Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” – Mark 11:9

A triumphant procession before the end of a battle? Only Jesus could do that. For, a warrior comes home to a triumphant procession only after a victory in battle. David led a triumphant procession after his stunning victory over the Philistines and their giant warrior, Goliath. “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands,” the women sang to welcome him (1 Samuel 18:6-7). Of course, the sound of it did not go well with everybody, particularly King Saul, but it was a celebration of a great victory over the enemies of Israel.

The battle of Calvary was of a different form. It was uglier and fiercer. The giant was the formidable foe, the ancient Serpent, with legions of dark forces to lead. It’s a battle for the souls of mankind and only the Son of David could lead the charge to triumph. It was spiritual warfare to the highest degree, a charge against the citadel of sin, death, and hell.

First was the mystery of incarnation. Incomprehensible! But that was the necessary and ultimate intervention (Heb. 2:14-15). Then, the challenge of the sinless life in a provocative dark environment, the passion week of suffering and His struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane, and then Calvary to endure. The tomb was to test the veracity of His victory proclamation, “It is finished” (Jn. 19:30). Then the third day, when the stone would be rolled away to reveal His triumph over death, would sound the “Amen” of Heaven, the authentication of the final sacrifice – the great resurrection. So, how could Jesus go on a triumphal procession before the end of the battle?

“Bring it on,” Jesus was saying by that. “I AM the Paschal Lamb prepared by my Father for the ultimate sacrifice to take away the sin of the world. Now you know it, so get on with what you’re about to do. It is ordained by my Father that it should be this way. The road is treacherous, but it’s a done deal. So, Jerusalem and the world, receive your King!”

In the spirit of prophesy, He came riding on a colt (Zechariah 9:9). The crowd gathered, and the people shouted the prophesy of Psalms 118:25-26:

“Hosanna!”

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

“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!

But, did they understand what they were proclaiming?

Jesus was indeed riding into His kingdom, but it was not the physical kingdom the people envisaged. He would sit on the throne of David, but not the form they had hoped for. The King had to take the place of His subjects and receive the penalty for their sin nature, and He will not turn back. Calvary was waiting to receive His blood, but “for the joy set before Him” (Heb. 2:2), Jesus rode triumphally into Jerusalem for the last time in His earthly sojourn. Very soon, the shouts of joy would turn to a chant of, “Crucify Him!”

The pivotal question this “Palm Sunday” then is, “What do you mean when you shout ‘Hosanna!’?” Do you mean, “Jesus, save me from my sins”; or, “Praise to the giver of what I want”? Is your ‘Hosanna’ a shout of praise for your salvation, or a simple and hollow celebration of a religious festival?