As He rode into Jerusalem, the crowds sang songs of praise to Jesus. These people were probably pilgrims on their way to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem. These pilgrims would sing songs as they traveled. One of these songs was Psalm 118, which celebrated the first Passover and the exodus from Egypt. These people applied words from this Psalm to praise Jesus.
Psalm 118: 25 Please, Lord, please save us. Please, Lord, please give us success. 26 Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord. [1] Hosanna is a liturgical word in Judaism and Christianity that means “save, we pray.” [2] They also laid their coats on the road ahead of Jesus. This was a custom of that day to honor a visiting king.
These pilgrims most likely thought that Jesus was coming to save them from Roman rule. Jesus knew He was coming to bring salvation. Had the crowds known what was ahead, they would have been puzzled and upset.
Other Insight from Psalm 118
Not all of this Psalm of praise was positive. Some passages foreshadowed what would happen to Jesus. Psalm 118: 22 The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone…27b Take the sacrifice and bind it with cords on the altar.[3]
Yes, Jesus was coming to save His people, and He would be blessed because He came in the name of His Father. But He would save His people in an unexpected way. Jesus became the sacrifice bound to the altar of the cross. There, His blood paid the price for our sin. But many, including the Jewish leadership, would reject Him even though His sacrifice became the cornerstone of the Christian faith.
Fickle Praise?
The crowds praised Jesus as Messiah on Sunday, but on Friday morning, the crowd called for His crucifixion. While these crowds may not have been the same people, it does give us food for thought. What happens when Jesus does something unexpected or unwanted in our lives? Are we still ready to praise Him? Or do we only praise God if He does what we want?
Fickle means likely to change frequently or suddenly without a good reason, often referring to opinions, feelings, or loyalties that are unreliable. It suggests a lack of steadiness or commitment.[4] Jesus became King as His death brought victory. He taught His disciples the need to follow no matter what happened. Luke 9: 23 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.[5]
Are we willing to follow Jesus into controversy, trial, or death? To do so requires faith and a constant focus on our Savior. We want to be faithful and not fickle as we follow Jesus. Part of that faith journey includes songs of praise to Jesus. To learn more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/forward-with-full-knowledge
[1,3,5] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.
[2] Elwell, W. A., & Comfort, P. W. (2001). In Tyndale Bible dictionary (p. 613). Tyndale House Publishers.
[4] https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/fickle