Mark 11:9-10: Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “ Hosanna! ‘ Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

As Jesus arrives in Jerusalem, the crowds acclaim Him as the Davidic king, come to claim his throne in the name of the Lord. Jesus arrives with an entourage that precedes and follows Him, and celebrates His coming. “Hoshana,” they shout; “Save!” The people celebrate Jesus’ coming as a deliverer and conqueror.

In their song of praise to Jesus, the crowds sing from Psalm 118, which is the climax of the great song of Hallel, which includes Psalms 113-118 and which was sung at the Passover and other feasts. It’s the same song Jesus will sing later in the week after His Passover meal with the disciples.

It is also the song we sing every week in worship. Part of the Sanctus is this quotation from Psalm 118: Hosanna in the Highest! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna in the Highest! Every week we greet Jesus in His triumphal arrival. Every Sunday is Palm Sunday, as we greet Jesus coming to meet and dine with us.

As I said in the exhortation, the Jewish leaders don’t greet Jesus. This is a snub and an act of rebellion against a conquering Hero, the Divine Warrior who has triumphed over Satan and sin and disease and death and is now coming to receive His acclamation. They Jews will pay for their insult in AD 70. And we can fall into the same rebellion. Jesus comes to meet with us, but we are to preoccupied to pay attention, or perhaps we are too busy to even come out for the triumphal entry.

At this table Jesus is the Host who welcomes us. But Jesus is also coming to us; He comes to His own house, but we are His household servants who should be found busy in His business when He arrives. Jesus comes to us in one another, and we are called to accept one another at this table and elsewhere if we are going to be His disciples.

At this table especially, we shout “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the Highest!”