Zechariah 9:9-10 MSG“Shout and cheer, Daughter Zion! Raise your voice, Daughter Jerusalem! Your king is coming! a good king who makes all things right, a humble king riding a donkey, a mere colt of a donkey. I’ve had it with war—no more chariots in Ephraim, no more war horses in Jerusalem, no more swords and spears, bows and arrows. He will offer peace to the nations, a peaceful rule worldwide, from the four winds to the seven seas.
Psalm 118:25-26a AMP O Lord, save now, we beseech You; O Lord, we beseech You, send now prosperity and give us success! 26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord;
John 12:12-15 MSGThe next day the huge crowd that had arrived for the Feast heard that Jesus was entering Jerusalem. They broke off palm branches and went out to meet him. And they cheered:
Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in God’s name! Yes! The King of Israel!
Jesus got a young donkey and rode it, just as the Scripture has it: “No fear, Daughter Zion: See how your king comes, riding a donkey’s colt.
Observation
Why were they waving palm branches and shouting “Hosanna (God save us now)”? This event happened when the city was overflowing with those who had come to celebrate Passover. We are reminded that Passover is a celebration of the God’s mighty power in bringing release from captivity in Egypt. On this particular day, it would not be surprising for the people to be reflecting on the Maccabean revolt (which overcame the Seleucid rule to cleanse the Temple and restore Jewish religious practices) and the current suppression by the puppet king Herod and their Roman conquerors. The Maccabees put palm branches, a symbol of victory, on one side of their coins. Be aware that Herod and the Romans had only come to power in 37BC by conquering the last Maccabean ruler.
And so, here comes Jesus, the miracle working rabbi, “a good king who makes all things right, a humble king riding a donkey, a mere colt of a donkey” in the midst of this festival. He seems to be fulfilling a prophecy of Messiah, the One Who will bring “a peaceful rule worldwide…send now prosperity and give us success…King of Israel”. Their expectations of Messiah were for an immediate salvation from their physical oppressors, their immediate unpleasant circumstances, their physical poverty. Perhaps that is why He wept over the city. Their perspective and understanding were so small, so limited, so human. He was Messiah Who would overcome the spiritual forces of evil and darkness forever – a victory that each person would have to choose to embrace by setting aside all the physical that was a barrier to allow the spiritual to do its work.
Impact on Me
I am sorry to admit that I have times when I am those palm-waving people. I pray for relief from immediate circumstances, challenges, and battles from a purely human standpoint. I find myself praying against symptoms rather than being willing to endure whatever it takes to get the cure.
Hosanna means “save us now”. I need to remember that the saving is already accomplished by Jesus on the Cross. The palm branches are to remind us that Jesus’ triumphal entrance on Palm Sunday was fulfilling the prophecy with a much greater victory than the crowd supposed. I need to remember to rely on that eternal victory regardless of my perception of how the battles of my life seem to be going day-by-day, not being driven by urgencies but rather by faith and the assurance that You are working always to bring about Your will and purpose. I want to always remember that You are much more interested in my character than my comfort. Character is built under pressure and Godly character is refined by faithful obedience which endures under whatever pressure the Enemy will exert and whether or not I understand the reason.
Prayer
Lord God, King Jesus, my Advocate with the Father, I celebrate Your victory on the Cross. I will joyfully sing Hosanna during this Easter season as I remember that You endured the Cross for me to have the right and privilege to embrace salvation and share in Your suffering in order to fulfill Your will and purpose in my life for Your plan. Forgive me for the times when I get distracted by symptoms rather than focusing on the cure, something only the Holy Spirit can effect. I pray for wisdom, knowledge, understanding and Your perspective so I might be effective in Your service. On that day when I stand before You, I want to hear You say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Make it so, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pressing On In His Footsteps 