This being Palm Sunday, my mind just goes to that great play, Jesus Christ Superstar. I have forgotten many of the words, but there was a day when I knew all of the words by heart and especially loved the song of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem:

“Hosanna, hey sanna, sanna sanna ho Sanna, hey, sanna hosanna. Hey J. C., J. C. won’t you smile at me? Sanna ho, sanna hey, Superstar.”

Now we often assume “Hosanna” is an expression of praise, but it really comes from a Hebrew term meaning “oh, save now!” or “please save.” In other words, the crowd wasn’t shouting praises to Jesus. They were begging Jesus to save them.

That begs the question, “Save them from what?”

On that day, there were really two processions entering Jerusalem. From the east, Jesus rode a donkey down from the Mount of Olives, cheered by his followers. On the west, Pontius Pilate entered Jerusalem at the head of a column of imperial cavalry and soldiers. One proclaimed the Kingdom of God. Pilate’s proclaimed the power of the empire.

One proclaimed a kingdom of peace, and the other used the power of weapons to make sure the Jews caused no trouble during the days of Passover. One, there was much cheering and adulation, the other without cheering — only hatred and fear.

One had only the sounds of horses hooves and chariot wheels, the other of Jesus’ supporters crying out, “Hosanna, Save us. Save us now!” They were not asking for some sort of spiritual salvation or a spot in heaven. They wanted to be saved from Pilate, from Caesar, from the faux peace of Roman swords. They were begging to be saved from oppression and injustice and the weight of an oppressive government.

How contemporary are the scriptures!!!

The story of the coming week is that Jesus will still save them. Salvation comes when His body is broken by state torture. When he is forced to drink Rome’s bloody cup. The journey is marked by the cross. Palm Sunday is the first step along the way that will end with a stunning event in a cemetery garden.

Yet, … after the tomb, after the garden, hosanna will still sound. We will still be crying out ‘Hosanna’, children and teachers will still be targets at their schools, lies pervade and divide a desperate people, the rich steal everyone’s share, courts struggle for justice. Is this the Pax Americana?

We may have believed that once, subject to all of the deceptive promises. The mask has come off, and its faux peace has made itself known. This peace is one enforced by fear and violence. A peace of privilege and guns and money. Hosanna, Jesus, hosanna. Save us now!

I can wave my hand in protest. I can shout, “Hosanna, Superstar!” The road to the eastern gate calls us to wave and search out the way toward a community of God’s people. Wave your palm. Sing with me.