“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!”[b] “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.” Luke 19.35-40
When we think of the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, we think of the donkey, the crowds, the shouting, the proclaiming. It’s a joyful, festive, celebratory time—to be followed by ultimate injustice, tragedy, and loss.
The people are psyched (that’s an ’80s word for you) to finally have a prophesied Messiah, long awaited and much anticipated. Yet not everyone was happy. The Pharisees told Jesus to rebuke His disciples because they were blessing Him, praising Him, worshipping Him. They shouted, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” That sounds like outright praise to me.
But no one should be worshipped but God alone. Exactly. Jesus was God. He was God in the flesh, walking this earth, travailing for our sins, traveling for a purpose. And the crowds knew it—or they knew part of it. They wanted to believe that He was who they thought He was, but He was more. He was the Lamb of God prepared to take away the sins of the world.
And when the Pharisees essentially rebuked Jesus for not rebuking His disciples, He said, “I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” Think about that—if people don’t praise God, then rocks will. It’s like when I go to the mountains and feel close to God: the rocks are crying out. The beauty of nature shouts His goodness and grace.
Jesus was on His way to die, but first He would be honored, proclaimed, and exalted. Even if the people did not fully understand His role as Suffering Servant, they celebrated Him as a man, the Messiah, who had come from God.
Today we are called to proclaim His goodness and celebrate the power of His sacrifice. So let’s praise the Lord for who He is and what He has done for us. “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“O Lord, sometimes I forget to praise You. Even in my shortsightedness, I focus on earthly worries, troubles, and problems. But when I praise You, my spirit connects with Your Holy Spirit and my eyes reflect Your glory. Even now, I give You praise for who You are, for loving me, saving me, and redeeming me. Come now, Lord God, be proclaimed among the nations. Keep me focused upon You that I might praise Your name and exalt You forever. For You are good and Your love endures forever.” Amen