Wednesday, December 12, 2018
John 12:13 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, even the King of Israel!"
ADVENT SHOUTS OF HOSANNA
The advent (the "coming") of the one true King was on full display as He rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. The people of Jerusalem were shouting, "Hosanna," a Hebrew phrase which means, "save us" -- but from what? Many Israelites had set up their own false expectations for the Messiah -- they wanted to be saved from the Romans. They wanted a Savior who would rescue them from earthly oppression, provide for their physical needs, and deliver them from their daily discomfort.
Much of the world today shouts for Christmas, yet many people often miss the entire point of the excitement. If you've been to a department store in the past few weeks, you know firsthand just how much the world shouts for Christmas. But what does Christmas save them from? The doldrums of daily life? Maybe Christmas brings a few days off work or a few weeks away from school, but is that all the Christmas saves us from?
By faith, we know that Christmas is so much more than just another holiday. The birth of Christ meant the coming of the world’s one true King. Jesus Christ is not the King that the world wanted, but he is the King the world needed. This Advent Season we remember once again: the coming of the King. Yes, the Christian Church shouts for Christmas too! Not for the coming of a temporal King, but for an eternal King -- the gift of the sinless Son of God, come to rescue us from death's dark dominion!
On a silent night in Bethlehem Israel, Jesus entered the world as the only one who could save us from sin. That first Palm Sunday he knew that the cross lay ahead as He rode into Jerusalem. He was ready to endure all the shame and injustice and take the whole load of sin off us and allow the Father to punish Him instead. The Son of God took your place and mine on the cross! Jesus gives us a treasure worth more than all the wealth in the world -- perfect peace with God and everlasting life! This Advent season as we look again to the coming of our King we shout in true faith: "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!"
