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Author: Stephen Weller
496 words, 3 minutes read time

A Time of Celebration

Scripture: Matthew 21:9; Mark 11:10; Luke 19:38; John 12:13

We ended the previous lesson with Jesus riding into Jerusalem with the crowds rejoicing and praising God with a loud voice. In this lesson some of the Pharisees in the crowd become upset.

^{Mt 21:9} “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! ^{Jn 12:13} Even the King of Israel! ^{Mk 11:10} Hosanna in the highest!” ^{Lk 19:38} Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”’

The crowds that were with Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem were shouting “Hosanna,” which means “O save.” This meaning is seen in 2 Samuel 14:4 ESV: “When the woman of Tekoa came to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and paid homage and said, “Save me, O king.” The king in view here and in John 12:13 is seen in a political and military sense and the “save me” of Hosanna is from the bondage of Rome.

“Hosanna to the Son of David!” indicates that the crowds acknowledge that Jesus is the Davidic Messiah. This deliverer that would save them was to be from the line of David and his kingdom once established would then last forever. Jesus was from the line of David and his kingdom would last forever, but those in the crowds did not understand yet the nature of his kingdom. Soon they will realize their mistake and their rejoicing will be replaced with shouts of “Crucify him.”

At this time of misunderstanding, they shout out “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” With these words they were declaring that Jesus had been sent by God as his representative with his authority as their Messiah. Again, this was true, but their assumed timing of now was wrong.

As the crowds continue to cry out expressions of praise, we need to remember that this event is taking place at the beginning of Passover week, which recalls the Jewish people’s deliverance from Egyptian slavery. It would thus be natural for them to anticipate Jesus to deliver them from Rome’s bondage. The mistake they are making is that it is not bondage to Rome that they are to be delivered from but from bondage to their sin in serving Satan. Jesus is coming to deliver them from their true enemies of Satan, sin and death.

Conclusion

In fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9, Jesus allows for this brief period of celebration, but he will not allow it to obstruct the divinely ordained death of the Messiah. He will say and do things when he arrives in Jerusalem that will ensure that those who are now rejoicing will desire him to be nailed to a cross to fulfill the will of God is regards to our salvation.