Hosanna!

Hossana!

They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” John 12:13 NIV

The Inspiration:

The event in this verse took place just before Jesus went to the cross. Jesus was coming into Jerusalem for the appointment he had with destiny, and in line with the plan of God, it was not a secret mission. This time, it was like the whole town had been expecting Him. This was a city that had constantly rejected and resisted Him; in fact, at a time, Jesus raised a lament over the city. It was a city that killed the prophets sent to it by God, and stoned those sent to tell the inhabitants of the city the truth. This was a city that, according to the words of Jesus, He wanted to gather them as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but the people resisted at every turn. I must be careful that the things of God do not become too familiar to me. I can be so used to a thing or process that it loses its 'awe' value. Familiarity can be such a burden, because it closes one's eyes to the truth. 

The Contention:

I cannot afford to be careless about the things God considers important. That is not a position any of us prays to be. At the end of the denunciation of the city, Jesus said these words: "For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." Fast forward some time later, indeed, Jesus was coming into Jerusalem and all He had prophesied about the city was coming true. The people of the city came out in their numbers to honour this man that they had constantly rejected. God's Word will always come to pass, no matter how hard I try to resist or fight. The people brought out their clothes and laid them on the floor for the donkey carrying Him to walk on, and they shouted the words: "Hossana. Blessed is the king of Israel". None of God's Words will ever go back to Him empty; His Word is His name, nature and bond. 

The Conclusion:

It is impossible to call God a liar because He is not like man, who can't be trusted. God's Word was fulfilled here, but there was a bigger plan in place. Somewhere in both Isaiah and Zechariah, this experience had been foretold. This is another example of who God is and what He can do. He can raise anyone to do His will, and He can use anyone to achieve His purpose. The same crowd that came out to sing Hossana here, were the same crowd that shouted "Crucify Him". This crowd preferred a murderer to be released than Jesus who knew no sin, but there was a bigger picture in play. Jesus was sent in the name of the Lord to perfect God's plan of salvation, and He is the only One through whom this plan finds reality. If I seek to know God, and to experience forever the joy this crowd knew for just a short while, I need to surrender all to Jesus today. As He entered Jerusalem back in those days, so does He wait for me to open my heart to Him. What are you waiting for? God's time of favour is here.