Don't Make the Stones Cry Out

“And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, ‘Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.’  But He answered and said to them, ‘I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.’”  (Luke 19:39-40)

                On the first day of the last week of His life, Jesus came riding into Jerusalem on the back of a colt.  The Scripture says the people were totally enamored with Jesus, and they began to cast their clothes and palm branches on the ground before Him as a symbol of worship.  It’s no secret that the Pharisees hated Jesus and wanted Him dead.  They commanded Jesus to instruct His followers to be quiet.  The response that Jesus gave tells us a great deal about the glory of God.

                Christ replied, “If these (people) should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”  Wow!!  The Bible tells us that creation declares the glory of God (Psalm 19:1), but we don’t usually hear their praise in an audible voice.  In this case, Jesus said that even the stones would cry out in praise on the occasion of His triumphal entrance into Jerusalem.  Thankfully, the stones didn’t have to make a sound because the crowds kept singing “Hosanna” to Jesus their Messiah.

                The praise of creation is wonderful, but it’s not the same as the praise of humans.  Why?  Because humans have a soul that’s been made in the image of God.  Creation has no choice but to praise the Lord, but we do.  But, if we refuse to praise the Lord, God is able to cause stones to break out in praise!  I don’t know about you, but I don’t want any stones out-praising me!  After all, a stone has never experienced the saving power of grace.  Today, lift up your praise and keep the stones quiet!