I Won’t Be Quiet

Sunday April 10, 2022

Created by Reverend Dikiea Elery

Luke 19:28–40 (NIV)

28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”

32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”

34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.”

35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.

37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices 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!”

39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

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

Devotion

Palm Sunday…what a joyous and celebratory day. As Jesus rode in on the colt, people laid palm branches and their cloaks in the road as they prepared the way for a king. They shouted unashamedly, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” It warms my heart; they know who Jesus is and they welcome Him. Then all of my joy turns to sorrow as scripture records that just a short while later this same crowd would be shouting with great authority, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” And I wonder what could really make someone turn that quickly on someone that had just hailed as king? As I journey through this Lenten season trying to make sense of my sin and mortality, Jesus allows this part of the story to leap off the page and penetrate my heart. Verse 39 says that some of the Pharisees tried to get Jesus to rebuke His disciples. In verse 40 Jesus replies, “I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” And that’s when it hit me: yes, I am sinful. Yes, I have fallen short of the glory of God. But at the end of the day, just as all of those who accused Jesus came to the realization of who He really was once they had gone through with His crucifixion, I, in my sinfulness, have come to that revelation as well and Jesus still expects me to praise Him. He still expects me to shout for the glory of God for all the things that God has done, because in spite of my imperfection, my praise goes out to a perfect God. So that’s what I am going to do, as long as there is breath in my body. I WON’T BE QUIET! I refuse to give way for an inanimate object to cry out because I wouldn’t. Jesus died so that I might be freed from the guilt and shame of my sin and that my friends is a reason to praise Him!

Prayer

God of the Journey, help us to shout your glory and inspire us to persevere in our allegiance to you. Amen.