Between Hosanna and Hallelujah

Corrie Ten Boom on Humility

Corrie ten Boom was once asked if it were difficult for her to remain humble. Her reply was simple. “When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday on the back of a donkey, and everyone was waving palm branches and throwing garments onto the road, and singing praises, do you think that for one moment it ever entered the head of that donkey that any of that was for him?” She continued, “If I can be the donkey on which Jesus Christ rides in his glory, I give him all the praise and all the honor.”

Today I would like to talk to you about the difference between hosanna and hallelujah; two words that many think are interchangeable, but they are not. In fact, they are two very different words. So, today I want to share with you about them, and how we live our lives in-between hosanna and hallelujah.

Hosanna

So, Palm Sunday Jesus rides into Jerusalem from Bethphage on the back of a donkey and the crowds lay down cloaks and palm branches and yell HOSANNA!

We too cry Hosanna on days like today, but do we really understand what the word means? Well, the word hosanna first appears in ; which is a declaration of God’s salvation in times of need.

The word Hosanna means “Save us, please!” It is a declaration of our great need of salvation. As Jesus rides into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey the people are not shouting declarations of praise, they are shouting their great need of a savior. Their cries are based in their own need of repair.

Hallelujah

Then there is the term hallelujah. We use this term more frequently in the life of the church today. The term hallelujah is actually a combination of 2 Hebrew words that mean “Praise Ye” and “Yahweh” or- Praise the Lord. Hallelujah is a shout of praise or thanksgiving.

The most influential verse for framing our understanding of the word hallelujah is

 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah!

“Hallelujah!

For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.

the Almighty reigns.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), .

Between Hosanna and Hallelujah

On Palm Sunday the people shouted Hosanna to the King who was coming; I doubt they truly knew how that King would save them. The only thing that they had in those moments was faith- faith that this man, this Jesus would save them.

The same people that yelled hosanna on palm Sunday would be saying hallelujah just a week later…

But can you imagine what they felt like between the Hosanna and the Hallelujah? Because Friday came, and the one who they called to save them was hanging on a cross, and I bet for many of them the story seemed like it was over. Things were not going how they had envisioned, the king was not to be dead, no he was supposed to save them, and now he was gone....or was he?

Friends, we too live between the hosanna and the hallelujah. Each of us find ourselves somewhere on this continuum. The question is where are you today?

Maybe you find yourself in a Hosanna moment. There is something that you are facing, something that you don’t know how you are going to get through or face; and you need God to save you, to rescue you, to come to your side because you cannot do it on your own. Well if today you are in a Hosanna moment, take heart, because Sunday is coming- you can take heart in Jesus.

Or maybe its Friday- you have prayed, you have asked God for help. You have cried hosanna, but the story is not going like you planned it. Maybe you are like those people on Good Friday- staring up at the cross, wondering what happened. Well, take heart, because Sunday is coming! You too can take heart in Jesus.

Or Maybe it is Sunday morning- and you are shouting hallelujah. You have seen the faithfulness of Jesus- you can say THANK YOU JESUS with all your heart today....Well I have news for you today- the story is still not over!

Listen to this:

English Standard Version Chapter 14

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.