Editor’s word: “The Spoken Word” is shared by Derrick Porter every Sunday through the weekly Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square broadcast. This shall be given Sunday, March 29, 2026. This week is No. 5,037 of the broadcast.
More than 2,000 years in the past, as Jesus approached Jerusalem, a big crowd of individuals gathered. Many unfold their cloaks and palm branches on the street, shouting, “Hosanna … : Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.” When Jesus entered Jerusalem, “all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.” (See Matthew 21: 9-11.)
As Jesus entered Jerusalem that day — now referred to as Palm Sunday — the multitude expressed their collective yearnings and pleadings. The phrase they used was hosanna, which means “save now” (see “Hosanna,” Bible Dictionary).
The multitude hoped the Messiah would rescue them from Roman occupation and believed that He had arrived. They had heard of His fame, and a few had personally witnessed His miracles. Now, they thought, was the second for his or her deliverance.
As Jesus regarded over Jerusalem, He wept in sorrow for what lay forward for its individuals (see Matthew 23:36-38; Luke 19:41-44). He knew that some who now cried “hosanna” would quickly cry “crucify Him,” for they both couldn’t — or wouldn’t — perceive (see Luke 23:21).
His imminent, voluntary struggling was a part of His Father’s excellent plan — the one technique to everlasting freedom for us all. And so He went ahead, struggling immensely for the sins of the world, guaranteeing that each one who ever lived would stay once more.
Today, hosanna nonetheless means “save now,” nevertheless it additionally features a shout of joyful reward — an acknowledgment of hope, a recognition that Jesus did certainly overcome sin and demise. And so we increase our voices in phrase and in track with the cry “hosanna” — asking God to save lots of us whilst we sing joyful and hopeful praises to Him.
Two thousand years in the past, the multitude jubilantly — even triumphantly — welcomed Him, saying, “Hosanna: Blessed is the King” (John 12:13). When He returns, the scriptures declare that “every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess” (see Mosiah 27:31😉 that Jesus Christ is Lord. On that day, the query as soon as requested in Jerusalem — “Who is this?” — shall be answered past doubt for all: This is Jesus — the Son of God, the Savior of the world, the King of kings.
Tuning in …
The “Music & the Spoken Word” broadcast is accessible on KSL-TV, KSL News Radio 1160AM/102.7FM, KSL.com, BYUtv, BYUradio, Dish and DirecTV, SiriusXM (Ch. 143), tabernaclechoir.org, youtube.com/TheTabernacleChoir and Amazon Alexa (should allow talent). The program is aired stay on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. Mountain Time on these retailers. Look up broadcast data by state and metropolis at musicandthespokenword.com/viewers-listeners/airing-schedules.
