Hosanna! What Does This Mean?

March 24, 2024 Mark 11:1-10

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, 'Why are you doing this?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.'"

4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, "What are you doing, untying that colt?" 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" 10 "Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!" "Hosanna in the highest!"

Hosanna! What Does This Mean?

One of the most classic lines in 1970’s Rock history comes from a song called “Blinded by the Light.” There’s a line that is hard to understand. It goes, “Blinded by the light / Revved up like a Deuce / Another runner in the night.” For years people would argue over what the lyrics actually were, and it made for good comedy as people guessed at what it was saying. But when it comes to the music we sing in church, our lyrics mean so much more to us. We want them to be clear as a bell. We like them to convey the power of the Law and Gospel, with deep doctrinal meaning behind them.

The Jews of Jesus’ day loved to sing the Psalms, most of which were packed with meaning, especially Psalm 118. On Palm Sunday, the people sang a song to Jesus with lyrics from Psalm 118. "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" 10 "Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!" "Hosanna in the highest!" Twice they repeat the refrain. HOSANNA! It can mean “save now” or “save please!” What did they want? What did they mean? What do you mean when you say that to Jesus? It’s something to think about. You shouldn’t sing it if you don’t mean it, because this request is no small thing. It’s not like asking someone to get you a beer while they’re up or even to rub your feet.

Think of another request we make in life, when someone says, “Will you marry me?” Those are no small words. You try to make sure you know the person pretty well before you ask such a question, because you know what that entails, or you should at least as a Christian. You shouldn’t ask someone to marry you if you’re trying to rescue them from a bad situation. You have to be careful not to marry someone just because you’re physically attracted to them. It’s got to be deeper than that. You have to have some stability in your own life, where you are capable to love someone else besides yourself. It’s not all about what YOU can get out of it, it’s also about what you can GIVE to it. And it’s not, “Let’s give this thing a shot. See what happens. Try it for a couple years.” No, it’s much more than that. The two become one flesh. Til death do us part. For richer or poorer. In sickness and in health. That’s serious stuff there.

I recently listened to a talk show caller - she was happily married with eight children. Their family was going on a bike ride in a state park and the husband got in an accident and had severe brain damage. The wife was caring for him for years and he couldn’t even hardly respond and didn’t even recognize their youngest child. He had no capability to remember things for more than ten minutes, so they couldn’t even teach him sign language. She wanted to be faithful, but she also asked if it was ok to divorce him. She felt selfish, but a part of her wanted him to die. Wow. Who would think that would happen in a marriage? But it did. So she had to struggle with the question, did she commit to him or not?

Now think about the prayer “Hosanna”. It’s even more of an ask than “Will you marry me?” where two people try to contribute equally to a relationship. Hosanna means to “Save me! Save me now! Save me please!” It’s a prayer of desperation. And it’s not just one to one. It’s multiple people asking ONE PERSON to save them, and they’re laying it on thick! They’re pouring out palm branches before Him and throwing their coats down too, just as they sang in Psalm 118. They were passionate about it! (Would that we had more passion in our worship!) But what were they passionate about? What possessed these people in Jerusalem to ask a guy on a donkey to save them? Was it his humility? His willingness to ride on a donkey? Hang out with the everyday people? And what did they want him to save them from? Why did they think HE could save them?