November 30, 2025
Hello! We often say those words to welcome and greet one another. Or sometimes we say, “G’day, or Hi.” This time of year, people also begin sending out Christmas cards to their friends. These Christmas cards can have all sorts of greetings written in them.
Today we begin the season of Advent, the four weeks before Christmas. “Advent” means “coming” or “arrival.” During this season, we get ready to celebrate Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem and also look forward to the day He’ll come again.
I want to tell you about a special greeting we could use during Advent, a word we usually hear in a different season. More than thirty years after Jesus was born, on the day we call Palm Sunday, He rode a donkey into the city of Jerusalem, like a big parade. People waved palm tree branches like flags and threw coats on the road like a red carpet. They shouted, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Mt 21:9).
The word “hosanna” was a special word of greeting for Jesus. It’s a word that’s also a one-word prayer! The word “hosanna” means “Save now!” or “Save us now!” The people were praying to Jesus to save them. They wanted Jesus to be a king who would save them from the Roman soldiers and the Roman emperor who’d taken over their country.
Jesus did come to save them, but not from the Roman soldiers. Jesus came to save them, to save us all, from sin and death. Jesus was punished for our sins when He died on the cross for us the Friday right after Palm Sunday. Then on Easter morning, He rose from the dead. Our sins are forgiven, and we’ll live forever with Him.
So “hosanna” is a good greeting for our Advent King, Jesus. We pray to Him, “Save us now,” and that’s exactly what He did. It’s why He was born in Bethlehem. Jesus, our King, saved us from sin, death, and the devil.
Thank You, Jesus, for riding into Jerusalem to save me! Because You died on the cross, and rose three day later, ALL my sins have been forgiven! Hosanna in the highest! Amen.