HOSANNA

This was the shout of the throngs as Jesus entered Jerusalem for His last week of public ministry. Even though the multitudes were shouting His adoration, these were the same throngs that would be calling for His crucifixion just a few days later. Nevertheless, as they welcomed Him into Jerusalem that day, spreading palm branches and their own garments in His path, little did they know that they were fulfilling an ancient prophecy. "Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: ... Blessed be He that comes in the name of the LORD" (Psalm 118:25,26), they cried.

"Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord," is essentially the meaning of "Hosanna." The crowds were acknowledging Jesus as the promised Messiah, the Son of David, and the "chief priests and scribes ... were sore displeased" at this (Matthew 21:15). But this also had been predicted in the Psalm: "The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD's doing; It is marvelous in our eyes" (Psalm 118:22-23). It was these "builders" -- "the chief priests and elders" who "persuaded the multitude that they should ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus" (Matthew 27:20). As a result of this repudiation by these leaders of His people, the Lord wept over Jerusalem, and was forced to prophesy its coming judgment, quoting once again this ancient prophecy: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, ... Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, "Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord" (Matthew 23:37-39).

One day He will, indeed, be made the great "head stone of the corner," and all His people will acknowledge Him in that day. In the meantime, the prayer of the prophecy is appropriate for each unsaved person to pray today: "Save now, O Lord," thus acknowledging that Jesus has, indeed, come in the Lord's name. "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (II Corinthians 6:2). HMM

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