The Stones Will Cry Out
Easter Reflection series
Lk. 19:28-40
What a celebration! Crowds were excited! Jesus was thrilled to see the response of worship. But some party-poopers were there (v.39). I love Jesus¡¦ response, don¡¦t u just love it. Let them celebrate, don¡¦t¡¦ shush them. If they keep quiet the stones will cry out... Oh God wants us to celebrate! Partying in His presence! He loves the praises in loud voices¡K He enjoys the gladness of the people! That¡¦s Palm Sunday.
Grand Entrance (source: www.Christianitytoday.com)
Palm Sunday celebrates the day Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. But let¡¦s test how much we really know of that day¡¦s events, recorded in all four Gospels, with these true or false statements.
1. According to the Gospels, the people waved palm branches when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
False (Matt. 21:6, Mark 11:8, Luke 19:36, John 12:13). None of the four Gospels say the people "waved" branches but that they spread garments and branches in Jesus¡¦ path. Only John 12 passage mentions palm branches, apparently, a tree not native to Jerusalem. In our Luke passage, it mentions only the spreading of cloaks. Palm branches usage signifies ¡§victory.¡¨ But I guess, there must be some waving too as cloaks and branches are pretty big, and when you spread it around, it¡¦s gonna wave a bit, don¡¦t u think?
2. The date of Jesus¡¦ triumphal entry¡Xfive days before Passover¡Xwas a special holiday in his time.
True. It wasn¡¦t called Palm Sunday in Jesus¡¦ day, but each Israelite family chose the lamb they would sacrifice for Passover on the tenth day of the month. As the people shouted "Hosanna," they didn¡¦t realize they were choosing the Lamb of God as their sacrifice.
3. By their actions, the people were publicly proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah.
True. When Solomon was anointed king, he rode into the city on a mule, to the shouts and praises of the people (1 Kings 1:43-45). Zechariah prophesied the Messiah would arrive the same way "gentle and riding on a donkey" (Zech. 9:9).
4. The fact that Jesus rode a donkey portrayed him as a warrior king.
False. Conquering kings would ride war horses; the donkey symbolized peace and humility (Zech. 9:9, 10). Jesus¡¦ entry was a stark contrast to the war-like Romans, whose military presence was very visible. We rather have this imagery ¡K.The stallion stood on its hind legs, neighed loudly, and pawed the air with its front legs. When it stood as tall as it could stand, Jesus leaned forward in the saddle. Holding the reins with one hand while lifting his white hat in the air with the other, He shouted with a loud voice, "hi ho silver away" As Jesus road off into the sunset, you could hear the William Tell Overture in the background. Du du dunt¡K
5. The shouts of "Hosanna!" meant "Praise the Lord!"
False. The Hebrew word Halleluia means "praise the Lord;" Hosanna means "save us!" or "save!" The Palm Sunday crowd falsely assumed that Jesus would bring political liberation.
6. The route Jesus chose for his triumphal entry was down the side of Mount Zion.
False. Jesus rode down the Mount of Olives offering him an excellent view of Jerusalem, which is built on Mount Zion. According to Zechariah 14:4, Jesus will again stand on the Mount of Olives at his second coming.
7. When the people spread branches and garments in Jesus¡¦ path it was to pay him honor.
True. The people were boldly declaring that Jesus was their king, an accusation eventually written in condemnation above his cross. It was common in Bible times to spread garments in the path of princes and kings, especially at their coronation (see 2 Kings 9:13).
8. The shouts of "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" were words of a Jewish hymn.
True. The phrases "Hosanna" and "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" both come from Psalm 118: 25-26, one of the "Hallel" or praise psalms (113-118) used every Passover. These Jewish hymns would be as familiar to the Jewish people as Christmas carols are to Christians.
