Must The Stones Cry Out?

MUST THE STONES CRY OUT?

Lk. 19:35-40

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: Coming Up Short

1. A robber went into a convenience store. He picked up a pack of gum and approached the cashier. He handed the gum & a $20 bill to the cashier. The cashier opened the cash register & turned to scan the gum. As he did the robber reached past him, grabbed a stack of cash out of the register, and ran out of the store.

2. The cashier counted up what was missing – only $16 – and he saw he still had the $20 bill in his hand. He wasn’t sure he needed to report a theft since the store made $4 on the transaction! MORAL OF THE STORY: “When you choose to sin you’ll always come up short!”

B. TEXT

35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. 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: 38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” 40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

C. THESIS

1. Was Jesus just using hyperbole? Do you think Jesus really meant that the very stones would begin to cry out? Yes! I believe that’s what Jesus meant & I believe that they would.

2. We’re looking at why praise had to rise, what kind of praise they offered, the opposition to praise, and how all this effects us.

3. The title of this message is “Must the Stones Cry Out?”

I. WHY PRAISE MUST ARISE

A. THE TRIUMPHAL COMING OF MESSIAH

1. You need to understand this event was unique and that this wasn't just some great man or some great prophet. This was the promised Deliverer, the Seed of the Woman that would crush the Serpent’s head. The Messiah had come, God incarnate – God clothed in human flesh.

2. This was the One that God had promised from the beginning of time when man fell from grace and ushered sin and death into the World

3. Paul wrote, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” Gal. 4:4-5 ESV.

4. So if they didn’t praise Him, I do think the rocks would have cried out!

B. GOD WILL FIND A REPLACEMENT

1. There are times when we cannot afford to hold back praise, because if we do, God will raise-up something or someone who WILL praise Him (in our place) at that moment. There’s a song entitled “Ain’t No Rock Going To Take My Place.” That should be our declaration!

2. If, according to Ps. 19:1, the heavens & the skies declare the glory of God, and if, according to Ps. 55:12, the mountains and hills burst into song, and all the trees of the field clap their hands, I don’t have trouble believing the stones and rocks could cry out and worship God! All Creation was made to praise God and that includes us!

3. We should praise Him whether things are going well or not. There are moments, when we MUST praise Him, where we shouldn’t wait to do it later. Such was this moment in history. The King was entering His city. He just had to be praised. What has He done for you? Has He given you a job? Praise Him! Has He given you a child! Praise Him! Has He healed you? Praise Him! Rescued you? Praise Him! Don’t put it off; do it now!

4. If WE won’t praise Him, God will raise others who WILL praise Him, in our place – even lifeless stones and rocks!

C. NOT LETTING PRAISE GO UP

1. A conference at a Presbyterian church in Omaha. People were given helium filled balloons and told to release them at some point in the service when they felt like expressing the joy in their hearts. Since they were Presbyterians, they weren't free to say "Hallelujah, Praise the Lord." All through the service balloons ascended, but when it was over 1/3 of the balloons were unreleased. I wonder if that happens here? Let your balloon go! [Bruce Larson, Luke, p. 43.]

2. 2 LADIES’ OVERHEARD CONVERSATION AT THE OFFICE: "Did you wake up grumpy this morning?" "No, I let him sleep in."