Hosanna, Hosanna!

Today we are celebrating the start of Holy Week with millions of Christians around the world. At church we waved our palm branches and celebrated Jesus's trimuphant entry into Jerusalem, otherwise known as Palm Sunday. This marks the start of our journey to the cross this week and the empty tomb and resurrection next Sunday.

Palm Sunday celebrates the day Jesus entered into Jerusalem riding on a donkey. The crowd placed their cloaks on the road along with tree branches. The people cried out to him. This was an entry fit for a king.

"A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut tree branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him [Jesus] and those that followed shouted, 'Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!'" Matthew 21:8-9

Jesus entered Jerusalem on a Sunday to the crowds mentioned in the verses above. And as He entered the city, they cried out, "Hosanna!" A word which means "save now". This cry from the crowd goes up as Jesus makes His way to Jerusalem to celebrate the biggest Jewish holy day, Passover.

Most likely the crowds really didn't understand what Jesus was going to Jerusalem to save them from. They didn't know that the week would end with Jesus crucified, dead, and buried. And yet, that is how God did His saving work for them, for me, and for you. More details on other Holy Week events coming later this week. For today, I am shouting, "Hosanna" to my King.