What significance does the crowd's use of "Hosanna" hold in John 12:12? Setting the Scene John 12:12–13 records: “The next day the great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, shouting: ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!’” The Original Meaning of “Hosanna” • Hebrew root: “Hoshia-na” (הוֹשִׁיעָה נָּא) literally means “Save, we pray!” • Over time it kept a dual flavor—both urgent plea and joyful praise. • By the first century, it had become a liturgical, messianic acclamation at the Feast of Tabernacles and Passover processions. Old Testament Echoes • Psalm 118:25: “O LORD, save us, we pray; O LORD, cause us to prosper!” • Psalm 118:26: “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD.” • The crowd links Jesus with this royal‐messianic psalm, which celebrated God’s salvation after victory and had long been read with messianic hope. Hosanna on Palm Sunday—A Plea and a Praise • Plea: “Save us now!”—a request for deliverance, both spiritual and national. • Praise: By attaching Psalm 118’s blessing, the crowd exalts Jesus as the anticipated Redeemer. • Sign of urgency: Passover celebrated God’s past deliverance from Egypt; they now look for present deliverance through Jesus. What the Crowd Was Declaring about Jesus • Recognizing Him as the promised King (2 Samuel 7:12-16; Zechariah 9:9). • Acknowledging His divine authorization—“comes in the name of the LORD.” • Expecting immediate salvation—some hoped for liberation from Rome; yet Jesus enters to save from sin (John 1:29). Why John Includes the Detail • To show prophetic fulfillment—Zechariah 9:9’s humble King riding a donkey. • To highlight the mixed understanding: literal messianic proclamation by the crowd, full spiritual reality grasped only after the resurrection (John 12:16). • To underscore that Jesus openly received titles reserved for the Messiah, confirming His identity. Takeaway Truths for Today • “Hosanna” unites desperate need with confident worship: we cry for salvation and celebrate the Savior in one breath (Romans 10:9-13). • Jesus accepts the title because He truly delivers—first from sin, soon in visible reign (Revelation 19:11-16). • Palm Sunday calls believers to echo the crowd’s words with deeper understanding: “Hosanna” is not wishful; it is faith in the King who has come and will come again. |
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