Hosanna: The True Meaning of Palm Sunday

Introduction

Hello, Carlisle Baptist Church!

My name is Josh Smith, and I have served at Soteria Church for the past five years. And I am excited to be with you this Palm Sunday.

Adopting Matthew, trip 1. (Two years leading up to the first trip, Meet him, spend time with him, etc.)

And I picture Palm Sunday in a similar way.

On Palm Sunday, we celebrate what we call “The Triumphal Entry.” After Jesus concluded his ministry to Galilee and the surrounding regions, he set his eyes on Jerusalem. Jesus began making the journey south. All along the way he was preaching and healing people.

It just so happened that the rest of Israel was also on its way to Jerusalem to celebrate God’s provision in the Exodus from Egypt. So while he was going, a crowd began to gather around him. Just before they made it to Jerusalem, Jesus sent two disciples to get a donkey for him to ride on. And as he rode into Jerusalem, the crowd that was following him and the crowd from Jerusalem awaiting his return began shouting, chanting a phrase from Psalm 118. We read what they said in Matthew 21:9,

And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

The people plucked some palm branches, took off their coats, and laid them before him as a sort of “red carpet” into Jerusalem.

Yet there is a paradox in what is happening here. The people who were laying out the palm branches and crying out, “Hosanna!” thought that Jesus was the Messiah. And Jesus never corrects them because they were right! Jesus is the Messiah! The Jews believe that when the Messiah comes, he will conquer their enemies, liberate them from captivity, and usher in a kingdom. And that’s what they expected Jesus do. To the Jews, Christ’s triumphal entry was going to end in his coronation as king.

This side of the cross, however, we know that Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem was the opening scene to a tragedy, not a coronation.

So where’s the disconnect? On one hand, Jesus accepts what the people do for him and affirms that they are right in doing so, that he is the Messiah. On the other hand, these same people are crying out “Crucify him!” only five days later.

So what does Psalm 118 actually teach? It is clear that the people of Israel had a misconception about what it meant. It is also clear that Jesus believed it referred to him.

Let’s jump into Psalm 118 and try to connect the dots. What is the true meaning of Palm Sunday? If we want to understand that, we need to first understand Psalm 118.

Sermon

If you are a notetaker, there are going to four points in today’s sermon. We will be outlining four facts about Psalm 118. The first fact is that Psalm 118 commemorates the Passover.

1. Psalm 118 commemorates the Passover. (Psalms 113-118)

I mentioned earlier that Jesus was headed to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. And Psalm 118 was meant to do just the same. We know this because the Jews were oriented by tradition. And Psalm 118 doesn’t sit by itself. It is actually part of a group of Psalms (113-118) called the Hallel psalms. Psalm 118 is the last of these Hallel psalms that celebrate the Lord’s deliverance of the Jews from captivity in Egypt. It simultaneously looks back at what God has done for them and forward to the future salvation that God’s Messiah would bring.

As Psalms celebrating the Passover, Psalms 113-118 would have been sung by the Jews as they made their way to Jerusalem for the Passover.

Psalms 113-118 were meant to remind the people of the Passover. Anytime the tune was heard, they would have praised God for the Passover.

We do the same thing today. Different songs make us think about different things.

McDonald’s Theme Song

Super Bowl Theme Song

Indiana Jones

Psalm 118 were sung It’s no wonder then that Psalm 118 would have been sung by the Jews as Christ was entering Jerusalem. The Jews were looking to Christ as the Messiah. The one who would save them from captivity!

But they misunderstood what the captivity was. The Jews thought that Jesus was going to liberate them from Roman captivity. But Jesus had a different plan.

Which leads us to the second fact of Psalm 118. First, Psalm 118 commemorates the Passover. Second, Psalm 118 exalts God’s faithful love.

2. Psalm 118 exalts God’s faithful love. (Psalm 118:1-4)

We see this from Psalm 118:1-4. As a psalm, it was meant to be sung by a congregation. In these particular verses, the worship leader would sing a line, and the congregation would respond with, “his steadfast love endures forever.” So let’s do that to together. I’ll read the first line, you respond with “his steadfast love endures forever.”

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

for his steadfast love endures forever!

Let Israel say,

“His steadfast love endures forever.”

Let the house of Aaron say,

“His steadfast love endures forever.”

