The Living Stone Series

Luke 19:28–40 28 And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’ ” 32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. 33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” 35 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that 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 in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” (ESV)

Christians remember on Palm Sunday the triumphal entry of Christ to Jerusalem—the King of Glory riding to the ostensible seat of his political and religious power, received as victor and Lord with shouts of Hosannas. Holy Week begins with cries of adoration to the victorious Lord whose entrance into Jerusalem was his entrance into suffering and death, the climax of his low condition. And this true king ushers in his kingdom in this way, on the back of a donkey. He inaugurates and establishes his dominion by taking upon himself the form of a servant. And he is exalted on high because he was lifted up on the cross. The excited throng on Palm Sunday was filled with Galilean pilgrims and the larger group of disciples, yet neither they nor the Jerusalem crowd in general (see Luke 19:37; Mark 15:40-41; John 12:12, 17) would understand the relationship between the worship of Christ and the imagery of stones being built upon him as the cornerstone.

Please turn to 1 Peter 2

We think of stones as being inert, as having no vitality flowing through them. Yet when Peter speaks of coming to Jesus, he says it is like coming to a living stone. On Palm Sunday, when the disciples were rebuked for praising Christ, He responded, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out” (Luke 19:40). What could be more impossible than that? Stones do not speak, because they are not alive, but here Peter says that when we come to Christ, we come to a stone that is alive. (Sproul, R. C. (2011). 1-2 Peter (p. 62). Wheaton, IL: Crossway.)

1 Peter 2:4-5 [4] As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, [5] you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (ESV).

As Christ entered Jerusalem that Palm Sunday, the people sought deliverance from Roman Rule and Christ to usher in the Kingdom of God. But what Christ came to build through His kingdom was not an immediate overthrow of governmental tyranny. As the chief cornerstone of the kingdom, Christ is building His Church, with His Priests and bringing about new sacrifices. Palm Sunday reminds us that what Christ is building cannot be prevented. Even though evil ones will despise the kingdom, and what is being built, those committed to Christ’s task are living stones. Believers in Christ have been chosen for such a time as this. We are previous in the Father’s eyes and what He is building is glorious.

Palm Sunday is the worship of the one who is the cornerstone of God, and the celebration of His construction. Followers of Christ are living Stones that He uses in His construction. God’s construction involves 1) Living Stones (1 Peter 2:4-5a), functioning as 2) Living Priests (1 Peter 2:5b), offering 3) Living Sacrifices (1 Peter 2:5c).

The Palm Sunday announcement of Christ, shows God building using:

1) Living Stones (1 Peter 2:4-5a)

1 Peter 2:4-5a [4] As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, [5] you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house), to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ). (ESV).