Dear Good News Magazine Subscriber,
"Hosanna!" This religious-sounding word is heard more often this time of year, as churches remember Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem less than a week before His crucifixion. The crowds of subjugated people cried out to welcome the miracle worker they wanted to make their king: "Hosanna to the Son of David! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!' Hosanna in the highest!" (Matthew 21:9).
Such passion He inspired! Hosanna, though used as a form of praise, literally means "Save now!" or as the Jewish New Testament translates it, "Please! Deliver us!"
Not only was the multitude acknowledging Jesus Christ as King and praising Him, they were asking Him to save them. They wanted to be delivered from the Roman occupation and from the demoralizing social and individual problems of their day.
Deliver us!
When we look at our world today, and our own lives, we can be stirred with that same passionate need to be delivered from the evils besetting us. The multitudes today are still shackled to a system that robs them of happiness and hope. We rush through life with holes in our hearts that we can't fill. The overwhelming threats that face our world are mind-numbing, but when we do face them in a moment of clarity, how can we do anything but cry out: "Please! Deliver us!"
The passion of our need is exceeded by the passion and compassion of our Savior and King. Jesus Christ allowed Himself to be beaten and nailed through His hands and feet so we can be delivered. He loved us so much He lived on death row all His life, waiting to pay our death penalty in our place.
His passion and compassion are intended to affect us. Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead, and wants us to share in the passion and compassion that He has for this troubled world.
He has given His followers a job to do—to share the same message of hope and good news that He gave His life for. He came the first time to make possible our deliverance—to save us! But He told us He will return, and this time He will come as a conquering, delivering King!
What should we do?
About seven weeks after Christ's resurrection, His passionate apostle Peter addressed another crowd. His words convicted them of their sins and responsibility for Christ's death. They were cut to the heart, and they responded! "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"
"Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit'" (Acts 2:37-38).
Repentance means change—to change from going the way we naturally want to go, to going the way God (who knows what is best for us!) wants us to go. From this passionate group the Church of God was formed and commissioned to take God's good news throughout the world.
The world desperately needs that hope. The world desperately needs the Kingdom of God that Jesus Christ will bring. Please join with us in sharing this good news. Join our Facebook fan page or follow The Good News on Twitter, and share your favorite articles with your friends and followers.
At the end of the Bible, Jesus Christ encourages us: "Surely I am coming quickly." And we can answer, as the apostle John did, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20).
Hosanna!
Mike Bennett
Editorial content manager
PS: Study more about the good news the Bible gives about Jesus Christ's role as "A Real King Who Will Return to Rescue Humanity." This uplifting lesson is part of our exciting new online Free Bible Study Guides, and we welcome your input on this new program.
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