We’re celebrating Palm Sunday with a Praise & Worship playlist themed with songs of Hosanna to the King! See the whole lineup below, including Kari Jobe’s “Hosanna”, “Son of Heaven” by Brandon Lake, “Here Is Our King” from David Crowder, “All Hail King Jesus” by Jeremy Riddle and the new reimagined (15th anniversary) version of Paul Baloche’s classic congregational song “Hosanna”. I’m also featuring a brand new local song from Mission Worship that just came out Friday: “All Hail The King”!
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Word of Encouragement is Hosanna.
This is what the crowd was shouting in Matthew chapter 21 when Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey. “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven.”
Hosanna is a term that means “Save.” It was an expression of praise, celebrating Jesus as the source of salvation.
The Old Testament expressed a plea for salvation. Psalm 118:25 says, “LORD, save us! LORD, grant us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.” Later, Jesus would enter Jerusalem, coming in peace while riding on a donkey, and presenting Himself as Israel’s king.
Hosanna speaks the compelling truth that through Jesus, our plea for salvation turns into an expression of praise when we welcome Him as our King, Savior, and friend.
Find encouragement in the shouts of Hosanna in the Year of Endurance.
Happy Sunday! Even though we’re not gathering to celebrate, today is a special occasion. It’s Palm Sunday! Listen in and sing along with me: songs of hosanna and hallelujah to the King!
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Wisdom from the Red Letters is found in Matthew 21:16.
After
Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, children were shouting in the temple courts,
“Hosanna to the Son of David.” The
religious leaders were annoyed, and asked Jesus, “Do you hear what these children
are saying?”
Hosanna
is a term that means “Save.” It can be a plea for salvation or an expression of
thanks for salvation. The religious leaders were troubled by the way these
children were acknowledging Jesus as a Messianic figure.
But Jesus did not water down their lyrics. He replied to the religious leaders, “Yes, have you never read, ‘from the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise?’”
Jesus
was referring to a passage in Psalm 8, acknowledging the praise of these children
in the temple courts as a fulfillment of these words.
The words of Jesus inspire us to praise Him with words like “Hosanna” in the Year of Redemption.
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Persons of Integrity from the Bible are the children who shouted “Hosanna.”
Children were drawn to Jesus. He showed them respect and dignity. He pointed to children as role models of faith and humility for adults to emulate.
In Matthew 21:15, the chief priests and teachers of the law took notice that children were shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David.” They asked Jesus, “Do you hear what these children are saying?” Jesus replied, “Have you never read, ‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise?”
Elsewhere, with a child in the presence of Jesus, He said in Matthew 18:3, “Truly, I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
The faithfulness of little children to praise God with humble hearts inspires us to follow their example and to live a life of Integrity.
JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Trust, today’s Focus on God examines Jesus as a gentle king.
According to Matthew 21, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. As Jesus entered, the crowds shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
The fact that Jesus rode on a donkey meant that He was riding in peace, not in war. If He came to wage war, He would have been riding a horse. But Jesus was coming to Jerusalem with an offer of peace, which would be ultimately fulfilled the following week when He laid down His life for us at the cross.
Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was a fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9, which says, “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey.”
The appearance of Jesus as a gentle king is a reason to trust in God for today and forever.
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment Of Celebration reflects on the meaning of Hosanna.
It’s called the Triumphal entry. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Matthew 21 records that a very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.”
Hosanna means “Save, please.” The origin of this word “Hosanna” shows up in Psalm 118:25 in the form of a prayer: “O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success.” By the time Jesus stepped onto the scene, the meaning of this word was changed to a shout of hope and exaltation.
So, it changed from a prayer request to an exclamation of praise. Hosanna reminds us that Jesus is the answer to our prayer for salvation. Those who gladly welcome Him as Messiah are filled with expressions of praise, because of what Jesus has done for us and what He means to us.
The meaning of Hosanna is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.
JOHN SHIRK – As Jesus entered the holy city on a donkey, a very large crowd was there to spread cloaks on the road. Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds were shouting, “Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
Hosanna is a word that means “save.” This word was a cry of the Old Testament. Psalm 118:25 says, “O LORD, save us.” In Jesus, the prayer for salvation becomes a declaration of praise. “Salvation belongs to our God.” Jesus rode into Jerusalem with shouts of joy from a welcoming crowd.
In a matter of days, the cry on the streets would not be for Jesus to save them, but for Pontius Pilate to crucify Jesus. What Jesus’ opponents did not know was that by going to the cross, Jesus was fulfilling God’s purpose of saving His people from their sins. Our plea for salvation becomes an answer to prayer through Jesus Christ.
The shout of Hosanna is a lesson of faith worth remembering.