Let those who fear the Lord say,

“His steadfast love endures forever.”

This theme of God’s faithful love is throughout the Hallel psalms. As Israel looked back at what God had done for them at Passover, they rightly sing praise to God. And why did God deliver them from Egypt? Because his faithful love endures forever.

You see, love is not simply an emotion. True love is the consummation of virtue.

For example, what would you think if I said to you, “I love my wife,” and later you found out that I never spoke to her. You would question my love for her.

What if I spoke to her, but you found out that I regularly lied to her and didn’t keep my word to her. You would question my love for her!

What if I just sat passively while my wife was being attacked? You would question my love for her!

Love is far more than just an emotion. It is a lifestyle of service, compassion, honesty, protection, toward the one you love.

And this is what Israel experienced in the Exodus. God’s love was poured out on them. God initiated the relationship with them—he sent Moses to be his spokesperson. God was honest—he kept his promise to Abraham that the Israelites would be set free. God was protective—he drowned Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea rather than letting him take them back into captivity. And Israel rightfully acknowledged that it was God’s faithful love that compelled him to liberate them.

How did he do this? By helping them. And that’s the next fact about Psalm 118. First, Psalm 118 commemorates the Passover. Second, Psalm 118 exalts God’s faithful love. Third, Psalm 118 celebrates God’s help.

3. Psalm 118 celebrates God’s help. (Psalm 118:5-18)

Look what the psalmist writes in Psalm 118:5-7,

Out of my distress I called on the Lord;

the Lord answered me and set me free.

The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.

What can man do to me?

The Lord is on my side as my helper;

I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

When Israel cried out for help, God answered them. Removing them from bondage, the Lord placed them in a spacious place, a place of freedom. And God’s love for them gave them strength! No longer were they afraid. No. They hoped in God!

And that same God of faithful love pours out his love on us. No mere mortal can match the immortal God. No puny person can stand against our Great God. No legislation can ruin us. If God is for us, who can be against us? Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us!

And the psalmist acknowledges this. He goes on to say in Psalm 118:8-9

It is better to take refuge in the Lord

than to trust in man.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord

than to trust in princes.

Which leads to some application. Who are you trusting in? When your back is against the wall who do you trust in? When your freedoms are threatened, do you trust in government or in God? When your job is on the line, do you trust your work ethic or God? When your spouse is unloving, do you trust in that cute co-worker of yours or God? When you can’t seem to find a spouse, do you trust in distraction or in God?

In the Exodus, Israel learned to trust in God. Look what Psalm 118:10-18 says.

All the nations surrounded me;

in the name of the Lord I destroyed them.

They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me;

in the name of the Lord I destroyed them.

They surrounded me like bees;

they were extinguished like a fire among thorns;

in the name of the Lord I destroyed them.

They pushed me hard to make me fall,

but the Lord helped me.

The Lord is my strength and my song;

he has become my salvation.

And because of the salvation that God brought Israel,

There are shouts of joy and victory

in the tents of the righteous:

“The Lord’s right hand performs valiantly!

The Lord’s right hand is raised.

The Lord’s right hand performs valiantly!”

I will not die, but I will live

and proclaim what the Lord has done.

The Lord disciplined me severely

but did not give me over to death.

This is what the Passover celebrates. The Passover is Israel’s mighty declaration, “The Lord’s right hand performs valiantly!” I will not die, but I will live and proclaim what the Lord has done.” As Israel made the journey to Jerusalem, Psalm 118 was a cry of praise for God’s provision and salvation fro Egyptian bondage.

Psalm 118 commemorates the Passover.

Psalm 118 exalts God’s faithful love.

Psalm 118 celebrates God’s help.

And finally, Psalm 118:19-29 give us the last fact. Now that victory has been won, the psalmist begins his victory parade. Let’s start going through those verses. Psalm 118:19-21

Open to me the gates of righteousness,

that I may enter through them

and give thanks to the Lord.

This is the gate of the Lord;

the righteous shall enter through it.

I thank you that you have answered me

and have become my salvation.

Psalm 118:19-21 acknowledges that God makes his people righteous. The natural response to this is Thanksgiving! Gratefulness and prayerful thanks to God before others is the result. We are only able to enter into God’s city if are righteous. That’s what the psalmist says! So how can we do that? Read Psalm 118:22-24 with me,

The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone.

