Taking Offense

Taking Offense

Luke 19:39-40, NKJV

And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” 40But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”

Setting the Scene

Here we catch a glimpse of the undercurrent of resistance that was inevitably part of the Triumphal Entry. Our impression of an event may be that everyone is praising God or that people are of one mind, but in reality, this world is hostile territory, and even in the most welcoming environment there may be those whose hearts oppose him. The Triumphal Entry was a great declaration of God’s intention, but it represented the ongoing struggle between God’s purposes and a world intent on rebellion.

In an effort to maintain control, Pharisees in the crowd urged Jesus to quieten and even “rebuke” those who were praising him. The crowd was shouting the truth, but some heard only trouble. Jesus’ approach to Jerusalem was clearly too humble and too human to be a significant threat to Roman rule. However, these leaders had the most to lose if Jesus started a rebellion that would receive harsh smothering by the Empire. They wanted Jesus to realize there was a lot more at stake than his own popularity.

Jesus’ response that the rocks would cry out if the crowd was silenced not only reminds us of Psalm 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork” (NKJV), it also makes it clear that Jesus was publicly presenting himself to his people as the Messiah. The moment had come for acceptance or rejection.

Getting Personal

When do you find yourself embarrassed by the exuberance of some Christians? Could their energetic praise be a challenge to your own lethargy or sense of decorum?

How do you determine when the appropriate worshipful response requires silence and when it requires shouting?

We are less likely to consider what the situation demands and more likely to consider what makes us comfortable. We tend toward self-centeredness. The question we ought to ask ourselves in worship more often is, “Since the rocks are silent, why don’t we cry out?”

Talking to God

Combine thoughtful silence and joyful noise in your personal worship time today. Ask the Lord to take away your inhibitions in private worship, so that you may express the full range of your human response to his goodness and glory.