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Hosanna!
Hosanna!
Today we celebrate the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.
This day is called Palm Sunday
One place we find the story is in the book of John chapter 12
The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out:
“Hosanna!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
The King of Israel!”
Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:
“Fear not, daughter of Zion;
Behold, your King is coming,
Sitting on a donkey’s colt.”
His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.
Jesus was coming from Lazarus’s house where he raised Lazarus from the grave.
Jesus was bringing with Him Hope! Life! Restoration! Power!
Headed now to Jerusalem
Why is this so significant?
Why is Jerusalem so significant?
It was the primary capital city of Israel. Also: “City of David,” “City of God,” “City of the Lord,” “Holy City,” “Mount Zion,” “Salem,” “Sion,” and “Zion.”
This city represented so much of the Israelites story and the work of God.
Delivering them from slavery…
bringing them into the promised land...
The Glory days of David and Solomon… and of course the building of the Temple.
The Temple was were they worshiped God. Where God met with them.
Jerusalem and the Temple represented their own understanding of “life under God”
And that wasn’t going very well...
You see there is a bit of history we need to understand.
During its long history, Jerusalem has been destroyed twice, besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, and captured and recaptured 44 times.
Years after the “glory days” around 587-586 BC because of the sins of the people, Jerusalem fell captive to the Babylonians. They also destroyed their temple.
The days of the people living in exile began. They weren’t allowed to return for 70 years.
King Cyrus (Persian) decreed the Jews could return and rebuild their city temple and walls.
The eventually did rebuild the temple. Not everyone returned home… The “glory” wasn’t the same. They still were in captivity and Jerusalem didn’t belong to them anymore.
In the Days of Jesus Jerusalem had been handed down to the Romans.
During the time of exile there where prophets who prophesied of a coming King ...
like Isaiah and Zechariah
O Zion,
You who bring good tidings,
Get up into the high mountain;
O Jerusalem,
You who bring good tidings,
Lift up your voice with strength,
Lift it up, be not afraid;
Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your King is coming to you;
He is just and having salvation,
Lowly and riding on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.
They knew the saviour would come! This day was very much anticipated and expected!
“Comfort, comfort my people,”
says your God.
“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem.
Tell her that her sad days are gone
and her sins are pardoned.
Yes, the Lord has punished her twice over
for all her sins.”
Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting,
“Clear the way through the wilderness
for the Lord!
Make a straight highway through the wasteland
for our God!
Fill in the valleys,
and level the mountains and hills.
Straighten the curves,
and smooth out the rough places.
Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
The Lord has spoken!”
A voice said, “Shout!”
I asked, “What should I shout?”
“Shout that people are like the grass.
Their beauty fades as quickly
as the flowers in a field.
The grass withers and the flowers fade
beneath the breath of the Lord.
And so it is with people.
The grass withers and the flowers fade,
but the word of our God stands forever.”
O Zion, messenger of good news,
shout from the mountaintops!
Shout it louder, O Jerusalem.
Shout, and do not be afraid.
Tell the towns of Judah,
“Your God is coming!”
Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power.
He will rule with a powerful arm.
See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.
He will feed his flock like a shepherd.
He will carry the lambs in his arms,
holding them close to his heart.
He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.
So as the great expectation Grew they took branches of pal trees to meet Him, The disciples laid their own clothes on the colt so Jesus could ride into Jerusalem!
took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out:
“Hosanna!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
The King of Israel!”
The Palm branches were used to make shelter… They also were used to receive heroes returning from battle.
A loud cry and plea for Help ensued!
Hosanna means “save us now, we pray ”(to you)
Save now, I pray, O Lord;
O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.
There was a certain urgency in this exclamation
they thought Jesus was there to rebuild their nation. But Jesus came to rebuild them!
His disciples didn’t understand!
His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.
Today let us receive Jesus into our life’s let the good news of Jesus fill our hearts with Joy!
Let’s Pray