Palm Sunday. It's the day we remember Christ's "Triumphal Entry" into Jerusalem before His crucifixion. The fact that it's in every Gospel account suggests that it's significant (Matt 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-40; John 12:12-19). The symbolism is in the name: the "Triumphal Entry." The palms and the donkey were classic Near East victory celebrations. The palms were typical devices for welcoming a hero. The donkey often signified peace. Where conquering warriors rode stallions, peacemaking kings rode donkeys as a sign of humility. And, of course, it was an answer to prophecy (Zech 9:9). Interestingly, the "Hosanna" they shouted means "Save, please" in Hebrew (see Psa 118:25). We have, then, a prophecy fulfilled by a "king" who is "endowed with salvation" arriving on a donkey ... specifically, a colt, the foal of a donkey (cp Zech 9:9 with Matt 21:2). He is celebrated as the king and comes in peace and humility to save.
The Messiah had two faces. One was a king, and the other a suffering servant. Palm Sunday shows us a glimpse of the soon and coming king. Good Friday gives us the suffering servant. This week is our reminder of our Servant King. I think, however, of the crowd. The text says the crowd "went out to meet Him (John 12:13). They went from "Hosanna" to "Crucify Him" in nothing flat. Perhaps that can serve as a warning for us not to turn on our Servant King when things don't go our way. True disciples will always honor Him as Lord of all.
7 comments:
Like most people, perhaps, I understood “hosanna” mostly as an exuberant expression of high praise to God (i.e. like “alleluia”); I did not know the additional meaning of “save us, we pray” that you mentioned. I saw this second meaning of “hosanna” described online as “like a call for rescue to reach the highest--a petition for salvation sent directly to the throne room of God.” This is a pertinent insight regarding the “Triumphal Entry” scene, as it reveals the crowd’s high hopes for imminent deliverance by the Messiah. It is significant that the double aspects of the word “hosanna” are indeed fulfilled in “the suffering servant / King”--both of the “two faces” of the Messiah, as you point out. This tells me that God graciously provided for the needs of my soul, and then I can immediately, in the very same breath, acknowledge that perfect provision--petition and praise for its fulfillment. Hosanna! Hallelujah! May this be the cry of my heart every day of the year.
Another thought-provoking aspect about the “Triumphal Entry” I saw written about elsewhere was that immediately following the passage in Luke you quoted, describing the shouts of joyful praise of the crowd, comes the verse (Luke 19:41) telling us that--amidst all this celebration--Jesus wept over the city as He entered, knowing all that was to come and how the people would turn against Him so quickly. It is much easier to see the fulfilled mission of the servant King on this side of the Resurrection!
As my pastor said today, the crowd saw Christ as the ice cream truck driver. They didn't want to know him at all, only what he could bring them.
Given Zechariah 9:10, it seems likely that the Hosannas were intended to convey "Save us from Roman oppression." by breaking the power of Rome's military, more than "Save us from our sins.". That Jesus turned that prophecy upside down, is just one more example of Him acting counter to the expectations of the Jews.
I think that,as Christians, we assume "Save us from our sins." because we have the whole narrative available to us. I don't doubt that some in the crowd had this view as well, but I think that the majority were looking for immediate salvation from Rome.
Good illustration.
Craig, I agree that many (most?) were hoping for immediate rescue and deliverance of a political nature, as I suggested. (I read that Psalm 118:25 expresses the root words for “Hosanna” as “save us, we pray, Lord”-- the constant plea of God’s people over the generations, for sure.) There are still those with the short-sighted focus of the crowd, of course--i.e. seeking only a comfortable “here and now” rather than recognizing their greater need--deliverance from sin’s power. Thank God He provides all that is essential!
I absolutely agree that it is multifaceted. I think people lose sight of the fact that some injustice will only be reconciled in eternity, not in the here and now.
I also do think that we have the benefit of hindsight and read things into terms like this based on that.
Post a Comment