Ben Fourie

“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest” Matthew 21:9 (NIV)

A few days before his crucifixion and death Jesus had a triumphant entry into Jerusalem. A very large crowd gathered and paved the road with their cloaks and with branches they had cut from the trees. As part of this they sang a well-known song. The song is actually Psalm 118 and every Jew knew it as it was one of the songs used at the important Feast of Tabernacles.

This is the last psalm in a row of six (113-118) that was used after the return from Babylon and was used at the festivals of Passover, Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles. In the time of Jesus it would also have played an important role. As it was almost time for Passover many people were probably already singing some of these psalms.

Psalm 118 tells about a time of war and the deliverance from an enemy. The psalm describes the entry of the triumphant army behind their commander or king. It is clear that those who wrote the New Testament knew this psalm very well and applied it to Jesus in different places as can be seen from vers 22: “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone.”

Was the crowd not wrong to sing this song of triumph for Jesus while the road ahead was one of flogging, mockery, a cross, death and a tomb hewn out of the rock? Might a song of mourning, as there are many in the Psalms, not have been more appropriate? No! The crowd actually sees prophetically past the cross and the tomb to the quiet Sunday morning when the angel said to the women: “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” There is no doubt that the crowd were right to see Jesus as the Son of David, the long expected Messiah, the one who came in the name of God to conquer death and the grave. He is still leading us in his march of triumph, we his army of redeemed sinners to proclaim this victory.

Prayer: Thank you that I can also be one of those celebrating your victory over death. Amen