Mark 11:9–10

This word, which is the same in Greek, is thought to be a compound of two Hebrew words, and means "save now," as in Psalm 118:25. In the New Testament the sense appears to be "bestow blessing" — "Bestow blessing on the Son of David: bestow blessing, O You who are in the highest."

So the Psalmist wrote by the spirit of prophecy; it refers to the coming day of Israel's final deliverance. "Hosanna," cried the crowd, as they came down the slopes of Olivet and passed into the city... The One spoken of in the psalm was in their midst. He was the King, the heir to David's throne, under whom it will be re-established.

The same divine power was controlling the hearts of the disciples and of the crowd, to give this testimony to the royalty of Jesus. Those who went before Him were moved to sing the same testimony of Israel, crying out as in Psalm 118... This was really the full language of waiting for the kingdom, acknowledging the Person of the Messiah, and looking up to heaven as its source. So the full testimony was given to the Son of David, the Lord Jesus. The people had set their wills on rejecting Him, yet that same power overruled their minds to honour Him with the fullest testimony to the claim in which He came for their own blessing.

It was a strikingly bright testimony to the ways of God. That was true of the ever-adorable One who stooped to offer Himself to the acceptance of His people. It was true as well of the fitting cries of the crowd, little as they realised the truth of their own words, or how grave the situation was for their nation and city from that day to this.

It is a terrible thing to see how fickle the crowd is. They are just the same to this day... The same crowd that cried, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" and applauded Him to the skies, with one mouth cried, "Crucify him, crucify him!" within a few days... their applause was nothing. Applause is only human feeling stirred up in the moment. That feeling can swing to the exact opposite, and very fast.

As the Lord enters Jerusalem, a crowd surrounds Him and praises Him as the King. They quote Psalm 118:25-26: "Save now… Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD." Such will be the cry of the nation in a day to come, when a remnant awakened to repentance will look to the LORD for salvation. That time had not yet come. But though the leaders of the nation reject the Lord, the babes and infants may give a testimony to His glory.

The despised Messiah is no longer refused. On the contrary, He is most welcome to their hearts: "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"... Jerusalem is not abandoned forever. He left her to herself, to her sin and shame in refusing Him. Yet He Himself is our assurance that the very same people and city will look for Him, welcome Him, and be given their song.

This word is the same in Greek. It is thought to come from two Hebrew words, and means "save now," as in Psalm 118:25. In the New Testament the sense appears to be "bestow blessing." "Bestow blessing on the Son of David: bestow blessing, You who are in the highest."

This was the full language of waiting for the kingdom. It acknowledged the Person of Messiah. It looked up to heaven as the source of it, saying: "Save now in the highest."

They had in mind the glowing prophecies. The Son of David would enter Jerusalem and take His throne. His law would go out from Jerusalem. Israel would be free from all their enemies, and God would live among them. Had the leaders accepted Him, all this would have been established. Psalm 72, Isaiah 11, and Zechariah 9 are in view in this title. But as we know, He was rejected, and these blessings for Israel are on hold.

Expectation ran high among the people. The time of release had come. Rome's rule would end and Israel would be free.

The exclamations here do not speak of Him as king, but of their "father David"... So this Gospel proclaims the Lord's connection with Israel as Son of David. Most of it has followed His work in Galilee of the Gentiles.

The common text comes from the usual habit of making this Gospel match the parallel passages in Matthew and Luke.

So the full testimony was given to the Son of David, the Lord Jesus. The people in their will meant to reject Him. Yet their minds were overruled to honour Him. They gave the fullest testimony to the claim in which He came for their own blessing.

It was a remarkably bright testimony to the ways of God — not only in the One who offered Himself to His people, but in the fitting cries of the crowd. They little realised the truth of their own words, or how serious the moment was for their nation and city from that day to this. God was moving among them. He would have a testimony, true but despised, to the King, however much He humbled Himself.

This will be the cry of the nation in a day to come. Then a remnant awakened to repentance will look to the LORD for salvation. That time had not yet come.

But their cry came from a sudden gust of enthusiasm. It had no lasting significance, as what followed showed. Within a week He was crucified. The Lord knew how worthless their excited cry was. So a little later He said, "You will not see me again, until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord'" (Matthew 23:39).

David, the son of Jesse, knew the joy and dignity of being anointed king of Israel. He also knew the bitterness of rejection by the people he was anointed to govern. That came before he ruled with the power of an undisputed king. His greater Son knew that in a fuller way than David ever did. But in the end, like David, His greater Son will subdue all His enemies and rule the whole earth undisputed.