Wednesday 03Nov2021, UPDATED: Wednesday 05Jan2022
In the New Testament today, I read John chapters 11 and 12.
John 12:13 tells of the people welcoming our Lord Iesus into Jerusalem with the exclamation, "Hosanna", a Greek word which some scholars believe is a combination of the Hebrew words “yasha” (to save or deliver) and “anna” (please, I beseech).
We can see this meaning reflected in Psalm 118:25,26, a prophecy that was eventually fulfilled in John 12:13,
- John 12:12 - 13 KJV King James Version
-
On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard
that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. - Psalm 118:25 - 26 KJV
-
Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech
thee, send now prosperity.
Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.
Bearing in mind that the Greek expression "Hosanna" is equivalent to the Hebrew "yasha anna" or "save, I beseech thee" (Psalm 118:25), a more detailed account of our Lord's triumphant entry into Jerusalem is given in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 21:
- Matthew 21:8 - 11 KJV King James Version
-
8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut
down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.
9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? 11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.
The words, "Hosanna to the Son of David" and "Hosanna in the highest" in verse 9 is rendered more clearly by the Weymouth New Testament as,
"God save the Son of David!"
and
"God in the highest Heavens save Him!" respectively.
In other words, "Hosanna" was a prayer to God for our Lord Iesus the Anointed to be saved from his enemies.
When we understand that Hosanna means "Save, I beseech Thee", we begin to understand, somewhat profoundly, that "Hosanna to the Son of David" (Matthew 21:9 KJV) is not a cry to the Lord Iesus. Instead, it was a cry in prayer to God, beseeching Him to save the Son of David!
Furthermore, the meaning of the expression of praise, "Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the LORD" becomes much more meaningful if we recognise that the word translated "LORD" refers to the Name of God, YeHoVaH, from the tetragrammation Yod-He-Vav-He.
Thus when our Lord Iesus was entering Jerusalem triumphantly that day, the people were exclaiming, "Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of YeHoVaH". In other words, the people recognised that Iesus came to them in the Name of his God.
Brothers and Sisters in Iesus the Anointed One, let us ponder over the meaning of these words of prayer "Hosanna to the Son of David" and "Hosanna in the highest", and the words of praise, "Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the Name of the LORD".
Let us likewise call upon our God to save us, "yasha anna". In our own words, "Save us, we beseech Thee" and bless the Anointed Lord Iesus, "Blessed is he who comes to us in the Name of Yehovah".
