Save Us From ______?

John 12:12-19

Hosanna: Save Us From What?

As Palm Sunday approaches, we're reminded of a pivotal moment in history when crowds lined the streets of Jerusalem, waving palm branches and shouting "Hosanna!" But have we ever stopped to consider what exactly they were asking to be saved from?

The scene is familiar to many: Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey, welcomed by throngs of people who believed He was the long-awaited Messiah. They cried out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!" (John 12:13). This triumphant entry, however, carried more complexity than meets the eye.

To understand the significance of this moment, we need to delve into the historical context. Just 160 years prior, the Jewish people had experienced a great victory known as the Maccabean Revolt. They had overthrown their oppressors, the Seleucid Empire, and reclaimed their independence. Palm branches became a symbol of this nationalist triumph, even appearing on their coins as a reminder of their hard-won freedom.

Fast forward to Jesus' time, and the Jews found themselves once again under foreign rule – this time, by the Romans. So when they saw Jesus entering Jerusalem and heard of His miracles, particularly raising Lazarus from the dead, their hopes soared. Surely, this was the deliverer they had been waiting for! Their cries of "Hosanna" (which means "save us") were tinged with the expectation of political and military liberation.

But Jesus had a different mission in mind. He chose to enter the city not on a warhorse, but on a humble donkey – fulfilling the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9: "See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey." This wasn't the entrance of a conquering king, but of a servant-king who had come to save in a way that would defy all expectations.

This begs the question: what do we truly need saving from? If someone were to objectively look at our lives – our thoughts, actions, and priorities – what would they conclude is our greatest perceived threat or problem?

Throughout history, people have proposed various answers to humanity's fundamental issues. Some have pointed to unequal distribution of power, others to psychological repression, and still others to social inequalities. In our modern era, we see ideologies emerging that suggest our primary enemy is death itself, with transhumanist movements gaining traction in places like Silicon Valley.

But what if all of these miss the mark? What if our greatest need for salvation isn't from external forces or even our own mortality, but from something much closer to home?

The Bible presents a radically different diagnosis of the human condition. It suggests that our fundamental problem – the root of all other issues – is sin. This isn't just about individual misdeeds, but a cosmic rebellion against God that has fractured our relationship with Him, with each other, and with the created world.

Imagine for a moment a world without sin. No betrayal, no lies, no violence, no disease, no death. A harmonious existence where humanity lives in perfect relationship with God and stewards the earth as intended. This was the original design, the Eden we lost. And it's what Jesus came to restore.

When we read John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life," we often focus on the promise of eternal life. But the verses that follow provide crucial context:

"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil." (John 3:17-19)

The implication is clear: our greatest need is to be saved from the darkness within us, from our own sinful nature that separates us from God.

This is why Jesus rode into Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday. Not to overthrow a political regime, but to engage in a cosmic battle against sin and death itself. He came to offer Himself as the ultimate sacrifice, the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).

The Old Testament system of animal sacrifices was always meant to be a temporary measure, pointing toward the need for a perfect, once-for-all sacrifice. As the book of Hebrews explains, "Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest [Jesus] had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God" (Hebrews 10:11-12).

This Holy Week, as we approach Good Friday and Easter, we're invited to reflect deeply on what we truly need saving from. Are we, like the crowds on that first Palm Sunday, looking for a savior who will merely solve our temporary, earthly problems? Or are we ready to recognize our need for a Savior who can address the root issue of sin and restore us to right relationship with God?

The good news of the Gospel is that Jesus has already won this battle. His death on the cross and resurrection three days later defeated sin and death once and for all. Now, He offers this victory to anyone who will put their faith in Him.

As we wave our metaphorical palm branches and shout our own "Hosannas," let's be clear about what we're asking. Save us, Lord Jesus, not just from our circumstances or our fears, but from our sins. Save us from ourselves, from our rebellion against You, and restore us to the relationship and purpose for which we were created.

This Easter, may we have the courage to invite others to hear this life-changing message. May we not, like some of the leaders mentioned in John 12, believe in Jesus but keep quiet out of fear or love for human praise. Instead, let's boldly proclaim the truth of what Christ has done, offering hope to a world that desperately needs true salvation.

So ask yourself: what do you need saving from? And are you ready to accept the salvation that Jesus offers – not just a temporary fix, but an eternal solution to humanity's deepest need?