Read: Luke 19:28-40
Are you humming along? Catchy song, happy thoughts, nothing specific on your mind? The jubilant crowd beckons you to join along, but what if someone sarcastically asks, “Praise Him for what”? For the life of them, the Pharisees cannot see what all the praise and celebration is all about. All that concerns them is the noise. What will the Romans think? A week ago, Judas blew a gasket when Mary “wasted” expensive perfume anointing and worshipping Jesus. This week, the crowd calls Jesus “King.” What is coming next? Singing rocks?
HOW DUMB IS A BOX OF ROCKS?
What is God up to? Jesus knows the significance of this moment. He knows what is coming: a spiritual regime change that will transform our world. R.C. Sproul writes, “It didn’t matter that the Pharisees thought the crowd was ‘dumber than a box of rocks,’ or something to that extent. How dumb is a box of rocks? Jesus knew the answer to that question because, touching His divine nature, He made the rocks. There was not a stone on the pathway between Bethany and Jerusalem that the divine Logos had not formed and shaped by the power of His creation. They were His stones, His rocks, and He understood that the whole creation groaned in agony waiting for the redemption that Christ and Christ alone could bring. Jesus was not just the King of the Jews or the Savior of the Jews, He was the King of the cosmos, the cosmic King that the unintelligent animals recognized but the very people did not want.”
FICKLE CROWDS
The crowd sings as Jesus passes by. They cry, “Blessed (celebrated, praised) is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory (majesty, splendor) in the highest [heaven]!” But as crowds go, they are fickle. They presume Jesus is their ticket out of bondage to the Romans. All they see is their political future. They care less about eternity.
THE GLORIOUS CELEBRATION
Jesus, as always, does the unexpected. He does not bow to the crowd’s, the disciples’, or the Pharisees’ wishes. Jesus only bows to the Father. To the Father go all the praises. Praises for what? That which is coming: the cross and the resurrection. Praises for the agony which will pay the price to redeem the world. Glorious celebration that sin’s power will be broken. Triumphantly, lives both present and future will be given eternal life.
PRAISE HIM FOR WHAT?
If someone sarcastically asks you, “Praise Him for what”? Remember, “Nothing tells Satan and his followers that they have lost like the praises of God ringing in their ears. Satan loses because when God’s people are really worshipping, their hearts and minds are on Him – and not on sin, self, or Satan’s distractions.” (David Guzik) Join the resurrected millions in singing to the Christ Who “came that you may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10) Those who don’t join in are “dumber than a box of rocks.” Jesus said, “If these [people] keep silent, the stones will cry out [in praise]!” Accept His invitation to sing the song of eternity with all of creation. Begin humming that tune today!