If These Hold Their Peace

The message was brought by Preacher Bob.

Luke 19:37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; 38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. 39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

If these held their peace what would happen?  We relive Palm Sunday year after year. The weather is much the same here as it is in Jerusalem. Now the leaves would be blooming and the birds singing their songs. Our calendar coordinates with the Jewish calendar and in late March or early April we celebrate Palm Sunday and Passover.

Jews came from everywhere on a pilgrimage for the Passover. They could see and smell the scent of spring. Out of this serene change in seasons, suddenly a donkey came across the hill. A man who looked as they looked rode him. The people crested the Mount of Olives. As they looked at him recognition took place.  It was not just a teacher, but the Teacher who was coming to town. He rode no prancing horse. A donkey was his only advertisement. He needed no tricks. He reveals himself through himself.  He could have asked for their gold, but he didn’t take advantage of them.  There is nothing more with him or nothing less.  He is who he is.  He was simply the plan of God in action.

He was on one of a thousand donkeys in Jerusalem. This one was different. No man had ever occupied him.  The people laid down palm branches for him. They shouted “it is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” They said the same of him here in Luke that the angels said at his birth-“glory to God in the highest.” There was the noise of joy and the noise of recognition of the Messiah. They didn’t hold their peace.

The Pharisees told Jesus to tell the children to “shut up.”  Jesus said hardly a word but showed the world that he is the Son of God. He told the Pharisees if the multitude stopped shouting the disciples would do it. If the disciples stopped, the children would do it. If the children stopped, the animals and birds would do it.  If the animals stopped, all creation would cry out that HE is KING.

Satan wants us to hold our peace. There are lots of “Pharisees” in the world who tell us to keep quiet. When we think about Jesus how can we help but give a response? When we feel the urge to sneeze, we can’t help the response. Thinking about Jesus should make us shout and spread our palm branches. When we know and see our Savior, how can we hold our peace?  We should allow Jesus to occupy our life just as the donkey allowed Jesus to occupy him-in simple submission.

Are we holding our peace? Do we show Jesus to others?  Should we not seek him more deeply?  How can we not surrender? If we hold our peace something else will cry out in our stead. He’s riding through today. Let’s join in praise and come worship him.