And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” Matthew 21:9
Hosanna is a Greek transliteration of a Hebrew word that simply means, Oh save! As was the custom during the Passover season, the Jewish people rehearsed the Exodus story again. Part of that observance included the recitation of the Psalms of Ascent and Psalm 118. When Jesus entered Jerusalem on the back of a young colt, the people lined the streets, waving palm branches and shouting from Psalm 118:25-26. “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” Which was exactly what Christ was doing. But over the next few days, the people would reveal their hearts. A Christ was not what they wanted at all.
A disingenuous hosanna
The people wanted a deliverer who would save their nation.
Jesus wanted to save their souls.
The people wanted a war with Rome.
Jesus came to bring peace with God.
The people wanted a leader who could conquer the Roman army.
Jesus was about to conquer sin and death.
The people wanted a comfortable, easy life.
Jesus offered them eternal life.
The people cried for political deliverance from the oppression of Rome.
Jesus accomplished spiritual deliverance from the kingdom of darkness.
In other words, the people wanted salvation on their terms.
Jesus only offered salvation on God’s terms.
Is our cry different?
Do we want a Jesus of our own design? A Jesus who will make our lives easier but not expect too much from us in return?
Do we expect Jesus to answer our prayers but aren’t interested in His words about how to follow Him?
Do we believe we are entitled to a measure of blessings?
Are we offended by challenges, setbacks, or hard times? Do we feel like we deserve better?
Do we ever think Jesus should accept whatever effort we manage to put out, especially in view of how busy we are?
Jesus came to save us, not serve us.
From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. John 6:66
In John chapter 6, after Jesus gives His great Bread of Life Discourse where He explains He hasn’t come to meet physical needs, that His ministry doesn’t have temporal goals, the crowds thin. Drastically.
He said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me,” (Matthew 16:24) and “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world,” (John 16:33).
Jesus never misrepresented Himself or what following Him would mean. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? (Luke 14:28). Count the cost, He says.
If we don’t, we may end up like the crowds that first Palm Sunday. A few days later, their adulation turned to animosity. “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes,” became “Away with Him.”