This came from the Lord;

it is wondrous in our sight.

This is the day the Lord has made;

let’s rejoice and be glad in it.

Without going into to much detail, verse 22 is one of the most quoted Old Testament verses in the New Testament. It is because Jesus specifically calls himself, “The stone that the builders rejected, the cornerstone.”

How is it that the righteous can enter God’s city? Because the cornerstone is built on Jesus Christ. And that’s the fourth fact about Psalm 118: Psalm 118 anticipates God’s Son.

4. Psalm 118 anticipates God’s Son. (Psalm 118:19-29)

It is the cornerstone, Jesus Christ, that makes us righteous before God. It is the Messiah! And that is what Israel was going to celebrate at the Passover. They celebrate what God had done for them, yes. But it was also a longing for their future Messianic salvation. The messiah would come. The messiah would free them! And that’s why they cry out in Psalm 118:25-29, “Hosanna!” Hosanna is simply the Hebrew word for “Save us!” And when we hear the crowds chanting while Jesus is on the palm-strewn road to Jerusalem, we are actually hearing the tail end of Psalm 118.

Save us, we pray, O Lord!

O Lord, we pray, give us success!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

We bless you from the house of the Lord.

The Lord is God,

and he has made his light to shine upon us.

Bind the festal sacrifice with cords,

up to the horns of the altar!

You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;

you are my God; I will extol you.

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

for his steadfast love endures forever!

Even though they had been saved in the Exodus, Israel looked forward to its coming salvation from the Messiah. The Messiah is the blessed one who comes in the name of the Lord. The Son of God is anticipated! The Son of God will triumphantly march into the city, make his way through the streets into the temple, and up to the altar. And there, he would offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to God on the altar.

And this is where the Israelites had Palm Sunday wrong. They were wanting Jesus to make his way into the temple, make a sacrifice, and set up his kingdom—crushing all of their enemies.

What we see in Matthew 21 is a different story though. When Jesus was ushered into the city, the crowd followed him all the way to the temple. But instead of establishing his kingdom, he grabbed a whip and drove out all the businessmen profiteering off of temple worship. Rather than starting a new kingdom, Christ cleansed an old religion. Rather than attacking Romans, he attacked Jews. Rather than saving Israel from oppression, he cleansed Israel of sin.

Conclusion

So what does all of this mean?

Israel knew what Psalm 118 meant for them as a nation. They didn’t, however, fully understand what Psalm 118 meant for their Messiah. One theologian helps piece it all together. Rather than only the last few verses being about the Messiah. All of the Psalm is about Jesus.

The theologian says,

Exalting Jesus in Psalms 101–150 The Lord’s Faithful Love Will Never End (Psalm 118)

As the king was in distress and called on the LORD (Ps 118:5), so Jesus was in even greater distress in Gethsemane and on the cross and called on the LORD. As the king was surrounded by enemies who wanted to kill him (Ps 118:10–12), so Jesus on the cross was surrounded by enemies who were in the process of killing him. As the king testified, “The LORD has punished me severely, but he did not give me over to death” (Ps 118:18), so King Jesus was being punished for “the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2) but was not given over to ultimate death: he rose again. As the king was rejected by his enemies but became the chief cornerstone (Ps 118:22), so Jesus was rejected by all, sentenced to death, and became the chief cornerstone (Mark 12:10). (Preaching Christ from Psalms, 391)

The same is true for the end of the Psalm. The difference is that Christ’s victory march hasn’t started yet. That’s where the Israelites got it wrong. They wanted Christ to set up his kingdom then and there. But Christ was only paving the way for his kingdom. One day Christ will return and lead the triumphal procession. But that had to be preceded by the road to the cross.

BIG IDEA: We both acknowledge and anticipate God’s faithful love.

As the Israelites were saved physically in the Passover, they had to be saved spiritually at the cross. But that faithful love of God is not just for Israel. Jesus died for everyone. Jesus died on the cross to save us as well. And so we look back to our exodus from Satan’s kingdom. We acknowledge God for his faithful love in saving us from sin. Yet we cry out with the Israelites, “Hosanna! God save us!” He will return and establish his kingdom. And how can we be sure? The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. Praise him!

Adopting Matthew Trip 2 (bring him home, into our family, owns what I own, in full relationship with me)