A. Are we clueless?
Thank God qualifications for heaven is not based on getting a score of 100% on a quiz about what you know about Palm Sunday. Thank God that there is no one in heaven such as that scary lady on current TV quiz show, saying to you and me ¡§Andrew, you¡¦re the weakest link, goodbye!¡¨
Today we celebrate Palm Sunday, because we remember that Jesus chose this road to Jerusalem even though it meant death. Yes though this road meant death, it was the start of what would become everlasting life for us. If He did not walk get on that donkey and fulfil the OT prediction we would all be turfed out, for we are all the weakest link in every shape and form. Look at humanity¡¦s record it is not pretty. Ever since history is recorded there is no peace, somewhere on earth there is evidence violence, war and death. Even sitting and watching an NHL game, if you are not careful, you can killed as we heard last week in the news, in game between the Col. Blue Jackets and the Cal. Flames. As you examine his entry into Jerusalem in Lk.18:31-34, you will find Jesus is thinking about the events that will lead to awful death on the cross. However, Jesus¡¦ disciples were clueless (18:34).
And I wonder if today, if any of us here are clueless¡K The crowd that spread their cloaks and cut branches were on that when Jesus rode in on that donkey! They would not have celebrated if they knew that their Messiah would be killed very soon. Yes, As the people shouted "Hosanna," or ¡§save us¡¨ they didn¡¦t realise they were choosing Jesus as the Lamb of God, as their sacrifice for the Passover. They did not know that Jesus would be killed so that their sins could be forgiven. Yes they would be saved, but saved from their penalty of sin not from political powers. All they wanted was instant gratification, oh, they wanted a political Messiah. They want to rid themselves of the hated Roman Empire and the vicious iron-grip rule of the offensive merciless Jew hating Gentile Pontius Pilate away.
Are we just as clueless¡K to what God is doing here with us? So we go for instant gratification. Drowning in our current misery, we are oblivious to what God is accomplishing thru out history. Are we too missing out on what God really wants to do for us? Just as Jesus¡¦ disciples missed out and were out of tune with their Master, are we missing out on the fact that God wants more than anything else to work out the ultimate saving event while they were bogged down with the Romans. Just as we are today, we are bogged down with what the Government of BC or Canada or the US is doing. Bogged down by our worries if the US will crush BC¡¦s economy because of the softwood quarrel. Bogged down by so pollution, suicide bombers, ¡K Do we not live in a world where there are problems galore here right now?
Just as the Roman empire declined and their glory became a blip in history, so shall our concerns for the day in comparison to the on-going story of eternity that the eternal God is weaving for us. With all our current problems, or eyes seldom have the perspective of the eternal. Our eyes are fixed on terra firma here. And it sure feels like we are the weakest link, just waiting to be snuffed out by a careless driver who believes he is a Michael Schumacher, or by disease or a terrorist plot or by a hockey puck ¡KWe visualise a world that will be safe but the realism of history teaches us, that there is no safe place. There are folks who are building panic rooms with the latest high tech computers and camera surveillance equipment in their houses just in case bad guys or home-invaders come. There are folks who would buy old army bunkers to prepare for the end of the world. There are folks who pin their hopes that a political system called ¡§democracy¡¨ will save them¡K There are folks who are doing big-time business manoeuvres as if the whole world is hanging on it and then the Enron scandal shatter their confidence¡K We feel totally victimised, helpless, looking for a Messiah, so we cry like the crowd in Jerusalem ¡§save us¡¨.
Thank God, Palm Sunday reminds us we are not just the weakest link in history of this world. Somehow through the events triggered by Palm Sunday leading to Good Friday and then to the Resurrection victory of Sunday, we are soon to be restored to become the sons and daughters of God co-heirs and co-rulers of the earth with the Lord Jesus, as we were meant to be, as we were created to be. We were created not to be insignificant pawns of history, manipulated to prop out a government with our taxes, but be significant world changers.
