Hosanna

Imagine yourself being in Jerusalem the week before the Passover 33AD. It’s a warm day with palm trees swaying to a gentle breeze. You were finally able to find lodging for the week. The city is bustling with excitement. People are everywhere, catching up with family they haven’t seen since Passover last year. The noise is deafening. It’s hard to carry on a conversation. All of a sudden, shouts could be heard over the chaos, “Jesus is coming, Jesus is coming.” You turn to look and see Jesus riding on a donkey. Multitudes are putting their coats on the ground as a tribute to Jesus. Others are laying palm branches down or waving them in the air. “Hosanna to the Son of David”, someone shouts. Another voice cries, “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” A chorus of voices can be heard crying out, “Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest”, as Jesus proceeds toward Jerusalem. Someone in the crowd asks, “Who is he?” You answer, “this is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.”

A group of Pharisees were also in the crowd. They called out to Jesus, “Master, rebuke thy disciples.” Jesus looked at them as he answered, “I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.”

When Jesus got closer to Jerusalem, he looked out over the city and wept. Little did they know the difference a week would make.