Don't Let the Stones Cry Out

It’s a rowdy crowd that accompanied Jesus down the Mount of Olives. Loudly they march into the Kidron Valley and then up Mount Zion to Jerusalem. Luke says this is a crowd of Jesus’ disciples. Not just the inner 12, but a whole crowd who looked up to Jesus as their teacher, their hero, perhaps the king!

They wondered if the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. Jesus commented on their speculation already back in Jericho. Yet as Jesus came into Jerusalem, the crowd thought he was coming to claim his throne in the royal city. Despite the parable he told in Jericho earlier in ch. 19, the crowd of disciples hailed him as the coming king.

Why else would he get his disciples to borrow a donkey?

You know and I know that a donkey isn’t a kingly steed. But riding a sedate little donkey has echoes from the OT:

In the last chapters of Genesis, we learn how, at the end of his life, Jacob blessed his sons, incl. Judah, Jesus’ ancestor

The scepter will not depart from Judah,

nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,

until he to whom it belongs shall come

and the obedience of the nations shall be his.

He will tether his donkey to a vine,

his colt to the choicest branch;

he will wash his garments in wine,

his robes in the blood of grapes. Genesis 49:10–11 (NIV)

Then there’s Zechariah’s prophecy. He spoke God’s word in Jerusalem after the people returned from captivity in Babylon:

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!

Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!

See, your king comes to you,

righteous and victorious,

lowly and riding on a donkey,

on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9 (NIV)

So 2 disciples retrieved the donkey and the crowd of disciples threw their cloaks over the donkey’s bony spine as a saddle and they all paraded across the Kidron valley chanting:

Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!

They modified Ps 118:

“Blessed is he” à “Blessed is the king.”

The crowd expected Jesus to rule as king in Jerusalem.

They also chanted: “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.” I wonder if they realized their chant echoed the words the heavenly angels used when they celebrated Jesus’ birth.

Do you remember how a great company of the heavenly host appeared to the shepherds in the hills of Bethlehem?

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14 (NIV)

The disciples’ impromptu parade doesn’t escape notice. The week before the Passover, the festive spirit was beginning to grip Jerusalem. Relatives and pilgrims were arriving daily. Everyone was ramping up for the 7-day feast of Passover. Of course Jesus’ arrival with his chanting disciples creates a stir!

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” Luke 19:39 (NIV)

Here’s the Q: Was the disciples’ chanting appropriate or not?

That’s the dividing line between those who accept Jesus and his rescue plan – however muddled their understanding – and those who reject Jesus as the one who brings peace. Is he just a great teacher or a moral leader or does Jesus truly bring peace on earth?

Step back from the parade from the Mt of Olives to Mt Zion and consider the disciples’ celebration in the context of the whole gospel.

· Angels celebrated Jesus’ birth b/c he came to bring peace.

· Jesus’ rescue plan was bigger than his followers imagined. It wasn’t about recapturing the golden days of King David and King Solomon who reigned in peace and prosperity.

· When Jesus was born, the Lord God entered his creation and became human b/c there was no peace on earth.

· Human disobedience threw creation off-kilter: No peace b/t people, no peace in creation, no peace b/t God and people.

· It’s not just global, it’s personal too. You can judge how things are for you but I admit:

o I’m not always at peace w/ the people around me.

o I’m not as loving as I’d like to be

o But, failing to love is disruptive: our failures in giving love, respect, and kindness hurts feelings and ruins the peace of our household, our congregation, our community.

· Acting w/o love or w/ misdirected love also breaks the relationship with God.

· God is so holy and righteous that the Lord can’t wrap holy arms around a sinful person.

· My disobedience and sin make it impossible for me to enjoy God’s presence – sin cuts us off from God forever.

· So, Jesus entered his creation – 100% God; 100% human to take human guilt and punishment on himself.

· On Friday, we’ll remember Jesus’ crucifixion. We’ll eat a small chunk of bread and drink a small cup of grape juice to remember Jesus’ sacrifice to rescue us from sin and death and bring peace b/t you and God; peace b/t you and your household, coworkers, and family.

· We won’t just remember Jesus’ death, but also his resurrection. On 3rd day, Jesus rose from the grave to prove his victory over sin and death. By faith, we are raised to life with Jesus and raised up for loving service in Jesus’ kingdom.

· 40 days later, Jesus ascended to heaven to sit again on heaven’s throne w/ his Father.

· As King of all creation, Jesus sends HS to help us grow in faith and live out our faith. To live, as far as possible w/ us, at peace w/ neighbours.

Of course, the crowd of disciples on the hills of Mt of Olives and Mt Zion didn’t know Jesus’ whole rescue plan yet. They misunderstand Jesus’ mission and kingdom. But in Jesus, they saw hope. Hope for peace. Hope for the kingdom of God. So they celebrate!

And Jesus defends his disciples from the criticism of the Pharisees. He doesn’t tell the crowd of disciples to be quiet. Why?

Jesus is the Messiah. His coming needs to be celebrated. In fact, all creation is faithfully celebrating Jesus’ rule all the time. You can find descriptions in the OT:

The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they reveal knowledge. Psalm 19:1–2 (NIV)

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12 (NIV)

Perhaps we shouldn’t be so surprised when Jesus says, “If my disciples keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

It makes you wonder what will happen if we keep quiet. I’d rather not find out!

But the confrontation with the Pharisees reveals the dividing line b/t Jesus’ disciples and those who don’t “know what would bring them peace.” W/o faith in Jesus, we miss out on the peace and reconciliation he offers. Refusing Jesus’ offer of peace leads to suffering the punishment for our own sins. In a word: death.

Both: physical death and all eternity cut off from God.

The prospect of death and destruction for the Pharisees and the city of Jerusalem brings tears to Jesus’ eyes. His sadness is expressed w/ weeping – whole body shaking w/ grief for the people he loves, for the city he loves.

Jerusalem, the city of peace, will be destroyed for failing to recognize “what would bring them peace.”

It’s a sobering note on which to end a sermon. Jesus takes no delight in speaking about the coming destruction of Jerusalem. His words were fulfilled w/in 40 years, when the Roman army built up embankments and lay siege to Jerusalem before destroying it in 70 AD.

Jesus knew what was coming. Seated on a donkey looking over Jerusalem, Jesus weeps for the people he loves.

Luke’s account of Jesus’ coming to Jerusalem on a donkey sets us up for Good Friday. We have a 10 AM service where we’ll read Bible passages and sing about Jesus’ sacrifice to bring peace. We’ll be reminded again of how Jesus opens the kingdom of God for all who accept Jesus’ offer to bring them peace.