Palm Sunday reminds us there is victory, that there is a celebration, a party that will be thrown by God for all who gets it. That God has not forgotten us. He remembers that our deepest problem and deepest need is to get rid of the root of our problems. He is not content with just treating the symptoms, he is going all out to get rid of the cancer. And the cancer, that fatal disease of humanity is sin. That is why when Jesus set out to ride that donkey he is authoring for us, that God has heard the cry to save us. Even if that means suffering the humiliation of what seemed like defeat and the pain of death on the cross, crying out ¡§My God, My God, why have you forsaken me¡¨. Imagine the God who could snuff out the universe, with a word, going all the way to be born of woman, living some 30 years on earth, patiently enduring the misunderstanding of his own family members, the mistreatment from the religious folks who should have know better of His coming as prophesied in their Bible. Who should have known that Jesus would be here to be the Suffering Servant, seeking the lost, wooing people to God¡¦s love, to His kingdom, not with force but by the power of His deep concern and love.
For but there will be victory. Palm Sunday is about one of the events that eventually led to the Good Friday event, where Christ died for all sinners, so that all who believe in Christ¡¦s substitutionary death are forgiven, freed from the clutches of death and sin and ushered into to eternal life through the resurrection victory of Jesus.
Yes there would be a victory. But it is victory not shared by all who spread their cloaks and branches that day. For a few days later they who praised and worshipped the ground on which Jesus rode on would shout crucify him. They should have known the moment Jesus used the donkey and not a stallion, that he would save them not from their momentray problems but from the problem of sin that is the root of their problems, the cause of wars, violence, broken families, everything that¡¦s filthy and broken in this world. They desired a political Messiah but what God will give them is a Messiah who loved them enough to go for a more permanent solution, even if it meant suffering.
Lest we be too critical of Jerusalem, ask yourself this question: What city even today would not be shaken by Jesus¡¦ entry into it? Imagine Jesus entering New York, London, Tel Aviv, Washington, or even Vancouver. Oh, I¡¦m sure we¡¦d welcome him with our hosannas - at first, anyway. We¡¦d line the streets and strike up the band and have a grand parade right down Main Street. But I¡¦m equally sure that, by the end of the week, we¡¦d have him nailed to a cross,too. Why? Because the Kingdom Jesus came to establish still threatens the kingdoms of this world -- your kingdom and mine -- the kingdoms where greed, power, and lust rule instead of grace, mercy, and peace. And who among us really gets that?
B. The Colt
I am sure the owners of the young donkey colt did not really get it all. They probably did not understand the world changing implications of that ride on the donkey that would lead to salvation of the world. But they gave up a valuable mode of transportation and means of making a living because the Lord needs it. People today often speak of donkeys in belittling terms. You may have heard the expression, "I¡¦m just someone who has to do all the donkey work." Or "So-and-so is as stubborn as a mule" (a mule is part donkey).
These sayings overlook the contributions of a truly valuable animal. Donkeys have served the human race for thousands of years. They were once prized as symbols of humility, gentleness, and peace. So for the owners of the donkey, it was a sacrifice to give up the animal. It¡¦s like us giving up a not only our wheels but a source of income.
Apparently, in Bible days, donkeys that had never been ridden were regarded as
especially suitable for religious purposes. So it was most fitting that
Jesus sent for a colt to perform the royal task of carrying Him into
Jerusalem. As we reflect this Easter season, what are we giving up so that others could celebrate the coming of God¡¦s kingdom? The Lord would love it if you and I would think of others today, so that they could get into the kingdom¡K
Bill Wilson pastors an inner city church in New York City. His mission field is a very violent place. He himself has been stabbed twice as he ministered to the people of the community surrounding the church. Once a Puerto Rican woman became involved in the church and was led to Christ. After her conversion she came to Pastor Wilson and said, "I want to do something to help with the church¡¦s ministry." He asked her what her talents were and she could think of nothing---she couldn¡¦t even speak English---but she did love children. So he put her on one of the church¡¦s buses that went into neighborhoods and transported kids to church. Every week she performed her duties. She would find the worst-looking kid on the bus, put him on her lap and whisper over and over the only words she had learned in English: "I love you. Jesus loves you."
