Our Palm Sunday scripture is John 12:12-15.
The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord— the King of Israel!” Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written: “Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!”
As Jesus rode into Jerusalem the people cried “Hosanna!” It is part of the festival chorus from Psalm 118: ”Save us, we beseech you, O Lord!“ Unfortunately, they were expecting a king who would save them from Roman domination. In 1 Samuel 8 we read that they had been down this path before, asking for a king and God warning them against it.
The prophecy from Zechariah 9:9 says ”Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.“ This is the difference between Jesus and human kings – earthly titles and power are nothing to Him. He comes not to save us from external oppression but from ourselves!
Sadly, many were disappointed by this and turned against Jesus when He didn’t act as they expected. This has been our downfall throughout history, wanting our way instead of God’s way. However, Jesus is always ready for us to cry “Hosanna, save me Lord!” and He was willing to die for us in order to do so.
Loving Lord, forgive our foolishness, wanting earthly freedom when we could have Heaven. Bless us to be the people You intend, loving You and one another. Amen.
