THE ROCKS CRY OUT

THE ROCKS CRY OUT!

Luke 19:37-40

37 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;

38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.

40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

I

sn’t it curious that there is now raging a great controversy for the souls of men and that controversy is not being debated in the churches but in the political arena? The tenets of Christianity are now being expressed by angry citizens in public gatherings. The church continues to rattle wooden swords at straw enemies while wearing paper hats.

C

arl Henry said: “If while evangelizing we abandon the sociopolitical realm to its own devices, we shall fortify the misimpression that the public order falls wholly outside the command and will of God, that Christianity deals with private concerns only; and we shall conceal the fact that government exists by God’s will as His servant for the sake of justice and order. Wherever man’s distress threatens his humanity the Church of Christ has something desperately relevant to say, and is wholly obligated to say it.” Twilight of a Great Civilization

A

dam Clarke comments on the speaking stones. “Of such importance is my present conduct to you and to others, being expressly predicted by one of your own prophets, Zech 9:9, as pointing out the triumph of humility over pride, and of meekness over rage and malice, as signifying the salvation which I bring to the lost souls of men, that, if this multitude were silent, God would give even to the stones a voice, that the advent of the Messiah might be duly celebrated.”

T

here is nothing mystical about the “stones” mentioned here. They are stones, plain and simple. While they are not meant to speak yet they stand ready to praise their Master as obedient elements of creation. Only the refined, the socially self important and those educated beyond their intelligence, stand in rebellious silence at the presence of the triumph of the Anointed One. It was an indictment of their dead religious system.

T

he next scene finds the King weeping, literally wailing aloud, at the top of the hill overlooking an unbelievably ignorant people. Washing their pots and dusting their shelves of leaven, they made ready for the sacrificial lamb. Blindly they paid attention to the symbol while ignoring the reality. Jesus, the Lamb of God was here and they knew it not.

1 Peter 2:5

5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Dear Lord, let me praise with the chorus of stones. Let me recognize your presence and celebrate it. Let me publish liberty to the captives. AMEN