The Evangelist Speaks

The Evangelist Speaks

by Evangelist Carolyn Griffin

Hosanna! God Help Us, God Save Us!

I am sure that Hosanna was heard in churches around the world on this past Sunday as Christians celebrated Palm Sunday. Many waived palm branches, while others acted out the story found in the 12^th chapter of St. John. Some parishioners read the Palm Sunday Litany. Some ministers preached a soul stirring message preparing everyone for Resurrection Sunday. Many choirs and praise leaders sang Hosanna choruses. I have to stop and wonder how many of us are like the people in Jerusalem who sang Hosanna and then cried crucify Him. When they realized that Jesus wasn’t the type of king they were expecting, they had no use for Him. We don’t go to that extreme, but we often turn away from God, when things don’t go the way we expect and plan. Often God sends help and we reject it because it comes in a different way or not in our timing, but in His. If we truly understood the Aramaic word Hosanna, which means God help us, God save us; we would not limit our use of it to just one Sunday a year. God led me to speak on Hosanna during the Lenten services a few weeks ago. As I studied the passage mentioned above, I realized that a true cry of Hosanna from a sincere heart will reach the ears and the very heart of God. As He does so often, God spoke a message through me to prepare me for what was to come. Over the past week and a half, I have cried out to God with a Hosanna Praise and He has been right there to help and to save. Help didn’t always come the way I expected it to or at the time that I wanted it to, but God moved in His timing, and His timing was right on time.

As we look to Calvary, this scripture comes to mind. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death. (Philippians 3:10 NLT). God did not remove the bitter cup of suffering from Jesus, but in His set time, God raised Jesus from the dead with all power in His hands. He had to suffer and die before He could be glorified. We must understand that our present suffering is nothing to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us. Jesus cried to the Father in agony as He suffered, bled and died for us. We too must cry out to Him as we suffer through the cares of this life. Because of the sacrifice that the King of kings made, we can shout Hosanna!! Jesus redeemed us back to God, our Father. We can cry out to Him, in Jesus’ Name and He will help and save. Let us prepare for Resurrection Sunday with a Hosanna Praise on our lips and thanksgiving in our hearts.

O Magnify the Lord, for He is worthy to be praised.

Hosanna, blessed be the Rock! Blessed be the Rock of our Salvation!

Hosanna! God help us, God save us!!

Next time we will return to our study of the Holy Spirit and Spiritual Gifts. HAPPY RESURRECTION DAY!!