Day #92 - Hosanna (Holy Week, Palm Sunday)
The Presence - A Devotional for Living in Thanksgiving, Worship and Wonder
“They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him 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 heaven!””
Matthew 21:7-9 NIV
What was a moment you felt most celebrated?
I think for me, I felt most celebrated at the party my wife threw me for my 40th birthday. It was kind of tough to figure out with global lockdowns but I felt so honored by my wife and the friends and family who showed up to encourage me. I remember my sister asked my grandpa once what his greatest accomplishment was. He was a decorated army veteran, a doctor of psychology, on The Who’s Who list for academics and a mayor. But his answer was a touchdown he scored in the eighth grade on his football team when his mom was there to watch him. I guess you never know what will cause people to feel the most celebrated.
Jesus had a moment in His ministry where He was publicly celebrated as the Messiah. These moments were not often in His ministry. We call this moment in Matthew 21, Palm Sunday the beginning of Holy Week. Jesus came riding into Jerusalem on a donkey that had never been ridden before. Crowds gathered around Him in exuberant celebration laying their cloaks on the road and waiving palm branches. They shouted “Hosanna,” which means “save us now!”
This whole experience was a fulfillment of Bible prophecy of Psalm 118 and more. Jesus is the prophesied Savior of the world. He is the Son of David, the promised King who has come to deliver and rescue the world. He came in peace on a donkey and yet in His humility He would conquer the world.
The crowd is not always right and it’s important to let our worship go deeper than the excitement that a crowd can provide, but this time the crowd had it right. We must learn to celebrate Jesus. He is still worthy to be praised. He is still worthy of our shout and the waving of our hands. Declare His worth and His rule! He is the King and there is no one like Him!
Declaring who Jesus is draws His presence and causes us to breakthrough into joy and peace. Find some time to give Him some loud praise! Declare who He is and thank Him for what He has done for you. “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
Jesus, Son of David, I worship you! Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna! Save me now! You are my Savior and my Lord. There is no one else like you! Thank you for coming to rescue me and save me! You are the Savior of the world. I praise Your name! Be glorified in me! Let my worship go beyond the devotion of the crowd. You are my King! In your name, amen!
So well said. He is truly our Savior, Lord and King. There is none that can compare to You Lord and no name is greater . I worship You. I exalt You. Be glorified in me Lord. In Your precious Name amen.