Week 15: An Easter week "Hosanna!"
- cindystumme
- Apr 13
- 5 min read
Devotional readings focused on Psalms about Christ for the third week of April.
Meditation
Thanks for joining this devotional series during Easter week! Easter is one of my favorite holidays--always has been. But as I think back on Easters past, it's interesting to see how age and perspective has shifted my own experiences of the holidays we celebrate in the United States.
Take Halloween, for instance. This used to be the highlight of the fall for me and my brother when we were little. We would carefully plan our costumes and our route to ensure maximum candy! Such joy! At this point in life I dread having that much candy in the house for fear I'll eat it myself. I suppose that makes me a Halloween humbug!
Easter is a different story. As a midlife person, I find Easter to be much richer than when I was a child or even a young mom. It used to be all about dyeing the Easter eggs, Easter baskets, a new dress or suit for Easter morning for each child, and husband Jack's ingenuity in hiding the eggs after Easter dinner. But at my current stage of life, Easter speaks louder of the deep hope I have in the grace of God. I still love the trappings and traditions, but the meaning behind them shines through more brightly each year.
This year, I happened upon the word hosanna, a curious expression shouted by the happy people of Jerusalem during Jesus's ride from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem on the day we now call Palm Sunday. According to some scholars, this word had two meanings. The first comes from one of our psalms this week:
Lord, save us!
Lord, grant us success!
Pslam 118:25, NIV
Psalm 118 would have been sung leading up to and during Passover, so the people of Jerusalem already had it on the tips of their tongues. Thus it is no surprise that this is what they sang as Jesus rode into Jerusalem.
But the word itself had developed a new meaning by Jesus's day. We see that in Matthew 21:9 as the people waved branches before Jesus and laid their coats in the dust for the donkey he rode to step on:
The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed 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
The passage describing Jesus's entry into Jerusalem doesn't record cries of supplication, but cries of rejoicing. Over the years since the psalmist penned Psalm 118, the meaning of hosanna had changed to one of praise for what God had already done and for the salvation He had already wrought in their lives.
I find this dual meaning of hosanna so rich to meditate upon during Easter week. I have good reasons to cry out, "Hosanna! Lord, please save us!" right now in my life. But at the same time, I have every reason to sing "Hosanna! Praise you for the salvation you have already given!"
Isn't that just exactly where we live in these midlife years? We are no longer able to step in and solve the problems in our children's lives; we are less hero and more mentor in their stories now. Our parents may have problems too complex for us to solve as well, leaving us with prayer as the only viable option. So we cry out to God, "Hosanna! Lord, intervene in this situation."
But at the same time, He has already answered. If we know Jesus as savior, we can see past the problems in our present and near future to the eternity He has promised us together with Him. Because of His sacrifice on the cross, He has defeated death and sin and suffering. So we say "Hosanna! Praise you, Jesus, for the salvation You have provided for me and my family! You have made the way!"
In this liminal space between our present plight and the promised wonders of eternity with Christ, Easter takes on a richer meaning for me. Will you join me this week as we read through the psalms that speak of Christ? Together we will explore what He has already done and what He has promised to do.
Readings and Reflection Questions
Monday's reading: Psalm 118, Matthew 21:1-9, and Acts 4:8-12
What lines of Psalm 118 are found in Matthew 21 and Acts 4? In Matthew, did the people understand who Jesus really was? How does Peter describe Christ in Acts 4?
Tuesday's reading: Psalm 22, and Matthew 27:32-55
Psalm 22, while describing David's own experiences of suffering, also prophesies about the sufferings of Christ. What similarities do you find between the psalm and the passage in Matthew? What promise is made about the results of Christ's sufferings in verses 22-31 of the psalm?
Wednesday's reading: Psalm 16, Acts 2:19-31, and Acts 13:31-38
While we have already read Psalm 16 in this Daily Focus series, it doesn't hurt to review it because it is known as the "Resurrection Psalm." Both Peter and Paul used this psalm to support their teaching on Christ's resurrection. What promises are made to the one who believes in Christ in Psalm 16? According to Paul in Acts 13, how does the forgiveness of sins relate to the promises of resurrection?
Thursday's reading: Psalm 110 and Acts 2:29-39
Psalm 110 celebrates Jesus as the believer's priest and king. Read Psalm 110 and think about the power Christ has to rule over all. How does this change how you think about your own challenges? In Acts 2, Peter explains to the people how Psalm 110 applies to Christ. What is their immediate reaction. Why is repentance the best response to who Jesus is?
Friday's reading: Psalm 72 and Revelation 5:5-14
Psalm 72 describes the right and just reign of Jesus over all creation for all time. What are the characteristics of His leadership? In Revelation 5, who acknowledges Christ as King? What will your song be to the King when you see Him face to face?
Weekend reading: Psalm 45, Revelation 19:6-16 and John 14:2-3
Psalm 45 is a song for a royal wedding, but not just for the Jewish kings of old. It also speaks prophetically of the reunion of Christ and His Church in heaven at the marriage supper of the Lamb. Compare the Psalm to the passage in Revelation. What similarities do you see? Where do you see yourself on that day? In John 14, Jesus explains to His disciples that He will return to bring them into His heavenly kingdom. How do these words bring comfort to you this Easter?
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