Hosanna!(1)

Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" (Mark 11:9)

Verse 9 says, “Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, ‘Hosanna!’" Hosanna means “Save us!” It frequently used in a sacrificial ritual of Judaism. Especially Jews shouted it on the Feast of Tabernacles, shaking branches. When people asked king’s mercy, they shouted in this way. (2 Sam. 14:4, 2 Kings 6:26) It also was introduced to the worship service of Christianity.

The biggest reason we have to cry “Hosanna!” is that we cannot produce salvation by ourselves. For example, here is a criminal under sentence of death and there is no other way for him to change his destiny but receiving a king’s amnesty. At this moment, the only thing he can do is to shout for king, “Hosanna!” Some of you may be unpleased with such word saying that it makes human being too much meanness. Many philosophers including Nietzsche denounced such assertion of Christianity. Some criticized it as a working of Oedipus complex. There is a possibility for Christian faith to change into psychology. However, Christianity’s teaching that salvation come from outside and so cannot but pray for Hosanna is not a psychological projection. It is an answer from confronting this world and human life.

Let us think easily. We are singing praise of prosperity and civilization that human history ever unheard-of. However, it cannot provide us salvation. We never experience salvation though this form of life continues endlessly. This is the very dilemma of mankind that depends on civilization only. The other life totally different in its quality should be given from outside. It means salvation is only God’s gift. Hosanna!