After several months, she became attached to one little boy in particular. The boy didn¡¦t speak. He came to Sunday School every week with his sister and sat on the woman¡¦s lap, but he never made a sound. Each week she would tell him all the way to Sunday School and all the way home, "I love you and Jesus loves you."
One day, to her amazement, the little boy turned around and stammered,
"I---I---I love you too!" Then he put his arms around her and gave her a big hug. That was 2:30 on a Sunday afternoon. At 6:30 that night he was found dead. His own mother had beaten him to death and thrown his body in the trash......."I love you and Jesus loves you." ....Those were some of the last words this little boy heard in his short life---from the lips of a Puerto Rican woman who could barely speak English. This woman gave her one talent to God and because of that a little boy who never heard the word "love" in his own home, experienced and responded to the love of Christ.....
What can you give from yourself? What is your "colt". You and I each have something in our lives, which, if given back to God, could, like the colt, move Jesus and His message further down the road.
A missionary in China calls herself "the Lord¡¦s donkey." She¡¦s a humble
believer, "carrying" her Lord faithfully into town after town and training others to do likewise. The Lord has need of many such "colts" in today¡¦s world, humble people who will carry Him into their Jerusalem and make Him known.
But the donkey had to be untied before Jesus could use it. We too must be
released from worldly attachments if we are to serve Christ. What has got u tied up? That you can fully trust the Lord? That u can fully give yourself to be a humble servant of God? Are we willing to be the Lord¡¦s colt?
A 19th century Sunday School teacher named Kimball led a shoe clerk named Moody to Jesus Christ. Dwight L. Moody became a famous evangelist who influenced Frederick B. Meyer to preach on college campuses. Meyer led J. Wilbur Chapman to the Lord. Chapman while working with the YMCA arranged for Billy Sunday to come to Charlotte, North Carolina to attend revival meetings. Community leaders in Charlotte scheduled another revival with Mordecai Hamm. Under Hamm¡¦s preaching Billy Graham gave his heart to Jesus Christ. Billy Graham has preached to more people than any man in history. I am sure this Sunday School teacher in Boston had no idea what would happen from leading a shoe clerk to Christ.
As we examine this passage of Scripture, let me encourage you to look at the
owner of the donkey and his response to the king who entered into Jerusalem that day.
What is God calling you to do for Him today? Are there ties to this world and its concerns that you need to untie? What is God asking you in your heart to do?
C. The Crowd
The crowd¡¦s response was great¡K Jesus said ¡§I like that¡¨
Let me remind you of 1 Peter 2:5, 9 ¡§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. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.¡¨
Ps 150:6 ¡§Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.¡¨
Worship can change us.
Jer 2:5 NIV ¡§They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.¡¨
You become like what you worship.
If you„h worship superficial things ¡V your life becomes superficial.
If you worship„h perverted things ¡V your life becomes perverted.
If you worship evil things„h ¡V your life becomes evil.
If your worship the true God ¡V you become godly.„h
That¡¦s because praise and worship ushers in the manifested presence of God.
Ps 22:3 (KJV) ¡§But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.¡¨
That¡¦s because praise defeats our enemy.
Ps 8:2 NIV ¡§From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.¡¨
Ps 149:5-6 ¡§Let the saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand.¡¨
Our praise puts evil to flight.
