they took palm branches and went out to meet him, and cried out: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, [even] the king of Israel.” John 12:13 NABRE
In the Gospel of John we read about Jesus entry into Jerusalem riding a donkey like a king. The crowd heard he was coming to Jerusalem and gave him a royal welcome entering the Holy City. The news that He raised Lazarus from the dead would have spread and His popularity was at its highest. Laying palm branches was a sign of Jewish nationalism and liberation. The crowd shouted “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,” which is a quote from Psalm 118, praising God for saving his people. It depicts a celebratory procession to the temple with “leafy branches.” The word “hosanna” is a Hebrew phrase that means “Save [us] please!” The crowd also hails Jesus as the king of Israel. Through the crowds words and symbolic actions they are welcoming Jesus as the Messianic, Davidic king, understood as God’s instrument of salvation to throw off Roman oppression and to rule Israel in righteousness. It is a different message from their action at the end of the week where Jesus is accused, condemned, crucified and buried dead. The same crowd at the end of the week called for the condemnation of Jesus.
The people are fickle. Seeing Jesus’ miracles, particularly raising someone from the dead, they held him as a Savior. But when the leaders who felt threatened by Jesus popularity and feared losing control of the people, quickly used their influence to cast Jesus as someone who deemed himself equal to God, a great sinner. The voices of the people bought the “fake news” and change their shouts of hosanna to shouts of crucify Him.
Do you find yourself being influenced easily by unsubstantiated words? Are you familiar with Jesus last week?
The voices of the people bought the “fake news” and change their shouts of hosanna to shouts of crucify Him. Share on X#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity#dailybibleverse @youversion#BeAnEncourager #palms #king #John#everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist#jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion#biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse#verseoftheday #pray #prayer #goodnews#loveeachother #godisgreat #bocaraton#youversion #everythingalways