JCSCK #62 Jesus and the shouting Stones Luke 19:29-40

 

JCSCK #62 Jesus and the shouting Stones

Text: Luke 19:29-40

 Sermon Video Link 

Introduction:

Joke - Preacher vacationing at the Grand Canyon.  Standing on the edge of that great chasm, he was inspired to loudly quote some scripture.  Into his mind came, Revelation 6:12-14 and he shouted into the canyon in his most powerful voice, "And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places." 

And His voice boomed and echoed down the walls of the canyon until it was heard by one lone hiker way down below the rim, hiking up from the bottom of the canyon.

He stopped as he heard this powerful, booming voice echo down the canyon walls. When the voice stopped, he dropped to his knees and said, "Oh Lord, I promise I'll be in church next Sunday if you'll just wait on that earthquake until I get up out of this canyon!"

We have been preaching about the final Passover pilgrimage of Jesus and the Disciples. This is the third Passover they have celebrated together and it will be their last with Jesus. Only John records all three Passovers and it is by that annual events that we know Jesus’ earthly ministry was about 3 ½ years long.

They left Ephraim in Perea and traveled the roads along the borders of Galillee, Samaria and then Judah. As they have traveled toward Jerusalem, Jesus has been healing and teaching. He told them the story of Lazarus and the rich man, tThe “lost” parables of lost sheep, lost coins and a lost son. The Disciples, have watched as Jesus healed the ten lepers, listened as he taught of the Kingdom of Heaven, and told parables of how to pray. They also were rebuked by Jesus when they would not let the babies come to Him to be blessed. They listened as he foretold his coming death and saw Him heal the eyes of Blind Bartimaeus and his friend on the road to Jericho. Then they watched as Jesus called Zacchaeus down from the sycamore tree and then stayed in his home that night.

The next day Jesus told the parable of the pounds or minas (about 100 days wages, 100 drachmas) in Luke 19:12-13 A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. 13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy (use this, invest this) till I come.

The parable ends with a warning for the servants of the Lord on the day of reckoning, … Luke 19:16-26 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. 17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. 18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. 19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. 20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: 21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. 22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: 23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? 24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. 25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) 26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.

Really doesn’t need any explanation does it. Jesus says here is the Gospel, now invest it, grow it until I come back with my Kingdom.

There is also a warning about those who hate the Coming King in Luke 19:27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me. (That sure doesn’t need any explanation just clear retelling to those who would ignore, reject or actively hate Jesus the Creator, Savior, Lord and King.

At the end of the Pilgrimage, Jesus arrives in Bethany, has supper with His friends, Simon, Lazarus, Martha and Mary. Then Mary anoints Jesus with ointment of Spikenard  and her love is memorialized as part of the Gospel accounts. Matthew 26:13 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

Now, lets go to Luke 19 where the Lord Jesus makes an incredible declaration about  stones shouting that Jesus is the Messiah, the King of Israel and Son of God. This is only the 2nd event recorded in all four Gospel accounts, Mt 21:1–11, 14–17; Mk 11:1–11; Lk 19:29–44 and Jn 12:12–19, the first was the feeding of the 5,000.

The Plan - Luke 19:29-35

And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,  Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them. And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? And they said, The Lord hath need of him

Jesus’ Plan

Now the of the Triumphal Entry begins. Jesus and the disciples walk toward Jerusalem from Bethany, a fairly short journey of just miles to the east. Between Jerusalem and Bethany stands the Mt. of Olives. From its height of 2,600′ you look down upon Jerusalem and can see a sweeping, panoramic view of the Temple and its courts about 300′ directly below you. From the Mount of Olives, Jesus will weep over Jerusalem, give the “Olivet Discourse,” pray in Gethsemane, and then finally ascend into heaven and sit at the right hand of God the Father’s throne.

On the ascending slope of the Mt. of Olives is a little village, Bethphage. Jesus stops just outside the village and sends two disciples, probably Peter and John, to fetch a donkey and her colt. Matthew once again gives us the detail that it is a colt and its mother. Just as he told of two demon possessed men and two blind beggars, Mark tells us that the colt has never been ridden, and this is probably why they bring the colt’s mother to keep the young colt calm as they get ready to pass through the eastern gate and hear the praise of the people for their Messiah.

All of this is planned. Here outside of Jerusalem Jesus had made a secret plan with a disciple in Bethphage to have the colt and mother ready. “if anyone asks tell them the Lord has need of them.” It was secretly prearranged like this for the protection of the man and the disciples.

