I was reading tonight in Matthew about when Jesus came into Jerusalem as King. People were laying down their cloaks in the street and cutting palm branches to lay down before him as he came riding in. The crowds of people went ahead of him and followed behind him shouting “Hosanna!” I’d never given much thought to what that word actually means. I’ve sung it in songs a million times and never has the thought once crossed my mind as to what the actual meaning of the word might be. According to Merriam Webster, hosanna means: used as a cry of acclamation and adoration. Perfect. That was exactly what I assumed it meant. But after digging a little deeper I found that the word hosanna actually comes from the Hebrew word meaning save, or rescue.
First, how crazy is it that this same crowd of people that were shouting out “save us” would one week later be yelling “crucify him”. All the while, Jesus was doing just want they had asked of him, fulfilling their desperate need, without them even being aware. He was saving them.
This got me thinking. Jesus knows what he’s doing. He knew it back 2000 years ago riding into Jerusalem and He knows it now. He came to Jerusalem to fulfill God’s purpose for wrapping him in flesh and sending him to earth. To die for us and save us all. Coming into the city he was praised but it was short-lived. The praises changed to being despised, rejected, betrayed, taken, beaten, crushed, pierced, and crucified, by us, for us; to save us. To save the people that were killing him.
Tonight (as often happens) God showed me something new threw this story that I’ve read and heard a thousand times. That when we come to God seeking something or asking something, He has already put a plan into action for us. He has already worked everything out before we even asked it of him. And what’s more is that once his plan is spun into motion, there’s nothing we can do to stop him. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. “Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:39) There is nothing we can do to stop his grace. The people needed a savior; Jesus knew this. And even at humanity’s possibly darkest hour, Jesus was fulfilling his promise to us. See these people didn’t take his life from him…He GAVE it for them; for us. Jesus said “no one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. (John 10:34) Why? Because he loves us.
God crucified his son long before we asked for forgiveness. He already knew that we needed him. Romans 8:32 says “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?”
I’m holding onto this promise and thanking God for revealing things and renewing my mind like only He can!
