12/20/2007
Luke 19:36 - 40 (HCSB)
36As He was going along, they were spreading their robes on the road. 37Now He came near the path down the Mount of Olives, and the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen:
38 Blessed is the King
who comes in the name of the Lord.
Peace in heaven
and glory in the highest heaven!
39Some of the Pharisees from the crowd told Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”
40He answered, “I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out!”
As Jesus entered Jerusalem for the last time, the crowds greeted Him with cheering and praise. He came on a colt which was a sign of a king coming in peace. As the Pharisees looked on, they were offended by the greetings of the crowd. To the Pharisees, this greeting was clearly blasphemous – that is, “the King who comes in the name of the Lord” implied Jesus’ role as Messiah.
The Pharisees did not like this title because they did not believe Jesus was the Messiah. Thus, they told Jesus to silence the crowd (or at least use a different salutation). But Jesus responds, in essence, telling the Pharisees that the title is completely correct. Furthermore, His role as Lord and Messiah was so sure that if the people quit praising him that the rocks would be compelled to cry out.
It is interesting that Jesus says the rocks will cry out. The common people who had seen Jesus’ miracles and listened to His teachings recognized Him as the Messiah, but the scholars could not see it. It appears that the Pharisees hearts were even harder and colder than the rocks.
Our Lord is due praise and honor. We have the privilege to give Him praise. We have been granted this special opportunity. For He is certainly due all our honor, respect, reverence, and praise.
Will you take this moment to praise God simply for who He is? And thank Him for His Son, Jesus, who came to bring us Life. Do not let your privilege of Praising Him fall to the rocks.
Jeff Justus
Cleff Publishing
www.cleffpublishing.com
©2007 Cleff Publishing, all rights reserved.
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