And Jesus’ immediate plan fulfilled God’s Plan for the Ages, in Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

Only an omniscient God could foresee and plan events hundreds of year into the future. The Triumphal Entry this day was planned by God to declare Jesus as Israel’s Messiah and mankind’s Savior. This was part of God’s plan that includes all of history from the creation, to the fall, to the calling of Abraham, the Exodus and the conquering of the Holy Land. It accelerates when Jesus is born and reaches its first climax when He is crucified and rises from the grave. It is also a plan that continues still in our day and awaits a second final part when Jeus returns and as the Conquering King enters through the eastern gate from the Mount of Olives. It is a plan that takes in all of time and eternity. A plan that is so vast, so immense it takes in all the people of all nations but is so detailed that even a sparrow doesn't fall but He is aware of it.

God's plan includes numbering the hairs of your head. (Some of us are giving God a break on this part of the plan.) God’s plan reached all the way from the Garden of Eden and then, on this day, it reached right down to this man who owns some donkeys.

Can you imagine, this nameless man was a part of the plan of God for the ages.  And now, that man chose to be an active part of that plan. Giving what was his, to further the Lord’s plan of the ages.

God’s Plan And Us

It may seem that this man was unique or special but actually it is only this place and time that makes it seem so. In truth he was not unique, he was simply willing to let the Lord work through his life and with his possessions.

The Bible says that all of us are part of God’s plan. Ephesians 1: 3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will

God’s plan reached out that day in Luke 19 and it included this man and his donkeys. But you and I must understand that God’s plan is still in effect today and it still extends to all mankind and there will be times when it encompasses and intersects with you and I in the same way it did with this man that day.

This is what Jeremiah said in 32:17-19  Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name,  Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:

How can we know when we have been touched by God's plan for the ages?

I believe it is in the same way it happened to the man with the donkeys that day. You find yourself confronted with the same statement as he did,  "the Lord has need of these"

It happens first when you are confronted with salvation and the Holy Spirit says, The Lord has need of you, your soul, your will, your repentance.

It happens when reading you’re the Bible or hearing a sermon about service or sacrifice and you hear the Spirit of God say "I have need of your life."

It happens when you bring your children to church, and you realize the Lord has need of your family.

It happens when hear a missionary speak of the need of the gospel and you realize the Lord has need of your offerings to save souls, just as I saved yours.

And yet so infinite is the wisdom of God that His plan even has made allowances for you to say no when He deals with you.

f you say no when you are invited to experience God’s grace and forgiveness then His plan still includes you, but now your place is as far from God as any place can be. And in God’s plan that place for those who refuse his love is called Hell, just as Jesus finished the parable before coming to the gates of Jerusalem, “Luke 19:27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

If you say no to the giving of your soul, your service, your family or your finances then know that God's plan includes the emptiness, loss, pain and suffering that will come when one chooses their own way and rejects God's way.

Oh how many would go back to the time when they heard the Lord say “I have need of this” and gladly and freely give to the Lord of creation all that we have. How many look back on ruined lives and wasted souls, broken hopes and destroyed families and wish they would have given them all to God? He would have kept them safe in the vaults of heaven to have for all eternity but instead they are lost forever.

My First Funeral and Red the former pastor.

Next, we see how Jesus’ plan touched much more than just one man with some donkeys but would include an entire city.

The Praise - Luke 19:35-38

And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. And when he was come nigh, even now at 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 that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

People’s Praise

Now the people can unleash their pent up praise for their Christ, their Messiah. For over 3000 years they had looked for, prayed for and hoped for His coming. For all the journey from Galilee they had heard His teaching and saw his miracles and now when they seem him mount up on an unbroken donkey colt then know, they can see, right before their eyes, the Messiah is here!

They know, because of all that He had done, the miracles, the teaching, the authority shown in the Temple but they final sign had just been fulfilled as they came into sight of the walls of Jerusalem. God' s plan had planted it like a trigger in the writing of the prophet Zechariah and they were seeing it take place this very moment.

Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

This was a Messianic prophecy that all the people, from the youngest child to the oldest scribe knew by heart. The Messiah would come meek and lowly, riding on a young donkey with the it’s mother walking beside. It would be very hard to get that part of God’s plan wrong, it was pretty specific, that only the Pharisees couldn’t and wouldn’t see it as the fulfillment of God’s plan. When the people gathered for the Passover, saw it they fulfilled their part of the prophecy and plan of God, they were to “rejoice greatly” and they were to “shout!”

And that is exactly what they did.

