HOSANNA
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Opening Prayer
Holy Spirit, help me to see something new, something challenging and even life-changing, in today’s familiar story.
Read MARK 11:1–11
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
11 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”
4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
“Hosanna![a]”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[b]
10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
‘Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away your punishment’… .1
In the month of October 1936, two hundred men marched from the northeast of England to London, the capital city and center of power. Their purpose was to highlight poverty and unemployment in the former shipbuilding town of Jarrow. Today’s reading presents us with a man, driven by a clear but different sense of purpose, together with his ragtag group of followers (women as well as men). They are entering the city of Jerusalem, the center of religious and political power, at the end of their journey from Galilee. Read Mark 10:32–34 to remind yourself of Jesus’ driven agenda and the mixed emotions of those with him.
Jesus is the master of understatement. On the one hand he overtly assumes the role of the Messiah, the Son of Man, the One who is to bring God’s salvation to the nation of Israel. Yet he demonstrates this in the humblest fashion. Fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9, he enters the city on a colt. He isn’t the firebrand, but calmly challenges the status quo with his entry. He accepts the traditional greeting of ‘Hosanna’, given to every pilgrim up for the Passover festival. However, he evokes something more. The cloaks and branches spread on the ground signify homage, a gradual recognition that Jesus is someone of very special significance.
What is understood about this entrance by those who accompanied Jesus on his journey south, by those who witnessed his arrival, and by you? The revelation is gradual. Enough is enough, for one day. Jesus takes a leisurely look around the temple courts. He then seeks accommodation at Bethany.
Apply
Listen to ‘Hosanna’ by Hillsong Worship and join in the Hosannas with exuberance and joy.
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for the joy that is mine because you were willing to go to Jerusalem, to die in my stead, so that I could have abundant life in you.
1 Zeph 3:14
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