Hosanna! Hosanna in the Highest!
“Hosanna! Hosanna in the Highest!”
Krista’s Reflection for Palm Sunday, April 2, 2023
Matthew 21:1-11 Jesus Enters Jerusalem
Intro to Scriptures
We have come to the end of our Lenten journey.
Jesus enters Jerusalem. He has healed the people and challenged the authorities. Now a crowd gathers around him as he enters the city gates.
But something is different about Jesus.
He enters not as king Herod, the false Jewish king sitting high on his horse.
No, Jesus enters sitting on a lowly donkey, a young colt or foal. But the people spread palm branches and colourful garments on the road praising Jesus and crying out, “Hosanna!” which means “Save us!”
Many believe he will become the next king of Israel, but that is not what Jesus has in mind. That is not what the Romans and even the religious leaders have in mind. They fear him and want to kill him. Because Jesus will challenge them. Not by force, but by humility.
Jesus enters on a donkey so everyone will know that he is the fulfillment of ancient prophecy, in Zechariah it said, their king will enter on a lowly colt, humble and righteous.
Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem is a victory. But this is only the beginning of Holy week…
A. Jesus Challenges their Expectations
This is the big moment we’ve all been waiting for….
Jesus enters Jerusalem.
Not as a powerful King mounted high on a horse, like king Herod does in another passage.
He enters lowly and humble sitting on a donkey, a young colt. This is no accident. Jesus does this to fulfill ancient prophecy, saying he is the new Jewish king, in the line of king David, who will enter the city on a donkey.
Jesus comes not to make war, but peace.
Jesus comes not to be served, but to serve.
This is not what his disciples or followers expected.
People are praising Jesus, crying out, “Hosanna! Save us!” In other words: Overturn these corrupt Roman rulers, fight back against these chief priests and religious leaders who have been oppressing us! Thank God our Messiah is finally here! Justice will come!
But Jesus knows his fate. He knows why he has come. Jesus will save the people, but not as they are expecting. And yet the people line the streets with branches, singing: “Hosanna! Hosanna in the Highest!” (wave branches)
B. In Our World – Save us! Hosanna!
Isn’t that true of us today? We look to our world, and see our children struggling, or grandchildren; we may worry about the economy, or fear war or the next pandemic. We often don’t trust our political leaders, and hope for a savior to come and rescue us.
Like the Jewish crowds in Jerusalem awaiting Jesus, we may cry out to God, “Hosanna!” SAVE US from the rulers and powers of this world.
But God does not enter our world to overpower it; Jesus comes humble and lowly from his birth among animals in a manger, to riding on a donkey into Jerusalem.
He comes to teach, to demonstrate his new way of Love. He does not force or try to fix everything.
He invites us to follow and guides us along the way.
We must choose to follow him into Jerusalem, even though there are still challenges ahead.
We may not like it, we may wish he would come down and overturn the tables in the temple, like he will in the next passage of Matthew.
We may seek justice and want God to deliver those who suffer and are oppressed now. And punish the oppressors!
Do something God! Save us! Save them!
Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest! (wave branches)
C. The Messiah King and Humble Servant
So when the crowds see Jesus, some are confused, “Who is this?” Is he a king? His followers respond, “This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth.”
Others shout to Jesus, waving palm branches, and bowing down low,
“Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” That’s quite a contrast. From lowly prophet from Nazareth (“nothing good ever comes from Nazareth”), to the beloved son of David, the greatest king that ever lived. Jesus is both – the lowly servant and the One they’ve all been waiting for, the one prophesied to be the Messiah, the king of the Jews.
Jesus does fulfill this noble title. Even though he is riding low, the religious authorities and Roman occupiers know he is still powerful and dangerous. The crowds adore him, and worse, they believe in him and respect him more than the worldly authorities. He has healed many people, shown many signs and miracles. No one has done that.
Jesus shows courage as he enters the gates – he does not show fear, even though he knows what lies ahead – they will crucify him, he will die, and be raised on the third day.
He warns his disciples three times that he will be killed, but everyone is swept up in this triumphant moment.
The Messiah has come!
Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest! (wave branches)
Good News Today:
We can take a moment and be swept up too. It is OK to celebrate this moment of victory as Jesus enters Jerusalem.
Even though we know what lies ahead.
Even though the world is still broken and corrupt in many places. Jesus comes.
He is powerful. He is the Messiah, the king of the Jews, the Savior of the world.
He is also a humble rabbi/teacher, who comes as a servant, guide, and friend. He will stoop to wash the feet of his disciples on Maundy Thursday, and die on a cross on Good Friday to take away the sins of the world.
He is our humble servant king.
I see this courage and humility in our communities, where those who have more serve those who have less. I see people helping each other in crisis, coming to the rescue of those who are hurt or sick, sacrificing themselves every day to care for others, without any credit to themselves.
In our larger world, there are no worldly powers swooping in to fix everything. It is up to us, to serve each other, and help bring about the peaceable kingdom of justice and love Jesus speaks about. We can love one another.
And so we have hope this Palm Sunday, and courage knowing Holy week has just begun and there are more challenges ahead.
It is a lot to take in.
But we are not alone.
Jesus is our companion, beloved guide, and friend.
Human and divine. Lowly and exalted. Let us shout for joy! Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest. (wave branches)
Closing – Krista’s 3 things
So how can be as Christ, and follow him into Jerusalem, even though we know what looms ahead?
Jesus What is the Message:
1. Have hope that Jesus is the Savior of the world.
2. Have courage and be humble like Jesus – do good and make a difference by serving others.
3. Have faith in the power of love; to make peace, not war. Christ is still with us, every step of the way. He shows us how to overcome evil with love, demonstrate peace over worldly power, and serve others rather than being served.
He is still the humble prophet from Nazareth, and a beloved king. We can still praise him and shout for joy, shouting:
“Hosanna! Hosanna in the Highest!”
Amen.