Hosanna is a cry of hope for salvation. “O, Lord save us!” In baseball terms its like cheering for the star of the team to hit a homerun and win the championship.
Text: Luke 9:51 (NIV) As the time approached for Him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.
Main Idea: When we meditate on Jesus’ choices our hearts return to Hallelujah.
- (MSG) “Gathered up His courage and steeled Himself”
- (NLV) “He turned toward Jerusalem and was sure that nothing would stop Him from going.”
Jesus had a choice, He knew the consequence of the choice and He made His choice.
Triumphal Entry – Luke 19:29-40. What a joyous day! I’m sure the disciples were caught up in the jubilation and adulation of the crowd. But the storm was coming. And Jesus knew it.
Why did He resolutely choose to go to Jerusalem? The Scriptures give us three distinct reasons.
I. He loved His Father
John 14:30-31 …for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.
II. He was True to His Identity
Some prophecies Jesus had no choice about, like being born in Bethlehem, or being betrayed for 30 pieces of silver by Judas Iscariot. But others He intentionally chose to fulfill.
As He was about to ride into Jerusalem, He directed his disciples to find the young donkey that he would ride as the people shouted Hosanna and. He intentionally did this to fulfill the Scripture from Zechariah 9:9
When Jesus was arrested and standing before His enemies. Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Matthew 26:62-64) (NIV)
Jesus chose those prophetic words from the book of Daniel 7:13-14. He chose to be crucified for who He said He was. He was true to His identity to the end.
The lesson we can draw from this is we have been given an identity in Scripture and like Jesus we can make the choice to “fulfill” (by accepting it) what is written about us. The things the Scriptures say about us as sons and daughters of the Most High.
Like Jesus, the Scriptures instruct us as to our identity before God. Nothing more clearly than the familiar 2 Corinthians 5:17-21: “…new creation… righteousness of God in Him…”
Jesus knew who He was and chose to live consistent with His identity. Let us trust Him for grace to follow His example by embracing who we are and seeking to live consistent with our identity.
III. He Wanted Us to Be with Him.
Hebrews 12:2 “For the joy set before Him He endured the cross.”
John 17:24 “Father I want those you have given me to be with me where I am and to see my glory.”
The choice to go to Jerusalem was not the only opportunity Jesus had to make a different choice.
- When Jesus was arrested, Peter pulled out a sword a cut off the servant of the high priest’s ear. Matthew 26:52-54 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
Jesus made up His mind about us long before we made up our minds about Him.
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