If the Rocks Cry Out Amid Silence, So Will I

February 25, 2020

If the Rocks Cry Out Amid Silence, So Will I

Luke 19:28–48

Rachel Fagan

Central Truth

Jesus' word is truth, regardless of an individual's decision to heed or ignore it.

And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples." He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out."

The Triumphal Entry

28 And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’” 32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. 33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” 35 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem

41 And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side 44 and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

45 And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, 46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.”

47 And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, 48 but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words.

I quickly recognized the anxiety in the voices of the Pharisees in this passage. The disciples—who stay near to Jesus, consistently hear the truth (Luke 19:30-31), obey it (Luke 19:34), and even proclaim it (Luke 19:37)—are at peace, filled with confidence. But the Pharisees, who rely on their own understanding, are struck with doubt and fear and actually ask Jesus to silence His good news! With a calm demeanor and simple, figurative language, Jesus illustrates just how true His words and way are: if the people ceased shouting, God's Word would still be proclaimed (Luke 19:40).

The Pharisees may seem foolish, but they represent us. Jesus is right in front of them, with the best news; and yet they plead with Him for His disciples to be silent. This is what anxiety does—denounces Jesus. When we hold on to our fear instead of giving our concerns to Jesus, we are hiding from His gift of grace and peace. It's easy to rely on our own knowledge and justify "loopholes" around God's commands and Jesus' teachings, figuratively using His temple as "a den of robbers." But who is at peace in this passage? The faithful disciples or the educated Pharisees?

Jesus moves into the heart of the city, the temple, driving out those who would pervert its original intent and purpose and cleansing it with His truth and love. Through this imagery, I'm reminded of my need to pray Psalm 51:10. I want to be a faithful disciple, not a doubtful Pharisee, and not a person with her head in the sand, pretending Jesus isn't walking with her sharing His truth. This truth is so important that even if humans couldn't proclaim it, the physical world would.

It is comforting to know that despite our shortcomings—our doubt, fear, and foolishness—nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39). Where our voices may be silenced, God's will, love, and truth cannot be.

1. What fears, doubts, or concerns are you clinging to instead of giving them to Jesus?

2. Are you following Jesus as a disciple? Doubting him as a Pharisee? Using His temple as a den of robbers? We have the capacity for all of these things, but we also have the ability to choose what to cling to.

3. In what ways have the words of Jesus in the Gospel cried out to you? What about Jesus are you completely confident in?