How to Praise God
1. With loud voice.
2. With my body.
3. With music.
4. With our entire lives.
1 Cor 10:31 ¡§Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.¡¨
Palm Sunday teaches us that Jesus would love such a response. So let¡¦s not keep quiet just because we are clueless, I trust you are clued in now with God¡¦s eternal purpose to win us back to Himself with the message of Easter. You are no longer the weakest link, but the crown of His creation which you meant to be from the very beginning, made in His image! You are valuable enuff that Jesus would go to Jerusalem, endure through the suffering of the cross. So God invites us to humby serve Him like the colt, get untied to this world, let Jesus in your life, let Him ride into your life, and celebrate
¡§Worship the Lord your God and serve only him.¡¨ Matthew 4:10 (CEV)
¡§Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.¡¨ Psalm 95:1 (NIV)
¡§¡K true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and truth.¡¨ John 4:23,24 (NIV)
Expressions of WORSHIP:
Singing (Ephesians 5:19)
Thanksgiving (Ephesians 5:20)
Submission to one another (Ephesians 5:21)
Noise (Psalm 100:1)
Gladness (Psalm 100:2)
Knowledge of God (Psalm 100:3)
Acknowledgement of God¡¦s love and faithfulness (Psalm 100:5)
Praying (Ephesians 6:18)
Body movement (Romans 12:1)
Baptism (Romans 6:3-4)
Lord¡¦s Supper (I Corinthians 11:23-26)
Meditation (Hebrews 3:1)
Giving (1 Corinthians 16:1,2)
Hearing the Word (Colossian 3:16)
Heart that is clean (Hebrews 10:22)
¡§Heart of worship¡¨ - I¡¦ll bring You more than a song, for a song in itself is not what You have required. You search much deeper within, through the way things appear. You¡¦re looking into my heart. I¡¦m coming back to the heart of worship. It¡¦s all about You. It¡¦s all about You, Jesus.
Don¡¦t keep quiet about your faith anymore, or the stones will cry out¡K.
Outline
"The Stones Will Cry Out"
Easter Reflection series
A. The Grand Entrance
Palm Sunday celebrates the day Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. But let¡¦s test how much we really know of that day’s events, recorded in all four Gospels, with these true or false statements.
1. According to the Gospels, the people waved palm branches when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
2. The date of Jesus’ triumphal entry¡Xfive days before Passover¡Xwas a special holiday in his time.
3. By their actions, the people were publicly proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah.
4. The fact that Jesus rode a donkey portrayed him as a warrior king.
5. The shouts of "Hosanna!" meant "Praise the Lord!"
6. The route Jesus chose for his triumphal entry was down the side of Mount Zion.
7. When the people spread branches and garments in Jesus’ path it was to pay him honor.
8. The shouts of "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" were words of a Jewish hymn.
B. Are we clueless?
C. Are we like ¡§The Colt¡¨?
D. The Crowd
The crowd¡¦s response was great¡K Jesus said ¡§I like that¡¨
1 Peter 2:5, 9 ¡§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. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.¡¨
Ps 150:6 ¡§Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.¡¨
Worship can change us.
Jer 2:5 NIV ¡§They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.¡¨
Praise and worship ushers in the presence of God.
Ps 22:3 (KJV) ¡§But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.¡¨
That¡¦s because praise defeats our enemy.
Ps 8:2 NIV ¡§From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.¡¨
Ps 149:5-6 ¡§Let the saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand.¡¨
Our praise puts evil to flight.
How to Praise God
1. With loud voice.
2. With my body.
3. With music.
4. With our entire lives.
1 Cor 10:31 ¡§Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.¡¨
¡§Worship the Lord your God and serve only him.¡¨ Matthew 4:10 (CEV)
¡§Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.¡¨ Psalm 95:1 (NIV)
¡§¡K true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and truth.¡¨ John 4:23,24 (NIV)
Expressions of WORSHIP:
Singing (Ephesians 5:19)
Thanksgiving (Ephesians 5:20)
Submission to one another (Ephesians 5:21)
Noise (Psalm 100:1)
Gladness (Psalm 100:2)
Knowledge of God (Psalm 100:3)
Acknowledgement of God¡¦s love and faithfulness (Psalm 100:5)
Praying (Ephesians 6:18)
Body movement (Romans 12:1)
Baptism (Romans 6:3-4)
Lord¡¦s Supper (I Corinthians 11:23-26)
Meditation (Hebrews 3:1)
Giving (1 Corinthians 16:1,2)
Hearing the Word (Colossian 3:16)
Heart that is clean (Hebrews 10:22)
