You Need to Know the Helpful Meaning of “Hosanna”

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Holy Week begins on a day we call Palm Sunday. Many churches pass out Palm branches as attendees proclaim…

“Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”

John 12:13 (ESV)

Some translations have replaced the word ‘Hosanna” with “Praise God.” And although we have many reasons to praise God as we remember Holy Week’s history-changing events, “Praise God” does not accurately define the original Hebrew.

The word “Hosanna” comes from the Hebrew phrase “הושע נא” (Hoshana), which is translated as “Please save us” or “Save us now.”

On this day of Jesus’ triumphal entry, people were shouting more than a simple proclamation of praise. They were looking for a Messiah to save them from Roman rule and believed that He was fulfilling the following prophetic words of Zechariah…

Rejoice, O people of Zion!
    Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem!
Look, your king is coming to you.
    He is righteous and victorious,
yet He is humble, riding on a donkey—
    riding on a donkey’s colt.

Zecharaiah 9:9

People were gathered in Jerusalem for the upcoming Passover celebration, and word had spread about Lazarus’ resurrection and Jesus’ many miracles. So, they enthusiastically lifted their voices and declared Him the long-awaited Messiah and King.

The Life Application Bible Notes add…

“The people who were praising God for giving them a king had the wrong idea about Jesus. They were sure He would be a national leader who would restore their nation to its former glory … when it became apparent that Jesus was not going to fulfill their hopes, many people turned against Him.”

I’ve been attending a GriefShare group for the last few weeks. This week’s session was about dealing with anger and grief. And the Lord is on the list of those at whom we might direct our anger after the death of a loved one.

When someone dear to us is ill or we’re going through a crisis…

We praise. We believe. We pray. And we cry out, “Please save us now!”

But the Bible Notes also add that when Jesus does not fulfill our hopes by answering our prayers positively, we can get confused or even angry.

But the truth is … although we may not understand His ways or timing, we can always trust His love.

Jesus was and is the Messiah for all people of all times. He did not come to save one generation under an oppressive government.

Remember…

For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him.

John 3:16–17

We live in the present, so, understandably, we may occasionally be confused by the ways of an eternal God.

But when we KNOW, LOVE, and TRUST His love and look to our promised future in His presence, our Hosanna goes from “save us now” to “praise God.”

Why?

Because with the Spirit’s help, we believe that whatever the Lord allows, He will use for our good and His glory.

We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.

Romans 8:28

By grace, we believe the eternal future Jesus came to give us is greater than any temporary suffering this life affords.

So, as we look ahead to Holy Week, may we hold “Hosanna” in our hearts, remembering that Jesus is the One who saves us. Praise God!

Let’s pray…

A Hosanna Prayer

Father God, thank you for allowing us to visualize the crowds of Palm Sunday. People believed this “Man” of miracles was able to rescue them from the oppressive rule of Roman leaders.

He raised Lazarus, healed illnesses, and restored eyesight and hearing. He fed thousands and taught Your ways with explanations they had never heard before.

They believed He held the power of God, but only saw the worldly problem they wanted solved. We can be so like them, Lord. Please forgive us. We pray for healing and financial security. We cry out for protection and peace. We lift our hands and raise our voices, pleading, “Save us now.”

But Your ways are not our ways. You are the Alpha and Omega—the Beginning and the End. You know what we need eternally, but we impatiently want the things we believe will satisfy us today.

Thank you for knocking on the door of our hearts (Revelation 3:20) Thank you for Your Spirit, who enables us to open our hearts to Your grace, mercy, and love. Thank you for Jesus, who made it possible for us to see Your heart through His sacrifice.

On this side of His resurrection, we add “Praise God” to our Hosanna cries for help. You are the God who saves, not just for a moment but for forever and always.

So, I will shout Hosanna in the precious name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.

Rev. Bill Hybels wrote…

“But everyone who lined the streets had a different reason for waving those palms. Some were political activists; they’d heard Jesus had supernatural power, and they wanted him to use it to free Israel from Roman rule. Others had loved ones who were sick or dying. They waved branches, hoping for physical healing. Some were onlookers merely looking for something to do, while others were genuine followers who wished Jesus would establish himself as an earthly king. Jesus was the only one in the parade who knew why He was going to Jerusalem – to die. He had a mission, while everyone else had an agenda.”

May our response to Christ’s love be found in these words of David Maddalena…

I worship you Lord! You did not enter Your holy city Jerusalem on the back of a war horse, but humbly and on a donkey. You knew that You were surrounded by murderers, yet You came in peace, and by Your sacrifice You would utterly conquer death before the week had passed. You, oh Lord, are blessed and worthy of my praise. You have saved Your people. I say, “You are my king!”… I long to live in the city where You sit on the throne! Establish Your Kingdom, so that Your people can live in peace. Jesus, I bow before You, and I will sing Your praises until Your Kingdom comes and is established, and forever after.

May the Lord bless you as you lift a heartfelt “Hosanna” to the King of kings!

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