Hosanna, LORD, Hosanna!"

Palm Sunday. The people making their pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. Thousands of Jews walk the roads. And, then they see Jesus ... one they know has given sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, strong legs to the paralyzed, and restored limbs to the diseased. And, just a week ago ... brought Lazarus back to life. Four days dead! And, now Lazarus lives.

They see Jesus on a donkey ... and Zechariah begins to speak ...
"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold! Your King is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey... 

Could it be? Right now? Right here? Before our eyes? Our Messiah has come! Save us, Lord, save us! Jesus! Our Messiah!"

And, the crowds go wild! People run into the fields and gather branches. They lay them before Jesus, wave them in the air and declare, "Hoshiya-na! Lord, hoshiya-na! Save us! Lord, save us!"

As you say those words today in the liturgy of the Table ... think of yourself in the crowd calling to your King. No, not like the first picture ... pretty as it is ... but more likely like the ones after.* And, then reflect ... will you be like those on that day who in four days will cry out "Crucify him!" ... or will you stand at the Cross with a heart overflowing with ... I can't find words for it ... joyful grief? ... that your King is come. Jesus, Messiah is come with righteousness and salvation for all who believe on His Name.

Hoshiya-na, Lord! Hoshiya-na!

*It was probably more like the middle two pictures but I love the last one.