"Hosanna, Hosanna"

"Hosanna, Hosanna," the crowd took up the cry,
Following their blessed King, on his way to die.
"Hosanna, Hosanna, save us, save us now."
They hailed him as their King, before whom all would bow.

They waved palm leaves and strewed them, cushioning the way
For the little donkey who carried Christ that day.
Jesus didn't tell them he knew what was ahead.
Before the week was over their King would be dead.

When the soldiers came to make the undeserved arrest
Some who had known and loved him, did not meet the test.
They denied this Holy One who had told them true.
They turned from him in fear. Is that what I would do?

Now instead of praising, they called "Crucify."
Was I one of them when they watched the Savior die?
I pray I would have stayed as he hung on the cross,
Trying to calm Mary when she wept so at her loss.

I want to think I would have been his trustworthy friend,
Wiping his fevered brow until the very end,
After I had pleaded with them not to crucify
This Man who'd come to save and was too good to die.

By: Joyce Johnson 03/20/05