Hosanna!

April 17, 2011

Lesson: Mark 11:1–11

Key Verse: Mark 11:9

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Introduction

Christ came as a King with a kingdom to His temple, which He called “My house of prayer.’ The song of David proclaims this twofold activity of the Messiah, saying, “Praise waits for thee, O God, in Zion; and unto thee shall the vow be performed. O Thou that hears prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come” (Psa. 65:1–2). Our Lord is to be praised because He has called us to be in His kingdom. Our Lord would hear our prayers because he has prepared a place for us in His presence. Thus, when Christ came to Jerusalem, He heard His people sing his praises. We too are called to raise our voices in song, “Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord” (Ps. 113:1). Praise (Halal) is the picture of brightness. We are to celebrate the glory of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Hosanna of Mark 11:9 is found in Psalm 118:25–26, “Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord.” The house of our Lord, the very Body of Christ, is to reveal this praise in our prayer life with the Father. Thus we are to be called His house of prayer. Let us be careful not to make our fellowships dens of thieves, twisting His word that we may gain treasure at the expense of others.

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Thy Kingdom Come—Mark 11:1–11

King Jesus set the time and the place, and He rode into Jerusalem with majesty and honor. He came as the Savior and King of His people. When Christ and His disciples came to the Mount of Olives, He commanded two of His disciples to find a colt. They were to say to the owner, “the Lord hath need of him.” The Lord had prepared a colt to ride into Jerusalem. He would ride as a victorious King. He was the King whose purpose it was to set His face toward Jerusalem; for He was set apart at birth, having been given the name ’Joshua,’ which means ‘Jehovah is salvation.’ He would save His people from their sins. He had spoken to His disciples about this last visit to Jerusalem, saying, “I go and prepare a place for you” (John 14:2). This place would be in the household of God the Father. The preparation for this reconciliation would take place on His cross of Calvary. His words to the disciples would ring true from that cross. Such as when He claimed, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). Christ is the Captain of our salvation; the “author of eternal salvation” (Heb. 5:9); the faithful High Priest through whom we come to the “throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace in time of need” (4:16).

Nothing is left to chance in God’s plan of salvation for His people. The Son was given the name above all names; in Christ alone we are be saved, our sins forgiven; and the promise given, that we have in Him the gift of eternal life. Each step of our Savior was prepared and fulfilled. The donkey was prepared for His entry into Jerusalem, as was the Cross, for our entry into the Father’s presence. Let us give much thanks and praise for our King and Savior who was “crowned with glory and honor; that (Christ) by the grace of God should taste death for every man” (Heb. 2:9). By our Lord’s sacrifice we know the truth that we “are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels” (Heb. 12:22). The company we keep as children of our Father in heaven are mighty in strength and number. We claim with the innumerable number of saints “of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues,” standing before the throne of The Lamb, saying, “Salvation is of the Lord …Blessing and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God forever and ever. Amen” (Rev. 7:9–12).

Many had come to the feast of the Passover. Hearing of the coming of Jesus, they were moved to meet Him outside the city. They spread their clothes before Jesus, along with branches which they cut from the trees. The King of kings, the ruler of nations, came to God’s City as it was told by the prophets: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass” (Zech. 9:9).

The people cried with loud voices: “Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.” Pray that the daughters of Zion, the Redeemed people of God, would cry out with such praise. We live in an age of entertainment: churches and so-called Christian leaders, working the crowd to an unholy frenzy. True rejoicing and praise that ring out for all to hear come from hearts that cannot hold in the wonderful truth of Christ and His saving grace, of the King and His righteous dominion.

Discussion: What is the meaning of Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem on a donkey?

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Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2011 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.