Once Jesus sent two of his disciples and said: Luke 19:30 – 40 “Go to the village there ahead of you; as you go in, you will find a colt tied up that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here.” …. and they took the colt to Jesus. Then they threw their cloaks over the animal and helped Jesus get on. As he rode on, people spread their cloaks on the road. When he came near Jerusalem, at the place where the road went down the Mount of Olives, the large crowd of his disciples began to thank God and praise him in loud voices for all the great things that they had seen: “God bless the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory to God!” Then some of the Pharisees in the crowd spoke to Jesus. “Teacher,” they said, “command your disciples to be quiet!” Jesus answered, “I tell you that if they keep quiet, the stones themselves will start shouting.”
It was the custom that a king does not ride an animal if another person had already ridden that animal. When Jesus asks for a colt which had never been ridden by any person, He thereby made it clear that He had come as King. His disciples then spread their clothes on the road; today it would indicate the red carpet being rolled out. And a whole crowd praises God. Jesus knew that He had been sent to earth as the Redeemer. Nothing would have put a stop to God’s plan for salvation. Therefore, when the Pharisees wanted to silence the disciples, Jesus says: “I tell you that if they keep quiet, the stones themselves will start shouting.”
Through the ages God ensured that people and stones do not keep quiet about his plan for salvation. Jesus is the most widely known King of all time, the Lamb of God sacrificed for our sins. Gifted composers have been used by God to write the most beautiful songs of praise which are still regularly performed to this day: Mozart (1756-1791): We praise thee, O God, we acknowledge thee as Lord. And “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” Händel (1685-1759): who, in the Hallelujah choir from The Messiah, let the word of praise, “Hallelujah” be called out some 46 times in 4 minutes for the “King of kings ”, and sings about Jesus: “And He shall reign for ever and ever!”
God used artists to produce the most beautiful paintings and carved figures that exclaim the Good News that Jesus was crucified to reconcile us to God. Just recall the Pietà (see photo) by Michelangelo (1475 – 1564) where Maria laments over the lifeless body of Jesus Christ. There is a large treasury of songs of praise and works of art about the King of kings!
Every church building testifies to people having praised God on that spot. Across large parts of the earth there are church buildings with their steeples pointing symbolically towards heaven, from where God came to the world in Jesus Christ. These are buildings built with “stones” that “shout”: God is with us. Jesus has reconciled us to God. These places of worship have often been, and still are, called “temples” or “Houses of God”.
But, even so, we must still remember who God is: Acts 17:24 The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. Paul says we are now the temples of God (2 Cor 6:16). Now it is us who must “shout” the news that Jesus, the King, had come. We must praise God joyfully!
Lord Jesus, thank you that You still maintain your church, the believers, and that we may be part thereof, through your grace. Amen
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