Hosanna to Holy Holy Hol

Some context

Why would you be there?

There is a buzz in town that day. Word has started to spread, Jesus is on his way into town. It’s already a week of Passover, so there was a lot going on in the community anyway. But when the news came that Jesus was coming, people began to flock to the outskirts of town anticipating his arrival.

Can I ask…what would you do, if it were you? If you were at work; or at your home; or in town; or even if you were sitting in the sanctuary of a little church.... and you heard that Jesus was on the way?

Now please, I’m asking, really think about that answer.

Some people, undoubtedly, would gather to ask him some questions. This would be no more than a PR visit in their minds. They have some questions for this man named Jesus. They want to know why their loved one died, or why there are tornadoes in Oklahoma, or why he is not doing something about the senseless amount of violence in this world....

Others, I bet, would gather to disprove him. They would gather with no other intention but to catch him in a lie, or present a problem he could not solve. They would come with a plan to embarrass Jesus and prove he is fraud afterall.

I wonder if some would come just to build their own ego or status. If Jesus was riding through Broadway I bet WHSV would be there. And probably lots of national media. All the radio stations would have someone on location. Every person with a Youtube channel within a days drive would probably show up and tell their audience to tune in to their live feed for the updates.

And I bet there would be some there who are angry. The might be there to throw stones and boo. They are angry with Jesus, and its time for him to pay. This is their chance to get even.

And then, there would be a group there to worship. To praise, to give him the welcome of a King.

And I wonder, where these same groups present outside Jerusalem that day? Were there some their to question, to leverage his influence, some there in anger?

But here’s what clear in the passage- the largest part of the group was gathered that day in praise!

The text tells us that. Look at verses 17-18 “The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign.”

They had heard about what Jesus had done and they went to worship.

Worship is our response to the work of Christ.

This was their response to Jesus. Palm branches, putting their cloaks on the ground. They were there for worship.

What would you be there for?

What would you yell?

And they cried Hosanna! Literally- SAVE US!

Let’s name it- we can often have a vending machine mentality when it comes to God. Approaching him with all the things we need or want.

G. Campbell Morgan says this about worship:

"The word "worship" runs through the Bible, and the thought of worship is to be found from beginning to end. The thought of worship is the recognition of divine sufficiency, the recognition of our absolute dependence on the divine sufficiency, the confession that all we need in our lives we find in God. And the spoken answer to that conviction is worship

Then what?

So, today we have gathered in this place to worship. To give our God praise. But can I ask, where do we from here? Because in just a few minutes, church will be over, and we will go our separate ways.

But what if we went from this place and continued our worship? What if our worship in this place spilled over to every other moment of our lives? Would it, could it, change the world?

In his article ’Celebrating God in Authentic Worship’, pastor Glenn Wagner (Calvary Church, Charlotte, NC) points out: "I believe that one of the most evangelistic tools the church possesses, one desperately needed in today’s society, is authentic worship. People want to know, first of all, if God exists; then second, can they relate to Him? If God exists, is it really possible to connect with Him in a vibrant, dynamic way? In genuine, authentic worship, observers see real people connecting powerfully with the real God."

Friends, this is something I have become so much more passionate about the past few years. Today is Palm Sunday. This is the first day of Holy Week. This is our time to shine. This week we talk through the most foundational and formational parts of our faith.

But wait, there’s more...

Because if you think that is cool. People crying Hosanna, cloaks and palm leaves on the road. Listen to Revelation 4....