Tiny Little Things

Christians around the world are celebrating Palm Sunday today. The Gospels record this as the triumphal entry of Jesus into the city of Jerusalem on a young donkey, fulfilling the prophecy of Prophet Zechariah. The people welcomed Him with palm branches and shouted,

“Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Churches often give palm branches to the congregants, waving the branches on their hands, and shouting “Hosanna!” Replicating what the crowd did 2000 years back to welcome Jesus (just not with their cloaks spread out on the church floor). The Scripture reading will usually be taken from the passage of Jesus’ triumphal entry, and hymns and songs often use the same word, “Hosanna.” We happily shout “Hosanna” and often forget (or maybe don’t know) that “Hosanna” is a cry for mercy.

The Jewish people from all over the world were gathering in Jerusalem, ready for the Passover celebration. The atmosphere was likely similar to the anticipation of August 17th in Indonesia or July 4th in the USA. People in Jerusalem were so ready to celebrate their freedom from slavery, celebrate the redemption from their enemies! So when they heard that Jesus, the man that gave so many great and compelling messages and performed many miracles to the poor and needy, was on his way to the town, they went up to welcome him. They took palm branches to celebrate him, even spread their cloak on the dusty road of Jerusalem so that his donkey would have an easier passage. It was a kind of celebration a king would receive when he brought back victory.

The people of Israel cried for redemption, but the salvation they had in mind was different with what the Lord has promised. If only they had sought the Lord and learned His words, they would have known that the awaited promise was about to be fulfilled. Nonetheless, God heard their cry. For it was the 5th day before the Passover, which in Jewish calendar is the 10th of Nissan, the day when the Passover lamb was being chosen and separated, prepared to be slaughtered at the afternoon of Nissan 14, the Passover day. Jesus knew, and He came, entering Jerusalem as the Lamb of God prepared to be slain for the sin of the world. The Jewish cried for salvation from the oppression of Romans, unaware that the Lamb of God was coming to free them from the oppression of death.

As we are passing the Palm Sunday, let us not forget that in our “Hosanna,” lies our lament of need in God’s salvation. It might not always a plea of deliverance from our earthly enemies (though God is certainly able) but more than that, for God has given us the redemption from the ultimate fate of all mankind: death (Rm 6:23). The Passover Lamb has come and taken away the sin of the world, bringing life to those who believe in His redemption. Therefore let us who have been redeemed say, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!”

Maranatha!

1. יְ֭הוָה (YHWH), God’s proper name. The Jewish do not say the proper name of the Lord in fear of profaning it. ↩︎