Luke 19:37-40 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, 38 saying: " ’Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" 39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." 40 But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out."
Jesus by this time was a popular figure. Many recognized Him as He descended the Mount of Olives on a beast of burden. Those who walked along side Him began to make known His coming.
We can sense the intensity of the moment as the people thinking and expecting Jesus to reveal Himself fully in power and glory as their Messiah-King, begin to spread their garments before Him in acceptance.
"Spontaneously and irresistibly they now give vent to their excitement and greatest expectations by praising God exultantly for the mighty deeds which He has done through Jesus in Galilee and elsewhere …" (NIC, Luke)
As the voices of praise grew louder the irritation grew larger in the hearts of the Pharisees (those steeped in tradition to the point of hindering their relationship with God). They demand of Jesus an immediate silencing of His disciples and thus the praising crowd. His response is filled with the unexpected.
Luke 19:40 But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out."
Creation does and will cry out to the glory and praise of God.
Romans 1:20a For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen,
So if creation will praise God why shouldn’t we, as His highest act of creation praise Him?
"Praise ought to appear on our lips and in our hearts. We who understand His deliverance in the power of His resurrection, we who have tasted Him, how should we be silent?" (Rev. Herman Hoeksema, Irrepressible Praise)
The stones teach us to understand and gain the purpose, point, position and power of the act of praise.
1. Purpose of Praise … God’s Mighty Works
Luke 19: 37b the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen,
The peoples praise began as a cheerful gladness as others told the stories of the miraculous this man Jesus had performed.
Most recent and fresh upon their minds were the healing of blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46) and the raising of Lazarus from the dead.
John 12:17 Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness.
His mighty works showed plainly He had come from God above. And the words of their witness turned to words of loud praise of this Man of mighty works.
What have you praised Jesus about lately? Salvation of long ago we should, but also of what He is doing in our lives today. He is doing something isn’t He?
· Do we question His mighty works?
· And in questioning do we miss His mighty works?
Matthew 13:54 And when He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works?
Matthew 13:58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
The mighty (dunamis) works of Jesus speak to His ability and strength to work in our lives, but also to the wonder of His work.
Lingering Thought: The purpose of praise is not to be ecstatically excited … but a clear focus on who (God) is doing the mighty works.
2. Point of Praise … God’s Son Savior
Luke 19:38a saying: " ’Blessed is the King"
The point of the peoples praise was in the fact they were looking for a Messiah-King … one who would conquer and control in their favor. And they gave that recognition to Jesus.
Though many missed the emphasis of His Kingship … nevertheless He did come to conquer sin and control sin in the life of the believer.
· Point of praise is to bring about a confession of who Jesus is and the work He has accomplished.
· From darkness to light (1 Peter 2:9)
· From once far off to being brought near (Eph 2:13)
· From sinful to forgiven (Romans 4:7)
· From stranger to citizens (Eph 2:19)
· From insecurity to security (John 10:28-29)
We the born again have reason to praise the saving work of the Son. Let the point of our praise be to the Son, Jesus.
Lingering Thought: Praise Jesus for the eternal work He has accomplished and accomplishes in us. Blessed be God’s Son our Savior!
3. Position of Praise … God to be Blessed
Luke 19:38b saying: "who comes in the name of the LORD!"
Though everyone watching Jesus did not know Him … He was being made known by the praise of those who did know Him. Their hearts praised and blessed the One whose name Jesus came in … God the Father.
· Honsanna (Matthew 21:9) … "Oh Save!"
Psalms 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation! Selah
Hosanna! It is an exclamation of adoration for the accomplished work of God in this One called Jesus.
1 Peter 1:3 All honor to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for it is by his boundless mercy that God has given us the privilege of being born again. Now we live with a wonderful expectation because Jesus Christ rose again from the dead.
To bless God is a position of the heart.
· If the heart is not right no amount of motion or singing will result in praise.
Psalms 9:1 I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works.
Praise is progressive … confession brings thanks and thankfulness brings love and love brings about obedience.
It is safe to say that if praise does not lead to an obedient life is it nothing more than self extracted motives.
· To bless God is to obey Him.
Our life and words as they are anointed with obedience are to be a testimony of praise that blesses God.
Lingering Thought: We bless God through a heart filled with obedience.
4. Power of Praise … God’s Salvation
Luke 19:38c Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
Peace … Jesus came to bring peace. Some that day were praising both God and Son because the peace of heaven had come down to man to bring salvation.
Rejoice and Praise God for He has sent the Son to save us! He has come to make us right with God and to bring us into His rest. Be joyful!
Psalms 51:12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
We are called upon to give glory, honor and praise (worship) to God for His saving work through Jesus Christ.
In doing so shifts the focus from you and I to Him. When that comes about we experience His power and empowerment.
· Empowerment of praise … releases from self-motivation to live powerful lives that demonstrates God’s salvation.
To give God praise is a calling from on high. All we do and say should be done with direct intent to bring glory, honor and praise to the God who has saved us.
Lingering Thought: The power of praise releases and empowers us to live as God intended … free!
Conclusion:
If you and I as the children of God will not praise Him, the stones will. We need to understand we are the stones!
1 Peter 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Living stones of praise we are! So let us our praise of Him who saved us be a sacrifice.
Hebrews 13:15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
Living stones of praise praising God for …
· His mighty works … that’s our purpose.
· His Son who saves us … that’s the point of praise.
· His Person … that’s our position of praise
· His Salvation … that’s our power.
Psalms 150:1-2 Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! 2 Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
Amen!
This sermon was preached by Robert AuBuchon at Trinity Baptist Church in 2001. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
