disciples reached Beth phage, he sent two of his disciples to the nearby village to bring a donkey saying, “The Lord needs them” (Mt. 21:3; Mk. 11:3; Lk. 19:31”). This could be a pre – arrangement, a donkey that has been arranged in advance with a villager. Sadhu Sunder Singh during a red carpeted welcome in the west said, “You have given a welcome to the Lord, not for me. I am only a donkey that carries my Lord, Jesus. That donkey has walked on this carpet”.  Today, we need donkeys to carry Jesus to declare the message of peace, to topple down the powers of evil, corruption and commercialization of spirituality, to blow the trumpet of deliverance to the suppressed through love, ahimsa and tolerance.

3.     Christ is our peace (Eph. 2:11-22)

The cross of Christ united man with God who was separated from Him. Thus, Christ has become our peace (Eph. 2:13, 14). Jesus has broken down the wall of hostility. Today, Christ has given freedom to us to enter into direct relationship with God. There by Jesus Christ has become the peace with God (Ro. 5:1). As said earlier the cry of the people ‘hosanna’ or ‘save us now’ is echoing even today from the hearts of the people. This prayer is to a God who saves us from sin, the powers of evil, from sickness and evil chants and finally even from the eternal death. Those who have recognized the way of salvation that the Lord has prepared should ‘become signs’ to walk in truth. Let us praise God who hears our cry for salvation through the lifting of these palm leaves and branches of trees (Acts. 4:12). We need to experience the power of salvation day by day which we receive with faith in the Lord (Acts. 16:31; Ro.10:9; Eph.2:8-9). Every day it is our prayer- ‘hosanna’ ‘save us now’. King of peace, come now!

Prayer:

Almighty God, the King of glory, whose rule extends to the ends of the earth and who proclaims peace to all, May You triumphantly enter into our lives and destroy the barriers and dividing walls of hostility among us, so that we become one body, one humanity, and Your holy temple, built together to become Your dwelling place, Through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever more. Amen.