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Answer
Psalm 118 is one of the Hallel psalms, also known as the “Egyptian Hallel,” a brief series of psalms (Psalm 113—118) included in the observance of the Passover. The final psalm is chanted in the joyous procession as the worshippers enter the gates of the temple. In Psalm 118:26, the assembly greets the vindicated king, singing, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you.”
Originally, this psalm portrayed Israel’s journey from Egypt to their eventual arrival at Mount Zion. However, its celebratory reception of the king found its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. All four gospels cite Psalm 118:26: “Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, ‘Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD! Praise God in highest heaven!’” (Matthew 21:9;NLT;see also Mark 11:9;Luke 19:38;John 12:13).
The term “blessed is” is derived from the Hebrew word barukh (literally meaning “to bless”) and is commonly associated with God. However, in Psalm 118:26, it refers to the kingly figure who arrives with God’s authority. The Faithlife Study Bible explains that barukh “describes bestowing someone with special power or declaring Yahweh to be the source of special power. In that sense, it means praising Yahweh for who He is” Barry, J: D:, et al, entry for Psalm 103:1, Lexham Press, 2012, 2016.
By saying, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,” the ancient psalm extols God for His essence: “The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine on us” «God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: Bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. », (Psalm 118:27). The blessing also foretells His future coming as Israel’s Messiah. During passion week, we hear the echo, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,” as the people of Christ’s day recognize Jesus as the long-awaited One.
Earlier, when Jesus lamented over Jerusalem, He foretold to the Pharisees, “Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’” «Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.», (Luke 13:35). Jesus identified Himself as the “stone the builders rejected” (Psalm 118:22;cf: Matthew 21:42;Mark 12:10;Luke 20:17) who would bring salvation to all who prayed to Him, “Save us, Lord!” «Let Israel now say, That his mercy endureth for ever. », (Psalm 118:2). Through His crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus was the “living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious” «To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, », (1 Peter 2:4, ESV). He became the chief cornerstone (Acts 4:11;Romans 9:33), “and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame” Romans 10:11; cf. 1 Peter 2:4–8).
Jesus came in the “special power” of Yahweh. He was vested with all the authority of His Father God. Jesus spoke with God’s authority so that “the people were amazed at
His teaching: “And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.”, (Mark 1:22). He drove out unclean spirits (Mark 1:21-28, 39; Luke 4:31-37), healed the sick, and forgave people’s sins (Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 7:48). Jesus controlled the elements (Matthew 8:23-27), raised the dead to life (John 11:38-44), and cleansed the temple (Mark 11:27-33), all by God’s mandate.
“All authority in heaven and on earth” was given to Jesus by His Father: “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”, (Matthew 28:18), including the authority “to judge”: “and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.”, (John 5:27) and to lay down His life in sacrifice for the sins of the world: “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”, (John 10:18). God “granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those” God had given to Him: “as thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.”, (John 17:2).
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” is a declaration of praise and recognition that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world who came in the power and authority of God. “I have come in my Father’s name,” said Jesus, “I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.”, (John 5:43). All that Christ did was commissioned by His Father. Everything Jesus said and did was to glorify His Father and accomplish the work of making Him known to humans so that they might be saved (John 17:1-24).