The disciple had cast their garments upon the colt and now the people began to spread their cloaks on the ground that he might ride over them. In Matthew 21:8 it says, "And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way."

This was the traditional way of greeting a great king, a conquering king and now the King of Israel, the Messiah, the anointed One, had was here and all of Jerusalem, and all the world must hear the rejoicing and shouts of their praise. They shouted “Hosanna,”  and they sang from Psalm 118:26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.

The Messiah had finally come, and praise must usher Him through the eastern gate and fill every street and echo off every wall. Hosanna, blessed is He that comes in the name of Jehovah! Yes, once again, put an exclamation point in your KJV. 

Praising Our King

Wouldn’t it have been amazing to be there that day? To see the coming King, to realize all those centuries of praying and hoping were ending in your time, right before you very eyes? What a day that must have been.

Now listen, let me assure you, that if you are a child of God, an even greater day of praise awaits us. One day, Jesus will come in the clouds to claim this world as His kingdom. One day the trumpet will blow and all the prophecies you had ever read about will come to fulfillment. And most amazing of all we will see it. We will be a part of it and as much as I could wish I could have seen the Triumphal Entry of Jesus the Messiah that day, it will not compare to the Triumphal Reentry of Jesus the King one coming day.

The Eastern Gate - Did you know that the easter gate into Jerusalem, the so named Golden Gate still stands and there is a prophecy about it in Ezekiel 44:1-3 Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut. 2 Then said the LORD unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the LORD, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut. 3 It is for the prince; the prince, he shall sit in it to eat bread before the LORD; he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out by the way of the same.

That gate was ordered sealed by a Muslim Sultan of the Ottoman empire in the 16th century and has remained sealed to this day, but one day when Jesus returns that gate will burst open and once again Jesus will enter in, this time not meek and lowly but as King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Yes, put another exclamation point there, this time in your heart and in your hopes.

Until that day, let me challenge you in this, If you are saved, a child of God, then you have already experienced the coming of the King, not through the sky like lightning shining from the east to the west, not touching down on the Mount of Olives, not entering through the eastern gate, but he has entered your heart, He has cut through the sins, the doubts and the fears, breaking them apart just as the Mount of Olives will split and the Easter gate will shatter.  And if that is true, then just like the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem, the world should hear your praise.

As they used their hands to pull branches from the trees to lay in front of Jesus, we should be praise Him with the work of our hands. As they took the cloaks off their backs and placed them at his feet, we should praise Him with our possessions. As they praised Him with their uplifted shouts, so also we should be praising Him in joyous, glorious, uproarious song.

Someday the Book of Revelation tells us we join a choir that includes all of heaven and earth and we will bow before the Lamb and then we will sing a new song and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.  And every creature will sing, "Worthy is the Lamb to receive power and honor and glory!"

But we don’t dare wait till then. Praise Him, Praise Him, Praise Him today and every day until we do join that heavenly choir.

Illustration: Praise Him, Praise Him

Praise him, praise him! Jesus, our blessed redeemer!
Sing, O earth, his wonderful love proclaim!
Hail him, hail him! Highest archangels in glory!
Strength and honor give to his holy name!
Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard his children.
In his arms he carries them all day long.

3 Praise him, praise him! Jesus, our blessed redeemer!
Heav’nly portals loud with hosannas ring!
Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever!
Crown him, crown him! prophet, and priest, and king!
Christ is coming, over the world victorious.
Pow’r and glory unto the Lord belong. 

Refrain: Praise him! Praise him! tell of his excellent greatness.
Praise him! Praise him! ever in  joyful song.

When I was young, I used to think, that Fanny Crosby used too much repetition in that song. Too many times she just said, “praise him.” Now that I’m older and I think of all Jesus is to me, all that He has done since coming into my life and I sing that song and now I think it doesn’t have nearly enough times singing, Praise Him, Praise Him. Praise Him.

There is one last thing that I us to hear from Luke 19. It is the answer Jesus gave to the Pharisees that day who told him to make the people stop. It is a remarkable answer, one found nowhere else and one that could not be applied to anyone else but Jesus, the Creator, Savior, Lord and King.

The Power - Luke 19:39-40

And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

Stone’s Shout

In the midst of this joyous, glorious, uproar, the Pharisees come running to their Messiah, not to repent, not to accept Him as God’s son, no they come to tell him to rebuke those who are praising their rightful King. Oh, how Jesus must have looked into the cold, bitter, hateful eyes of those who were rejecting Him as Messiah and King. He knew this would happen it why He had told the parable. It was these Pharisees and their followers who had been given the precious, in depth knowledge of God’s word and instead of investing it in the lives of others so that when He came they would know Him and rejoice they now called on Him to make the people be shut up, Rebuke them, teacher. Rebuke them!

