ROCKS WILL CRY OUT!

 

Palm Sunday, April 10, 2022

ROCKS WILL 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.

 

          If nature could groan beneath the weight of sin, as Paul said in Romans 8:22, then we might understand nature’s excitement at the pardon of that sin! Two views, in my opinion, need to be understood here.

 

          First, there is the estimate of our sin. If we view our sin as common or minimal, then the pardon of those few sins might not elicit the exuberant praise that we see in others. Our minds and hearts then would be clouded with our own prideful arrogance of which Proverbs 30:20 demonstrates so well.  “Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.” One who cannot see his sin is blind to the wonder of pardon.

 

          Second, there is the estimate of the Lamb! John pointed to this Lamb and immediately began to shrink in his own view. From the first bite of rebellion in Eden to the last shriek of rage as the last imp is flung into the flames, sin has cried out for condemnation and justice. What a wonder it is that condemnation and cruelty is poured out upon the Just!

 

See from His head, His hands, His feet,

Sorrow and love flow mingled down!

Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,

Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

 

Were the whole realm of nature mine,

That were a present far too small;

Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Isaac Watts

 

Dear Lord, though I be as stoic as the rocks, let my soul cry out in praise. AMEN