Hosanna: What Does This Word Mean? The Same People That Cried Hosanna, Were The Same People Who Yelled Crucify Him.

“Here He comes,” they shouted waving their Palm branches. “It is Jesus! See Him!"

"But why is he riding on a donkey and not a beautiful white stallion or in a chariot?” some may have questioned. “Oh well, let us shout Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest!” These people were shouting, dancing, throwing their palm branches down, and bowing before Him. What a scene that must have been. They adored Jesus.

What a day! What a celebration! The people were having a party that would last for a week. 

This day was Jesus' entry into the city of Jerusalem. He, His followers, and disciples previously stopped at the Mount of Olives before they got to the town where He sent two of his disciples to get a donkey. They told the owner that the Lord needed it. They put coats on the donkey so Jesus could ride him comfortably, and this is how He arrived in the streets where the crowd gathered for the festivities (See Luke 19: 28-38).

It appeared that the people knew how great He was. They threw their coats on the ground! They had reason to be excited; He was going to be their King. At least this is what they thought was going to happen.

A few days later, after Jesus' arrival, He was accused of treason (apprehended by the Roman soldiers in the middle of the night) because the high priests said that He was rebelling against the government (See John 18). Those same people who cheered, applauded, bowed and shouted praises to Him, suddenly changed their minds about Him. Did they forget He was kind, gentle, loving, full of mercy and truth? Did they dismiss His teachings and forget the miracles they had seen with their own eyes? Yes, they thought they had been betrayed and that now they would not have Him as their King to fight their battles and to bring the spoils of wealth back to them. He was their King, but they only thought He was an earthly King and would remain with them.

What good was He to them now?

Within days, these same people who shouted Hosanna (which means ‘save us now’), would become part of a mob shouting, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” (See John 19:6) How could they not understand that He was a Servant first; the Suffering Servant? He was not then, nor ever will be, a quick fix for mankind. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Who came to fulfill their cry to save them.

They turned their backs on Him when He needed them to give Him support. How tragic for them. This fickle crowd denounced the King of Kings and Lord of Lords - the One who offered them salvation, eternal life with Him forever.

Perhaps we are no different than those people. When all is going well and blessings fill our lives, we shout and sing His praises. Then when we can’t feel Him with us, we begin to accuse Him of not caring or we even turn our backs on Him.

Let us never be fickle when it comes to Jesus! Fickle people are erratic, especially with regard to their affections. Let us never waiver in our love and Devotion to Him.

A double minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:8, ASV) Cathy Irvin.

Hosanna: What Does This Word Mean?

Hosanna is often translated “Please Save Us.”  It is a Greek word “ὡσαννά” that most scholars believe is the transliteration of two Hebrew words- יָשַׁע- “yasha” which means “to save or deliver” and אָנּאָ – “anna” which means “please, I beseech.” Other scholars believe its Hebrew roots come from a different verb tense of “yasha” הוֹשַׁ֣ע which means to cause or to bring about salvation. In this tense, hosanna becomes a command to bring about or cause salvation.

Is Hosanna in the Bible?

Hosanna occurs in the New Testament 6 times. Matthew, Mark, and John mention that the people called out “Hosanna” in praise and celebration during Jesus’ Triumphal Entry to Jerusalem during the week before Passover.

“So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’” (John 12:13)

"Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" (Matthew 21:9)

“And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, ‘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!’” (Mark 11:9-10)

The people who were celebrating Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem were quoting Psalm 118:25-26, “Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!”  The phrase “Save us, we pray” in Hebrew sounds like “Hosanna.”

Matthew (Matthew 21:12-16) also included another mention of “Hosanna.” After Jesus cleansed the Temple by driving out the moneychangers and those who were buying and selling items, children in the Temple praised Jesus by crying out, "Hosanna to the Son of David!"  Though the chief priests and scribes were upset by the children, Jesus commended their praise by saying, 

“Yes; have you never read, 'Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise?’”  This is a paraphrase of Psalm 8:2, “Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.”

Is Hosanna Used in Worship?

1. In Christian Church Songs and Liturgy

Christians often sing songs that include “Hosanna” in the lyrics and use the phrase in church liturgy. Exclaiming “Hosanna” is a way to praise God. It reminds Christ’s followers that He can save them and He is the source of their salvation.

2. In Palm Sunday Celebrations

Palm Sunday (sometimes called Passion Sunday) is the day that Christians celebrate Christ’s Triumphal Entry to Jerusalem. On Palm Sunday, they may wave branches and exclaim together, “Hosanna in the highest.”  Palm Sunday is the first day of Holy Week leading up to the celebration of Easter.  

3. In the Jewish Holiday of Sukkot

In the Jewish faith, Hosanna is an expression often used during the holiday of Sukkot, which many people call the Feast of Tabernacles described in Leviticus 23:33-43. Jewish people build temporary shelters and celebrate the holiday with branches called the “lulav” and “etrog” from palms, willows, other leafy trees and citrons.

My Jewish Learning explains that during Sukkot the Psalms of Praise (Hallel), which are Psalms 113-118, are read and “additional prayers are included in the service asking God to save us (hoshana, from which we get the English word hosanna). During the Hoshana prayers, congregants march around the synagogue sanctuary holding the lulav and etrog. The seventh and last day of the festival is called Hoshanah Rabba, the ‘Great Hoshana.’”

What Does Hosanna Mean to Us Today?

The people in Jerusalem greeted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Messiah by crying out "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" (Mark 11:9-10) as a song of praise and expectation. Today, we can join in singing along with all the people who followed Christ as their Messiah.

• We can celebrate His salvation to those of us who believe.
   
• We can pray for Him to save our loved ones.
   
• We can praise and bless His name.
   
• We can exalt Him in the highest heavens above everything else in the world.