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 Person of Integrity from the Bible is Zechariah.
He was a prophet who wrote a book in the Old Testament. There are significant themes found in his writings.
He called people to return to the LORD.
He spoke about the strategic and prophetic significance of Jerusalem.
He spoke of a day to come when the LORD would be king over the whole earth.
And he spoke of the events surrounding Palm Sunday with these words, “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 faithfulness of Zechariah to draw attention to Jesus inspires us to do the same with our words and to live a life of Integrity.
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.
