We Sang Our Glad Hosannas
Mary Nelson Keithahn (1997) • English
Primary Scripture: Matthew 21:1-17
Verse 1
We sang our glad Hosannas, and waved our branches high, but some were silent, frowning, as Jesus rode on by. They sought a royal Savior but did not understand a king could rule by loving, instead of by command.
Verse 2
We heard an angry Jesus in Temple courts declare, "Be gone, you moneychangers! This is a house of prayer." Though many came for healing and stayed to hear his word, still others, hostile, plotted and thus his death assured.
Verse 3
We served him at the table with wine, unleavened bread. "The one who will betray me now eats with me," he said. His friends would not believe him, but one by one that night, as soldiers came to take him, they scurried out of sight.
Verse 4
We saw a suffering Jesus alone, without a friend, and heard the voices shouting abuse until the end. We wept as we stood watching Love's light grow dim and die, and cried, "Why did this happen? God, tell us, tell us why!"
Verse 5
We buried him, not knowing that on the third day morn a risen Christ would greet us and hope would be reborn. Though evil had extinguished the life that burned so bright, the love of God would triumph like dawn that ends the night.
Scripture References
Reference 1
- matthew 21:1-17
Reference 2
- matthew 27:27-31
Reference 3
- matthew 27:55-56
Reference 4
- mark 11:15-19
Reference 5
- mark 14:17-21
Reference 6
- mark 14:43-50
Reference 7
- john 19:38-42
Reference 8
- john 20:1-18