Hosanna to the King

Triumphant Entry

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We have arrived at the week before Easter and I cannot help but reflect on the majesty of our Lord Jesus Christ.  This lental season has been quite different for me than any other previous year.  I have intentionally tried to prepare my heart for the celebration of the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ instead of waiting for Sunday morning as I get dressed for service to prepare my heart.  As a family we have been reading through Amon’s Adventure and gave up watching television.  In addition I gave up something personal only to me and we will celebrate some of the biblical feasts this week that are found in the book Celebrating BiblicalFeasts.  But, as I sit here this Palm Sunday on the water of the Colorado River, ready to praise and lift up my King, I look back over the past six weeks or so since Ash Wednesday and cannot help but glorify my Lord.

Spending time this morning with the Lord, the Holy Spirit moved me to read the accounts in the gospel that tell of Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem on this day over 2000 years ago.  Please join me today in reading through these accounts as we reflect and sing Hosanna to God in the highest!  Blessed be the name of the Lord!  Lord willing, this week we will meditate and consider Jesus’ last week here on earth as the Son of Man in the flesh.

John 12:1-36

“Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was, the one Jesus had raised from the dead.  So they gave a dinner for Him there; Martha was serving them, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him.  Then Mary took a pound of fragrant oil—pure and expensive nard—anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped His feet with her hair.  So the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.  Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot (who was about to betray Him), said, `Why wasn’t this fragrant oil sold for 300 denarii and given to the poor?’  He didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief.  He was in charge of the money-bag and would steal part of what was put in it.  Jesus answered, `Leave her alone; she has kept it for the day of my burial.  For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.’ Then a large crowd of the Jews learned He was there.  They came not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus the one He had raised from the dead.  Therefore the chief priests decided to kill Lazarus also because he was the reason many of the Jews were deserting them and believing in Jesus. 

The next day, when the large crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took palm branches and went out to meet Him.  They kept shouting: `Hosanna!  He who comes in the name of the Lord is the blessed One—the King of Israel!’  Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written: `Fear no more, daughter Zion.  Look, your King is coming sitting on a donkey’s colt.’  His disciples did not understand these things at first.  However, when Jesus was glorified, they remembered that these things had been written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.  Meanwhile, the crowd, which had been with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify.  This is also why the crowd met Him, because they heard He had done this sign.  Then the Pharisees said to one another, `You see?  You’ve accomplished nothing.  Look—the world has gone after Him!’  Now some Greeks were among those who went up to worship at the festival.  So they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, `Sir, we want to see Jesus.’  Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.  Jesus replied to them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.  I assure you: Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself.  But if it dies, it produces a large crop.  The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  If anyone serves Me he must follow Me.  Where I am, there My servant also will be. If anyone sees Me, the Father will honor him.  Now My soul is troubled.  What should I say—Father, save Me from this hour?  But that is why I came to this hour.  Father glorify Your name!’  Then a voice came from heaven: `I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again!’   The crowd standing there heard it and said it was thunder.  Others said that an angel had spoken to Him.  Jesus responded, `This voice came, not for me, but for you.  Now is the judgment of this world.  Now the ruler of this world will be cast out.  As for Me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to Myself.’  He said this to signify what kind of death He was about to die.  Then the crowd replied to Him, `We have heard from the scripture that the Messiah will remain forever.  So how can You say, `The Son of Man must be lifted up?  Who is this Son of Man?’  Jesus answered, `The light will be with you only a little longer.  Walk while you have the light so that darkness doesn’t overtake you.  The one who walks in darkness doesn’t know where he’s going.  While you have the light, believe in the light so that you may become sons of light.’  Jesus said this, then went away and hid from them.” 

Luke 19:28-44

“When He had said these things, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.  As He approached Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, He sent two of the disciples and said, `Go into the village ahead of you.  As you enter it, you will find a young donkey tied there, on which no one has ever sat.  Untie it and bring it here.  If anyone asks you, `Why are your untying it?’ say this: `The Lord needs it.’  So those who were sent left and found it just as He had told them.  As they were untying the young donkey, its owners said to them, `Why are you untying the donkey?’  `The Lord needs it,’ they said.  Then they brought it to Jesus, and after throwing their robes on the donkey, they helped Jesus get on it.  As He was going along, they were spreading their robes on the road.  Now He came near the path down the Mount of Olives, and the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen: `The King who comes in the name of the Lord is the blessed One.  Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heaven!’  Some of the Pharisees from the crowd told Him, `Teacher rebuke Your disciples.’  He answered, `I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out!’  As He approached and saw the city, He wept over it, saying, `If you knew this day what would bring peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.  For the days will come on you when your enemies will build an embankment against you, surround you, and hem you in on every side.  They will crush you and your children within you to the ground, and they will not leave one stone on another in you, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.’” 

Mark 11:1-11

“When they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples and told them, `Go into the village ahead of you.  As soon as you enter it, you will find a young donkey tied there, on which no one has ever sat.  Untie it and bring it here.  If anyone says to you, `Why are you doing this?’ say, `The Lord needs it and will send it back here right away.’  So they went and found a young donkey outside in the street, tied by a door.  They untied it, and some of those standing there said to them, `What are you doing, untying the donkey?’  They answered them just as Jesus had said, so they let them go.   Then they brought the donkey to Jesus and threw their robes on it, and He sat on it.  Many people spread their robes on the road, and others spread leafy branches cut from the fields.  Then those who went ahead and those who followed kept shouting: `Hosanna!  He who comes in the name of the Lord is the blessed One!  The coming kingdom of our father David is blessed!  Hosanna in the highest heaven!’  And He went to Jerusalem and into the temple complex.  After looking around at everything, since it was already late, He went out to Bethany with the Twelve.” 

 Matthew 21:1-11

 “When they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives, Jesus then sent two disciples, telling them, `Go into the village ahead of you.  At once you will find a donkey tied there, and a colt with her.  Untie them and bring them to Me.  If anyone says anything to you, you should say that the Lord needs them, and immediately he will send them.’  This took place so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled: `Tell Daughter Zion, `Look, your King is coming to you, gentle, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’  The disciples went and did just as Jesus directed them.  They brought the donkey and the colt; then laid their robes on them, and He sat on them.  A very large crowd spread their robes on the road; others were cutting branches from the tees and spreading them on the road.  Then the crowds who went ahead of Him and those who followed kept shouting: `Hosanna to the Son of David!  He who comes in the name of the Lord is the blessed One!  Hosanna in the highest heaven!’  When He entered Jerusalem, the whole city was shaken, saying, `Who is this?’  And the crowds kept saying, `This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee!’” 

My Heart’s Prayer:  Lord, Most High!  King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Savior of my soul!  You are great and greatly too be praised!  Take me today and glorify Yourself through my praises to You!  Blessed be Your name!  In Jesus Name, Amen!