It is over thirty years now. Some of us remember it well - the strangers from the east lavishly dressed and riding their ornately-bridled camels.
"Where is the one who has been born the king of the Jews?" they asked. "Don't talk like that!" I thought to myself. "We've got Herod at the moment. We would all cheer at his downfall, but he's a dangerous man. None of us dare say what we think!" It was a nasty business. Any baby boy born in Bethlehem was despatched in the cruel anger of that tyrant.
We had been hoping and waiting for the king of the Jews all right. The Messiah - he must surely come soon! The strangers' words could have been balm to many in Israel. But they told Herod and that glimmer of hope was swept away.
Another week now and it will be Passover. That's a great festival of hope. The Lord delivered our forefathers from slavery in Egypt. He led them out with a mighty hand. Across the years he has sent many deliverers to our nation. How we need another! Not like the Maccabee brothers. They were great leaders and put up a great fight. We were an independent nation for a little while. But under Roman rule we are back to where we were under Greek control.
No! We need the Messiah! Some of us were looking for his coming thirty years ago. Our hopes were dashed, crushed... He must surely come soon!
A godly old man named Simeon passed on a quiet word that he had seen the Lord's Messiah - had held him in his arms. His parents had come up from Bethlehem to present him in the Temple. Bethlehem tragically it became the place of Herod's slaughter of all those baby boys.
I was only a young fellow then, but earnestly seeking and praying for the deliverance of the Lord's people. There were only a few of us. We looked up to Simeon - wonderful old man, not the least bit quaint or eccentric as some regarded him. The dear old prophetess Anna said something about the same child too.
Then the wise men came and foolishly told Herod - and he ordered the massacre of all the baby boys of Bethlehem. We need the Messiah! Surely he must come soon!
It is embedded in the Scriptures and figures so much in the songs we sing. "The Lord's right hand is lifted high; the Lord's right hand has done mighty things!" (Ps. 118.16). Then we go on, "Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter" (vv. 19-20).
Psalm 118 is one of our favourites at festival times. Pilgrims sing it as they come up the hill into Jerusalem, and we sing it to welcome them. I suppose it applies in a general way to all the Lord's people. But when the Messiah comes, we will see it - and sing it - differently. He will indeed be the "righteous" one to enter the gate of the Lord.
"The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone" (v. 22). The Jewish people - rejected, exiled, oppressed... then reinstated. I wonder... Is that about the Messiah too? Rejected by Herod, then destroyed with all the other baby boys in Bethlehem... There must be another? Who would reject him when he comes?
Simeon knew he could only tell a few. I don't think he even trusted the Jewish leadership. Would they reject him? I wonder... We need the Messiah. Surely he must come soon.
"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" (v. 24). Every day is a gift from the Lord - that's cause for rejoicing. And what a day of rejoicing it will be when Messiah comes!
"O Lord, hoshiah nah" - "hosanna" if you prefer - it means "save us" (v. 25a). That is our prayer, our longing, our deepest desire.
I think I hear it now. A large group of pilgrims is coming from nearby Bethany. It is said that Jesus, the teacher from Nazareth, has been with his friends, Mary and Martha - and that he has raised to life their brother Lazarus who had died.
The crowd is excited. Jesus is coming to Jerusalem for Passover this year - and he's riding a donkey. The people are waving palm branches. Ah, that's in it too, "With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar" (v. 27b). They're shouting "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" How we need the Messiah! Is this him coming now? We must join them as they sing -
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His love endures for ever!
Hosanna! Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Now open the gates of righteousness
that the righteous one may enter.
Hosanna! Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the head of the corner.
Hosanna! Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
This is the day that the Lord has made,
we will rejoice and be glad in it!
Hosanna! Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Yes!
Jesus, we welcome you! You have come in the name of the Lord! Hosanna - Lord, save us! Bring your great deliverance, we pray! Give us freedom - not just from the Romans, but from sin and from all that binds us within.
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