Are the Rocks Doing Your Job?

It was Sunday as Jesus prepared to enter Jerusalem. It would be the final week before he was crucified. Two of the disciples, following Jesus' instructions, untied a colt and brought it to him. The colt had never been ridden until Jesus climbed atop and began his entry into Jerusalem. Prophecy was about to be fulfilled: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!

Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9)

Jerusalem's king had come. Just as promised about 500 years earlier. And so the rejoicing began. It's was a moment of celebration as the crowds laid their cloaks and palm branches across the road. Singing and shouts of joy ensued (cf Matthew 21:9; Luke 19:38):

"Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!"

"Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

"Hosana to the Son of David! Hosanna in the highest!"

But not every one was happy. Some continued to resist their king. In fact, they were the ones who would call for his crucifixion. As the crowds cheered with joy, the Pharisees told Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples" (Luke 19:39). They couldn't see it. Even in this moment of great joy, they were blind and indignant.

Jesus gave them a stern reply: "I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out." Rocks would sing his praise if the people didn't. It was fitting for the people to sing.

Jesus turned the tables on them. He lauded those the Pharisees wanted to silence, and silenced the Pharisees who wanted to be heard. He encouraged the crowd who sang for joy at his presence, and he wept over those who would destroy him.

The question for us is: which group are we? Am I welcoming the king into my life to rule and reign with truth, justice, and mercy? Or am I shutting him out, rebelling against his authority and shunning his very presence? To be silent before this king is to go against the very thing we were made to do. And if we don't do it, creation will. So I ask you, are the rocks doing your job? Are they singing praises that should be pouring from your lips?