Hosanna!

“Then the crowds who went ahead of Him and those who followed Him shouted: ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’” 
Matthew 21:9 (NIV) 

What does your heart truly cry out for when you worship? 

Imagine the confusion on that dusty Jerusalem road. The crowd erupts in celebration, palm branches waving wildly as they shout "Hosanna!" to the humble man on a donkey. Only Jesus truly understood what their celebration would cost Him. 

In today's passage, the people welcome Jesus by shouting "Hosanna!" This word isn’t just a cheer, it’s a desperate plea meaning "Come save us now!" Little did they realize that Jesus would soon fulfill this cry in the most unexpected way. 

Within days, the same streets that witnessed His triumphal entry would lead to His crucifixion. How many times have you lifted your hands in worship on Sunday, only to shake those same hands in frustration by Monday when God's plan didn't align with yours? 

The Hosanna-shouters must have been shocked seeing Jesus flipping money tables and driving sellers out of the Temple. With righteous anger, Jesus made it clear that His house would be a place for pure worship, not greed. Worship isn’t about getting what we want, but getting in on what God wants. That’s why Jesus quoted Isaiah 56:7 and shouted, "My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers!" (Matthew 21:13, NIV) 

What He did next transformed the entire scene. Verse 14 says, “The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them.” (Matthew 21:14, NIV) Jesus invited the outsiders inside—the blind, lame, and diseased–who were previously expelled from worshiping in the temple for being unclean. He welcomed them in and healed them.  

Jesus resists the haughty, but embraces the humble and heals them. 

Examine your motivations when you worship. Do you ever find yourself going through the motions without giving God your heart? Or praising God one minute and then blaming Him the next? 

 Take time today to bring your motivations before God honestly. Present your praise and pleas to Him, and approach Him with the humility of one seeking healing. Remember, Jesus still responds to the sincere cry of "Hosanna!" from those who recognize their need for salvation. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank you for sending Jesus to set me free. Help me cry out “Hosanna” with all that it means–adoring You and pleading for Your mercy. Save me now, Lord! Give me an undivided heart, that I might worship You honestly, embrace Your will over mine, and receive Your healing. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.