December 4, 2025
A New Beginning - Part 4
Matthew 21:9
12/04/2025
9 And the crowds that went before him and that
followed him were shouting, ``Hosanna to the Son
of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of
the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!'' (ESV)
During Advent we look at the threefold coming of Jesus. He
came in the flesh to bear our sins and to be our Savior. He
comes in grace to the Church through Word and sacrament. He will
come again in glory to judge both the living and the dead.
As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, the pilgrim throng who
comprised this makeshift parade sang the traditional songs which
had been in use since the time of King David. Matthew recorded:
``And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were
shouting, `Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!'''
``Hosanna'' is a Hebrew word which means ``save us now.''
Little did the crowd realize that these words penned by the
Psalmist would see their fulfillment within days. As the crowds
shouted and sang, they confessed that Jesus is true God.
The pilgrims, like you and I, desired the glory of victory,
the assurance that life will be easy and enjoyable. They looked
for temporal salvation, the restoration of the Kingdom of David
and Solomon, the glory days of Judah.
``Save us now,'' however, is much more than physical
pleasure and power over our enemies. It is the eternal
forgiveness as Christ Jesus overcame death and the grave. The
Son of David, foretold by prophet and poet, is the answer to the
prayer.
May our Lord grant us faith to see in Jesus our Redeemer,
even as we cry out ``Hosanna, blessed is He who comes in the name
of the Lord.'' Amen.