"Hosanna PRO"(Pastor Wayne Clabaugh)

Scripture Text:"And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the  Lord; Hosanna in the highest." Matt21:9 "(KJV)

Everything you can possibly purchase on the web has at least a beginner version and a PRO version and usually the beginner version is a FREE somewhat limited edition of the PRO Version where all of the bells and whistles are showcased. Whether or not that program is considered something that does all you expected, is to be seen once you've made the purchase.

Well friend, I am happy to tell you today that you need not worry about a one-sided product when it comes to Jesus! What He did, He completed! There was no watered-down version of his work, but it  was complete and "all-encompassing!" I say that to say this... "The great I Am", "YESHUA" which by the way means "to deliver or to rescue" and is attributed to Jesus, was and is the complete embodiment of God himself. That's why He was often called a "God-man", because he was truly and properly God and  truly and properly man. But the point I'm trying to make here deals with Old and New Testament - and I'm going to do my best to relay to you what the Lord has laid upon my heart concerning the "Hosanna" - or Deliverer, which is the Lord Jesus Christ.

We spoke yesterday of the verse found in Matthew 21:9 "And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest."

I further mentioned that there was a timeline found in this verse: those who followed before and those who followed behind Jesus during His triumphal entry into Jerusalem crying out, "Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest." It was continuous: first from those in the front of Jesus casting down their Palm branches before Him and then those coming behind Jesus with the same kind of celebration.

Now, this actually followed the old Jewish Custom during the Passover season of reading Psalm 118 where at the end of verse 1 those who were present would raise their lulabs or "bound" bunch of Palm branches and wave them heavenward, and then when the 25th verse was read, they would do the same - and that's short and sweet - but it's really all the "catch-up" information I can afford to give today regarding yesterday's devotional. If you haven't read it yet, I would suggest that you read it before you read today's devotional. For those who have, let's continue. 

Once again we see the mighty anointing of the people of Israel declaring Jesus as the Son of David, who came in the Name of the Lord, and then the Bible tells us in that verse that the people ended the verse with something very interesting. It ends with the phrase, "Hosanna in the highest". We're going to come back to that here before I finish up with this lesson on Hosanna, but I believe that phrase has an eternal significance as well as a historical and current day significance and I just wanted to mention it to you now. We're going to bring it up again before I get finished with this lesson this week.

I mentioned yesterday that there were some things that led me back to the prayer that Jesus taught His disciples and us to pray and that it was "tied-in" by way of eternal ramifications. By the way ramification means, "a structured form of branches". In a nutshell, everything that has to do with God the Father has to do with Jesus the Son and Vice-versa.

Look at that verse there in Matthew again.. "Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest."

First of all, by calling Jesus the Son of David, they were owning and proclaiming Him to be the Messiah. That is the title by which the Messiah was known among the Jews. Secondly they said, "Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of The Lord". The word for "Lord" in the Greek means "Jehovah". The Word "name" signified one who would come in the figurative and authoritative person and character of another which in this case was Jesus the SON coming in the person of God The Father. John 1 tells us that,

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men." John 1:1-4 (KJV)

Now, I'm still laying ground work for this awesome truth that I have alluded to in yesterday's and today's devotional - so please stick with me here.

Jehovah is a Name to be reverenced... a Name to be held high above all others and spoken of in a voice of adoration and respect. Where else have we heard that?

"After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name." Matthew 6:9 (KJV)

In previous devotional times on "the Prayer that the Lord taught His disciples to pray" we have always stopped at the "Hallowed be Thy Name" portion of the passage in Matthew 6:9-12 and we would take a look at the Names of God. If you would like to get a copy of the Names of God you can contact me an I will be happy to send you one. But you find that the Names of God are ALL-ENCOMPASSING. They don't just refer to just to His Deity or His sovereignty, but they refer to His office of Rescue or Deliverance as well. You will also find He is a God Holiness and a God of  Healing and Grace. Can you see how the WORD HOSANNA blends in with and actually Emphasizes all the Names Of God?

Now, I want to finish up for today with one more point of fact by asking the question, "Where else in God's Word do we read about another "type" of before and behind? Can you remember the trek through the wilderness? Go with me to Exodus 13:21 and 22:

"And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people."

Even though there was griping and complaining in the camp - God was always with them and what does that 22nd verse say? "He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people."

"But Brother Clabaugh that says that the Pillar of Cloud and The Pillar of fire was beofre them.. not behind them." "That's not like those that came before and those that were behind." "That would not fit the Hosannah of Psalm 118."

Hold on... quickly go with me to Exodus 14:19

"And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:"

Now let me say that the "angel of God" always refers to Christ: and what is He? He was and is omnipresent, and fills every place and every space: He is everywhere! This concept is to be understood of the emblem of Him, being he pillar of cloud, as the next clause explains it:

"...and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:"

You see, the Israelites were protected and preserved from receiving any hurt by the Egyptians. That means that Christ is the protection of His people from all their enemies; from sin, from Satan, and from the world - even the EVIL LEADERS of this World. Sin cannot damn them, nor Satan destroy them, nor the world overcome them; for His salvation surrounds them as walls and bulwarks to them, and He is indeed a wall of fire about them.

Oh friend, we have more to discuss in tomorrow's edition of in The Garden and I think you will agree with me tomorrow, that it will be the Highpoint of this mini-series on "The Palm Sunday Message Lives". I can't give it away, but just let me say that I am going to reveal to you where the Ark of The
Covenant is, and it is something you don't want to miss. What's that Got to do with this? You'll have to tune in to see.

But remember for today, that there is nothing that is going to happen to you today that God doesn't see. He will never allow you to be thwarted or ashamed, but will in all things be your guiding light by day and by night if you will but trust in Him and follow after Him and Him alone.

For now let's pray.

Father God: Hallowed be Thy Name. We just lift you up this morning because we know that you are complete and you are all encompassing and there is not a need that we could have that you could not meet. There is not a situation or a trouble that you would not see us through. OH GOD, My God... I adore You this morning and give you the utmost praise this morning for caring for one such as me. Thank you Father for sending your Son Jesus to be my sacrifice and to rescue me and set me free from my life of sin and shame. Again I praise you and exalt Your Holy Name. In Jesus' Name I Pray, Amen.