What an amazing response from Jesus that triumphal morning. He must have looked down on them from the back of that young colt and then He said over the sound of praise, rejoicing and the shouts echoing from the walls, Luke 19:40 I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

If somehow it was possible for the people to be quieted, even if they could somehow deny the reality of the joy in their heart, even if they could like the Pharisees deny the truth, it would do no good for if the people were silent, then even the paving stones would shout, even the stones of the city walls would sing, even the loose stones strewn in the street would praise the Messiah rode past that day.

It could be that Jesus was speaking prophetically as well as poetically when He  rebuked the Pharisees. For in only a few days the stones really did cry out, proving that Jesus was the Messiah, King and Creator.

Listen to what Matthew wrote in 27:50-51 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

The Bible says, when he was crucified there was an earthquake and darkness for the space of 3 hours and the stones were rent, torn in pieces for the their creator was dead.

And not only on this dark day did the stones cry out but they would be heard again this time crying out in joy upon His resurrection.

Matthew 28:1-6 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:  And for fear of him the keepers did shake and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

The stone placed over the grave to silence Him, the stone meant to seal Him away, became the stone that joyously rolled aways, opened the tomb and shouted is silent testimony, “He is risen!”

Stone’s Final Statement

The first times the stones cried out are behind us in history and time, but there is one more time that the stones will play a part in the Coming of Jesus.

Revelation 6:12-17 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;  And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.  And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.   And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

The stones of the mountains once again bear testimony of Jesus. This time to those who see the terrible wrath of God. They will cry out to the stones and beg,  "Fall on us, hide us from the face of him that sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb.”

The stones that could have shouted at the Triumphal Entry, the stones that did shout in anguish at His crucifixion and then in joy at His resurrection now are called upon by rebellious man to hide them from the Coming King. But the stones do not move at the desperate pleas of terrified lost men, but only at the command of their Creator.

Which Statement Of The Stones Do You Hear?

I wonder which testimony of the stones are we hearing today? The silent assent of the King of Glory entering Jerusalem, the cry of agony as He died or the moving of praise to show He is alive?

God’s plan included a man with a couple of donkeys outside Jerusalem, it included the paving stones and tombstones of Jerusalem and God’s plan includes  you. He has a plan for the ages, for eternity, a plan that will forgive sin, and give eternal life through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. That same plan, should you ignore His love and mercy, spurn the sacrifice of his only Son, then that same plan of the ages, will bring you to God’s judgment instead of His love, His wrath instead of His grace. His condemnation instead of His salvation.

In that day none will stand and say, "Your plan didn't include me.” That day, all will see and know how He had planned for them even down to this day, this hour, this moment.

Illustration: The Rich Man in Hell

The story of the Rich man and Lazarus was told by Jesus on that last pilgrimage.

Luke 16: 27-31 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.  Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, Father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.     

You realize that Jesus is not just talking about the Rich man, but is also talking to us. God’s plan, that included Jesus dying for us and coming forth from the grave, also made sure that “Moses and the prophets”  the scriptures, recorded those things and we could hear it this day, this hour, this moment and respond to God’s plan for the ages, God’s plan for our salvation.  

Conclusion:

If I had been in that crowd that morning, and saw Jesus riding into Jerusalem,  what would I have done?

Would I have stood on the sidelines thinking how foolish this was?  Would I be watching but not willing to shout out in praise? Or would I be one of those shouting, “Hosanna” and cutting branches from the trees and spreading my coat for the Messiah's journey? Or perhaps could I have even been one in the group that traveled with Jesus, willing to walk through the gates of Jerusalem and face death because I loved Him?

We tell ourselves, if I had been there I'd welcome Him. I would even march in with Him, but your life now is probably an indication of what you would have been doing back then. Are you are on the sidelines today? Are you watching but not working?  Are you holding back your possessions not laying them at the Savior's feet?  Are you holding back your life not willing to commit it to the same path that Jesus walked?  Could it even be that this morning you are rebuking the Holy Spirit to be quiet as He speaks to your heart telling you that this is Jesus ready to enter your heart as Savior and King.

Jesus said, "Even the stones would shout."  If even the rocks of creation know Jesus then why wouldn’t I acknowledge Him this morning?