Hosanna to the King Who Saves
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
The King comes to His people. The triumphal entry—triumph being a Roman word—is not about earthly praise. The crowds shout, “Hosanna! Save us!” And that is exactly why Jesus came. He did not come to be adored by people, who today cry “Hosanna” and lay palm branches before Him, but only days later will shout, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him! Give us Barabbas!” They choose the murderer and condemn the innocent One to the worst death possible.
Jesus did not come for the people to make Him king. He is already King. The Good Shepherd comes to lay down His life for the sheep. When the crowd cries, “His blood be upon us and upon our children,” they speak more truly than they know. The blood of the Lamb takes away the sin of the world. God cannot be mocked. Christ came so that His blood would indeed be upon all who believe, that they would be saved.
Christ came to save you. He brings the kingdom of God, overthrowing the kingdom of Satan and the power of death. He wages war not with armies and banners, but by riding on a donkey and laying down His life on the cross.
He comes to save you from your sins. He comes to rescue you from death. He comes not because you are His subjects, but because you are His beloved children. His heart weeps for you. He loves you so deeply that there is no sin you can commit that He did not pay for. No gulf is too wide, no mountain too high, no power too strong to separate you from His love. For He is the King—Christ our Lord.
He comes to do what we cannot do: to make atonement for sin. Though He is ordained to be our King and Lord, we crown Him with thorns. We spit on Him. We mock Him. And He says, “Yes—this I gladly suffer, because I love you that much.”
For any who doubt the love of the Lord, look to the cross.
For any who wonder, “Have I committed a sin too great for God to forgive?”—come back on Thursday. Receive His Supper once again, given and shed for the forgiveness of sins—His body and blood for you.
For any who wonder, “Has God abandoned me? My loved ones are dead”—come back next Sunday. See the empty tomb. Hear the promise of the resurrection of all flesh and the gift of eternal life for all who believe in Him.
This is the King. Hosanna. Hosanna. Hosanna. Lord, save us. Amen.
