A few years back, I took a different look at the final events of Holy Week and it really changed my view of the story. This year, thought it might be cool to back up to the Triumphal Entry and move forward to the betrayal of Christ.

So, I grabbed a sketch pad, my Easter colored pen, and began my handwritten, four column parallel look.

Here are the parallel Hosannas, as recorded in three of the four Gospels, and some reflections.

Matthew 21:9

The crowds that went ahead of of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" Hosanna in the highest!"

Look back to Matthew chapter one and get some insight into this first Hosanna- to the Son of David.

Mark 11:9

Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!" "Hosanna in the highest!"

Read the closing words of Mark in chapter 16, verse 20. You have to love how it says; "...while the Lord kept working with them..." after He had been taken up! Mark seems to have an eternal, future view of the coming kingdom.

Luke 19:37

When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices, for all the miracles they had seen: "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in Heaven and glory in the highest!"

We sing this one often. See Luke 2:13.

Luke brings the joy of Christmas to the opening curtain of history's greatest drama and the defining moment of all history...for God's glory!