Palm Sunday begins with joyous acclamation of Jesus as
one who comes in the name of the Lord.
The entry into Jerusalem is marked with the symbols and dynamics of a
political parade. Jesus orchestrates the first symbolic act: riding on
a donkey. In contrast to military victors and heroes of the state, who
rode stallions, Jesus' donkey is a sign of humility. This did not
prevent the crowd from welcoming Jesus as a hero, however. They threw
their cloaks and branches from palm trees in his path to honor him.
They shouted the first century cheer: Hosanna! They were accompanying a
prophet into Jerusalem and it was a moving public event.
We still cry "hosanna" on Palm Sunday. But we are far removed from the first-century crowds and their expectation of religious reform and political challenge. We simply echo it as a word of praise.
The original Hebrew invocation, addressed to God, meant "O save!" It is ironic that both the first crowd and all the church crowds since have, in crying out "hosanna," confessed their need of salvation. It is that need to which the events of Holy Week respond. The one who comes in the name of the Lord comes determined to restore the broken relationships between us and God, and to do so at any cost.
"Hosanna!" indeed.