In the midst of the hosannas, Jesus had a heavy heart.
The people, so caught up in their celebration of the Messiah’s dramatic triumphal entry, likely missed His tears. If the crowd had seen His tears, would they would have asked Jesus, “Why are you weeping?”
John MacArthur wrote that what might have been a triumphal entry in one sense, in another sense was a “tearful entry.” Jesus looked out over Jerusalem and didn’t get caught up in the hosannas. He saw something in the future, and it broke His heart.
He knew God would bring judgement on Israel’s apostasy—judgment that would come in 70 A.D. at the hand of their Roman oppressors. He knew how desperate the situation was for His people, the Jews.
And He also knew this was part of the reason He came to die—to set them free. It would not be a bloodless salvation (Hebrews 9:22b). The Old Testament saint, Daniel, wrote that not only would Jerusalem face destruction, something would happen to the Messiah. He would be put to death, cut off from His people.
Many of those same voices that shouted “hosanna!” would soon shout, “Crucify him!” They were only interested in political salvation, not spiritual salvation. They wanted a king to deliver them from Rome, not a King who would rule over them and hold them accountable. As Jesus stood before Pilate, the angry Jews yelled, “We have no king but Caesar.”
Beginning to Understand
In Matthew 21:9 , 15, we read, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” The salvation of the believing Jews, God’s chosen people—and the Gentiles grafted in—came in Jesus Christ, the Son of David.
Gradually, Jesus’ disciples began to understand the two-part coming of the Messiah-King. While in Acts 1 they wondered when the kingdom would come, by Acts 2, with the coming of the Holy Spirit, their understanding of Jesus’ mission increased. Peter’s sermon at Pentecost clearly shows the Lord was opening their hearts and minds to the truth.
In John MacArthur’s words, “The King came to die, but by Sunday He came out of the grave. Long live the King!” Hosanna in the highest!God heard the desperate plea of His people, their hosanna cry—and provided a Savior. Throughout eternity, we will praise Him with gratitude and joy.
