“Hosanna: Save Us Now”

John 12:1–15 CSB

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was, the one Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there; Martha was serving them, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took a pound of perfume, pure and expensive nard, anointed Jesus’s feet, and wiped his feet with her hair. So the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot (who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the money-bag and would steal part of what was put in it. 7 Jesus answered, “Leave her alone; she has kept it for the day of my burial. 8 For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” 9 Then a large crowd of the Jews learned he was there. They came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, the one he had raised from the dead. 10 But the chief priests had decided to kill Lazarus also, 11 because he was the reason many of the Jews were deserting them and believing in Jesus. 12 The next day, when the large crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 they took palm branches and went out to meet him. They kept shouting: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord —the King of Israel!” 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written: 15 Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion. Look, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.

HOOK — “When ‘Help’ Means Different Things”

Illustration: Picture a single parent working two jobs. The car breaks down on the way to work. They pray: “God, help me.”

At work, we had a lady who was going on break and while she was on break, her car caught on fire and she had to pull over and get out and the whole car went up in flames…

I’m sure she may have whispered a prayer of “God, help me.”

What does each person mean?

A quick fix?

A financial miracle?

Strength to endure?

Just crying out in shock?

Question: “When YOU say ‘God help me,’ what are you really asking for?” We all cry for help—but we don’t always understand what kind of help we truly need.

Bridge: That’s exactly what’s happening on Palm Sunday.

BOOK — “The Cry of ‘Hosanna’”

Text (CSB): Gospel of John 12:13

John 12:13 CSB

13 they took palm branches and went out to meet him. They kept shouting: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord —the King of Israel!”

Key insight:

“Hosanna” = “Save us now, we beg you!”

Psalm 118:26 CSB

He who comes in the name of the Lord is blessed. From the house of the Lord we bless you.

The people were crying out for immediate rescue

Historical context:

They were under Roman oppression

Heavy taxes, limited freedom

Many were:

poor

overworked

overlooked

They were similar to:

Factory workers barely making ends meet

People juggling bills and debt

Folks tired of systems that feel stacked against them

Important truth: They wanted relief from Rome, thinking that was their ultimate issue…

But Jesus came to bring freedom from sin and the enemy

LOOK — “The Salvation We Want vs. The Salvation We Need”

“The ‘Hosannas’ were justified, though not for the reasons they had supposed.”

N. T. Wright

1. We often want situational salvation

Illustration:

“Lord, fix my boss.”

“Fix my paycheck.”

“Fix my schedule.”

Like calling a mechanic and saying:

“Just turn off the check engine light—I don’t really care what’s wrong under the hood.”

You can turn the check engine light off, but that doesn’t fix the actual issue…

Point: Many times, when we call out to Jesus, we want quick relief, not deep repair.

2. Jesus offers transformational salvation

He didn’t come riding:

A war horse (symbol of power)

But a donkey (symbol of peace and humility)

Meaning: He wasn’t coming to overthrow Rome—He was coming to overthrow sin.

Illustration: Imagine:

You’re drowning in debt

Someone pays off your house… but you still spend recklessly

Problem not solved—just delayed.

Question: “If God fixed your biggest “problem” today… would your life actually change long-term?”

What does transformation look like??

3. Misunderstood salvation leads to misplaced disappointment

By the end of the week:

“Hosanna” turns into “Crucify Him”

Why? Because Jesus didn’t meet their expectations.

Illustration: Like working overtime expecting a big paycheck… …and realizing most of it went to taxes and bills.

Expectation vs. reality creates frustration.

Truth: Many people don’t reject Jesus— They reject a version of Jesus that never existed.

TOOK — “What Are You Really Asking God To Do?”

1. Be honest about your “Hosanna”

Application: This week, pay attention to your prayers:

Are they all about escape?

Or transformation?

Practical step: Before you pray, ask: “God, is this what I want… or what I need?”

2. Trust the kind of Savior Jesus actually is

Illustration: A good doctor doesn’t just treat pain—he treats the cause. Sometimes the cure is harder than the symptom.

Truth: Jesus didn’t come to make life easier— He came to make life new.

3. Shift your prayer from “Fix it” to “Change me”

Silently fill in the blank:

“Hosanna, Lord—save me from __________.”

Ask: Lord, what do you want to change in me through this?”

4. Follow Jesus—even when He doesn’t meet your expectations

Illustration: Like staying on the job when it’s tough because you trust the long-term payoff.

Faith isn’t:

Loving Jesus when life works out

It’s:

Trusting Him when it doesn’t…

CLOSING

Picture the crowd waving palm branches:

Shouting

desperate

hopeful

“Hosanna! Save us now!”

They thought salvation looked like:

Power

Control

Immediate relief

But salvation actually looked like:

A cross

Sacrifice

Transformation

CHALLENGE:

This Palm Sunday, don’t just shout “Hosanna”…

Ask yourself:

Do I want Jesus to just fix my life… or to change my life?

Because those are not the same prayer.

WE NEED JESUS TO CHANGE OUR LIVES TO LOOK LIKE HIS!!!