Palm Sunday: Hosanna!

By Harry Anderson
Used by permission from ChurchofJesusChrist.org

"...when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, (they) 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."

John 12: 12-13

The people shouted "Hosanna" which we often think of as a word for giving praise.  Biblically it means "save us"*.  It is an appeal to God for deliverance*.  Many, and maybe all of those shouting hosanna at Christ's entry thought He had come to save them from the Romans.  We know that He had actually come to save all of us from sin and death.

Though the gospels do not all have the cleansing of the temple on the same day as the triumphal entry, Matthew, who was the eye witness, did.*  Jesus said, 

"My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves."(Matthew 21:13).

While there are many things we can think of on Palm Sunday, as I read about it today it reminded me of the Sacrament.  We are temples, and are unclean.  We need Jesus to save us now.  We need Him to cleanse our temple, and make it fit for the Spirit of God.  Jesus finished His work.  Because of Him we can shout Hosanna -- calling on Him to save us now, and at the same time praising Him for cleansing us when we turn to Him.

Hosanna!!

*Bible Dictionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

*Dictionary.com

*God So Loved The World:  The Final Days of the Savior's Life by Eric D. Huntsman pg. 20