“Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Matthew 21:9b (quoting Psalm 118:25–26)
The four Gospels all contain virtually the same account of Jesus’ “Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem. As Jesus and His band of pilgrims approached the city for Passover, He dispatched two of His disciples to fetch a donkey for Him, which they did. Of the three accounts, Matthew and John make special mention that this was in direct fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9, which we looked at a couple days ago.
On the tenth of Nisan, the day the lambs were picked for the Passover sacrifice (Exodus 12:3), the Lamb of God would now enter the city. A large crowd of people who had also come for the Passover festival greeted Jesus by spreading their cloaks and cut branches on the ground in front of His path. The people in this makeshift procession shouted “Hosanna!”
Today, we treat the word hosanna as an expression of praise and worship, but in Hebrew it means “save us.” The people were acknowledging that the Son of David, the long-awaited Messiah, had finally come to save them. As Psalm 118:25 states, “LORD, save us!” And the very next verse in Psalms is actually the very next line the crowd quoted: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!” So, it seems equally appropriate to call this day “Psalm Sunday” since that is the book from which the crowd excitedly quoted and proclaimed as Jesus entered the city.
We equate Palm Sunday with waving palm branches. The palm is deeply associated with the Jewish people in general, the Feast of Tabernacles in particular, and is symbolic of victory. I’ve been in Jerusalem on this special day and been a part of a similar procession with believers from many nations who were waving palm branches to honor the arriving Savior. It was a special moment to be sure.
I’d like to close by focusing on the ending of Luke’s account. As Jesus drew close to Jerusalem, the mood seemingly changed to much more somber—at least for Him. He wept for the city and for His people; so many were blind and had rejected Him. “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes” (Luke 19:42). Most had missed the Savior.
There are people in your life and in my life who are lost. We should feel the same way that Jesus does about them. We should be moved deeply because they risk a Christ-less eternity. If only they could see what has been hidden from them till now. Jesus came to save them!
Ask God right now to bring to mind the name(s) of someone you know who needs the Lord. Commit to praying for them throughout this Easter season, that the scales would be removed from their eyes. Perhaps God will use your prayers and your relationship with them to lead them to Himself.