Ushering in the final week of His earthly ministry, the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem caused quite a stir among the people. Riding on the foal of a donkey fulfilled the prophetic imagery of the coming Messiah (Zech. 9:9). The road over which Jesus traveled from the Mount of Olives was decorated with coats and branches which the people spread out before Him. In further recognition of His identity, the people led the way shouting, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Lk. 19:38 cf. Psa. 118:26). The Pharisees demanded that Jesus rebuke His disciples, but Jesus answered them, saying, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!” (Lk. 19:39-40). Later, following Jesus’ second cleansing of the temple, the chief priests and the scribes became indignant because children were still shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David” (Mt. 21:14-15).
The perfected praise of children along with the animated praise of creation glorifies the name of Christ, the One through whom all things were created (Jn. 1:3). Should human voices be silenced, the stones will cry out His praise. We are familiar with these words of Maltbie D. Babcock: “All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres” (This Is My Father’s World). Similarly, David reminds us that “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands” (Ps. 19:1). Nature shouts a message of God’s “eternal power and divine nature” and we are “without excuse” if we do not heed it (Rm. 1:20).
Caught up in the excitement of a kingly procession is one thing. Accepting His right to rule in our own lives is quite another. Within the space of a few days, many of those who shouted His praise were caught up in another fervor of excitement wherein they cried out, “Crucify, crucify Him!” (Lk. 23:21). Let us not be among those who “again crucify to themselves the Son of God” (Heb. 6:6). Instead, let us be among the “called and chosen and faithful” who gain the victory because they acknowledge Jesus as the “Lord of lords and King of kings” (Rev. 17:14). Let this be the shout that streams from our lips and resonates in our hearts.
–Glen Elliott–