“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”~ Matthew 21-9
Hosanna is a Hebrew word transliterated as “please save us” used for praise and supplication. The Israelites anticipated Jesus saving them from Roman occupation, spreading palm branches providing a carpet welcoming Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey.
Jerusalem was a city filled with fanatical religious observers gathering to celebrate The Passover.
Rome ruled Palestine through King Herod, and The Sanhedrin.
Rome's administrator, Pontius Pilate resided on the coast at Caesarea Maritima. On those occasions when his duties obliged him to visit Jerusalem, he used the palace compound built by King Herod the Great as his praetorium or headquarters.
While Rome was the final arbitrator most of the day, to day matters affecting the Jewish population rested in the hands of King Herod, and The Sanhedrin.
In simple terms Palm Sunday registers the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.
A week later the Jerusalem crowds, at the behest of The Sanhedrin, would call for the release of Barabbas, and the crucifixion of Jesus in response to the invitation of Pontius Pilate's call for the people of Jerusalem to decide who should live, and who should die.
Power structures the world over have a well established track record of removing would be agitators challenging their authority.
The Sanhedrin was no exception.
Jesus of Nazareth 1977
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