Lenten Reader | Day 35

April 3rd, 2023

Hosanna! Save!

The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosannh in the highest heaven!”

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Matthew 21:6-11

Imagine being in that crowd as Jesus rode into Jerusalem. The praises. The roaring Hosannas. The unified shouts of “blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”. The crowd that followed behind and went in front of Jesus had heard of the coming Messiah for generations. And there they were, experiencing it first-hand. Can you imagine the anticipation and excitement that culminated in those moments? “Hosanna” meaning save now, the pleads of the people for their Savior. The joy, the hope, the relief. The prophecy was being fulfilled. What honor they must have felt to be presenting Him to the people of Jerusalem. And yet I can’t imagine anyone understood that they were presenting Him for his final days and ultimately His death.

But Jesus knew. He understood how it would play out. I think sometimes we desire to know what the future holds; Gods knowledge and understanding. But I think this passage beautifully displays the protective nature of Jesus. The weight of the knowledge of his imminent death could have been more than the crowd could handle. The devastation of knowing they had waited so long for a messiah and that He would be killed would have destroyed them. But He allowed them to bask in the excitement of his entrance to Jerusalem. Jesus knew He had to be the sacrifice. The people knew the Messiah was coming to save. But they never expected it to be by death on a cross. May we take comfort in knowing His ways are higher than ours and
that He is a protective, good, and all-knowing Father.

Lord, thank you for your mercy, your protection, and your faithfulness. You are trustworthy and I want to honor you in all my ways. Thank you for being the ultimate sacrifice and saving us. Hosanna in the highest!

Chloe Miller