If They Kept Quiet

Luke 19 is the scripture that sums up Palm Sunday, I was reading through it today and something Jesus said stood out for me.  Now that’s not really saying much, is it? Because everything Jesus says usually stands out. But of course when you think you’ve read the same passage a million times in your life, you stumble across it again and find something new. That’s what’s so awesome about God’s word, you can read it seven times over and still learn something new every time. And often it’s very applicable to your life as of that very moment. So Jesus is riding on the colt, right? He’s riding to the Mount of Olives , disciples tagging along like always, and as he approaches the crowds, they’re going wild. Cheering loudly, shouting, singing with praise. I don’t imagine that it was tame in any way. Here are these people who have witnessed the most incredible miracles on earth from a man who tells parables and is wise beyond words, who forgives and associates with the frowned upon, and then they see Jesus. Riding in on this colt, and they’re excited. Wouldn’t you be? When I see Jesus in Heaven, I’ll be going ballistic, that’s for sure.

But we see in Luke’s account that their reaction and commotion was loud and active enough to be rebuked by Jesus’ disciples. That must have been a crazy celebration, wouldn’t you say? Crazy enough to be told to stop by the disciples themselves? But here’s the part that’s remarkable.

“I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

If they keep quiet……

Not “If they tone it down a little bit”, or “if they compose themselves in a more solemn manner”, if they keep QUIET, the STONES will cry out. Why? Because it’s as simple as this: the praises on the lips of God’s children should never be muted. And Jesus is telling us that if they are, His name will be exalted no matter what, even through His natural creations which will speak for themselves. Does anybody see a contrast between how we sometimes tend to approach worship and how Jesus actually favors it?

The stones will cry out.

Jesus never told us to keep our songs and shouts of praise to ourselves. He never told us to act a certain way to achieve a certain Holy status. Jesus made things simple. He takes us as we are, he takes what we have to offer Him, no restrictions. No rights or wrongs. I grew up in a traditional church (which thankfully has grown and really developed in the past years) that had so many unspoken rules that I could barely breathe. No this, no that, don’t dress this way, and definitely do not sing or praise God loudly that way.  You know what? God is holy.  He is our King and He should be treated as such. But He’s different than any earthly king, isn’t He? He loves us as lost souls, as broken hearts, as homeless beggars on the downtown streets, as liars, as enviers, as blasphemers–as sinners. And He wants us to express our gratitude and love right back to Him. And if that means putting aside our conservative instincts and letting ourselves be completely free to praise before His throne, to sing loudly, to use our God given gifts in music, dance, you name it, even if it means overstepping our self-imposed  barriers and boundaries in church and in our personal lives…… let the words of Jesus be Your answer. If you keep quiet, the stones will cry out. Does he love the stones as much as He loves you?

So which will it be?

Thank you, Jesus, for Your acceptance, and for not only taking us as we are, but inviting us as we are. Don’t let us be bound to traditions we set for ourselves, but let us be open enough to connect with You in a real way.