Hosanna!
Matthew 21:6-11
6 So the talmidim (disciples/students) went and did as Yeshua had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put their robes on them, and Yeshua sat on them. 8 Crowds of people carpeted the road with their clothing, while others cut branches from trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds ahead of him and behind shouted,
“Please! Deliver us!”
to the Son of David;
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of Adonai!”
“You in the highest heaven! Please! Deliver us!”
10 When he entered Yerushalayim, the whole city was stirred. “Who is this?” they asked. 11 And the crowds answered, “This is Yeshua, the prophet from Natzeret in the Galil.”
Yesterday I stated that the disciples were asked to "untie the donkey." I wondered if they questioned the task they were given. What we do know is, even if they questioned it, they did it. Even if they did not completely understand why they were asked to do it, they performed it. Yes, they knew that the prophet 500 years earlier had made a statement, but they still did not fully understand the meaning behind what was happening. They simply did as they were asked.
The verses today will bring a new understanding to the word, "Hosanna!" We know that this is part of "Holy Week." We often hear that the crowds surrounding Jesus as He entered Jerusalem on the donkey were shouting, "Hosanna!" And, they were - in their language.
But, do you know what Hosanna means? We often use this term as a joyful expression. "Hosanna in the Highest!"
This is the explanation the Complete Jewish Bible gives us for the bolded words in verse 9:
Greek Ôsanna (English “Hosanna”) transliterates Hebrew Hosha na, which means “Please! Save [us]!”
The crowds were shouting, "please save us!"
Psalm 118:25-26
25 Please, Adonai! Save us!
Please, Adonai! Rescue us!
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of Adonai.
We bless you from the house of Adonai.
They were singing a Psalm. They recognized Jesus as a "prophet from the Galilee" and used their understanding from the Psalms to sing praises.
The NIV version uses the word, "Hosanna" in the verse. I believe we miss the mark when we only use that term. We must understand the depth of what the crowds were saying. They wanted to be saved. They desired to be delivered. They knew a Savior/Messiah was coming. They were giving words to their belief.
The Hebrew language has a depth to it that even I do not fully comprehend. I love learning insights like this one about a word. To KNOW that these crowds were asking Jesus to "save and deliver" them is added insight to my faith. It strengthens it. These people BELIEVED.
Yes, we will see that some of this crowd "turns" on Jesus. That is another discussion. But here, in this moment, they were crying for their Savior. They were looking for their Deliverer.
In the days and moments we are in, are we doing the same? Are we crying out for HIM to save and deliver us? Are we believing that He is going to do that? Where is your faith today? WHO are you putting your trust in?
Today, use the word "Hosanna" in the way it is intended. Use it to cry out to the Father and ask HIM to save you. Ask HIM to deliver you. HE is the one "IN THE HIGHEST" Who can do this.
Love and blessings,
Rose
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