Tuesday, April 7, 2009

The Stones










Jesus was at the center of two mobs within a week. One received Him as the fulfillment of prophecy. People lay garments and branches on the road to show their adulation. They acknowledged Him as their Messiah by singing and shouting their praises. When Pharisees tried to silence this mob, Jesus replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." (Lk. 19:40b NIV) That was on Sunday.

On Friday, just five days later, another mob cried, "Crucify him! . . . Crucify him!" (Mt. 27:22b,23b) The people in this group were probably not the people of the first group. However, they had the backing of the Pharisees, the religious leaders, and their demands prevailed. Jesus was crucified with no human praise, no human adulation.

But don’t forget the stones. Even then, Jesus wasn’t without praise. When He died, The earth shook and the rocks split. (Mt. 27:51b) The centurion and his guards saw the earth quake and all that had happened, they were terrified and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!" (Mt. 27:54b)

Originally published April 13, 1984.
Picture: Lindenwood Park, Fargo, 2008. Photo by Solveig.

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