Hosanna Loud Hosanna

Hosanna, loud hosanna, the little children sang,
through pillared court and temple the lovely anthem rang.
To Jesus, who had blessed them close folded to his breast,
the children sang their praises, the simplest and the best.

From Olivet they followed mid an exultant crowd,
the victor palm branch waving, and chanting clear and loud.
The Lord of earth and heaven rode on in lowly state,
nor scorned that little children should on his bidding wait.

“Hosanna in the highest!” that ancient song we sing,
for Christ is our Redeemer, the Lord of heaven our King.
O may we ever praise him with heart and life and voice,
and in his blissful presence eternally rejoice!

I’ve decided to do something a little different this year with the “Hymn of the week.” Since this week, Passion week, is such an important week on the Christian calendar, and because there are so many things we all need to be reminded of, I am going to send out a hymn each day this week. Hopefully, the hymns will be daily reminders for all of us of the importance of this week.

The first hymn reminds us of what is often referred to as the “Triumphal Entry.” The day where Christ came to Jerusalem riding on a donkey to the praises of the people. I had always wondered how in just a few days time the people could go from praising Jesus with shouts of Hosanna to wanting to see Him die with the cry “Crucify Him!” I watched a video from a Biblical historian, Ray Van der Laan, about this particular event, and his comments were insightful. He said that the palm branch was a political symbol for the Jews of that day, and that their cries of Hosanna were pleas for Jesus to become the Messiah that would take a political or military leadership role, and throw out the Romans who were governing the Jews at the time. It was not, necessarily, that they truly recognized who Jesus was and were praising Him as the true Messiah. They were wanting an earthly King to come and reign over them. That explanation helped give me a better understanding of that apparent “change in heart” that happened over that week.

I see several types of people shouting Hosanna that week. See if you find yourself in one of these categories:

• The “Go with the crowd” person – This is the kind of person that changes their mind with the wind. They are praising Jesus on Sunday, and screaming “Crucify Him” a few days later. They have followed the crowd and allowed the opinion of the masses to change their heart and mind. They are, as the Bible says, “double-minded and unstable in all their ways.” Are there people today guilty of the same thing? Someone who goes to church on Sunday and worships Him. But within a few days, they are blaming the Lord for problems they have crying out “Why did the Lord let this happen to me?” Have they forgotten in just a few days all the things they worshipped Him for a few days earlier?

• The “What can Jesus do for me” person – This is the person that sees Jesus as someone they can bribe, trick, or manipulate. The people that praised Him because they thought they could convince Him to liberate them from the Romans. Are there people like that today? I think so. Those that see Jesus as a means to a financial end, or a means to get what they want in other areas of live. Those that like to quote verses about blessings, but forget the ones about taking up our cross, dying daily, and sharing in His sufferings.

• A Child – I picture children waving palm branches with an excitement on their faces that week. Maybe they are one of the children that Jesus blessed. Or maybe a child that Jesus healed. Their praise is from their heart. They have not been corrupted by the world, and aren’t looking to get anything from Jesus, but what they have already received – His love. They come to Him fully trusting and fully worshipping Him. I like to think that I fall into this category all the time, but if I am honest with myself, I don’t. Sometimes my devotion and praise is more of a “go with the crowd” response. Or maybe my prayers become a litany of “God, I promise to do this, if you promise to do that” or “Bless me, Bless my wife, Bless my kids.” The last line of the first verse uses two words to describe the praises and the devotion of the children – the simplest and the best. My goal is to be able to say that about my praise – simple words that give Him my best.

As you are reminded this week of what Jesus did for all of us, I hope you will praise Him and cry Hosanna. But more importantly, I hope you praise Him for the right reasons – not because the crowd is doing it or because you can get something from Him. But because you come, in child-like faith, accepting His great grace, and because He is truly worthy of your praise.