Do not be replaced with stones!

Luke 19:28-40

“Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words.” ― (Francis of Assisi) St. Francis also said, “The deeds you do may be the only sermon some person will hear today.” Many in the church like to apply the first quote to the way they live, but often if they had used words it would have only pointed out their inconsistency, their lack of faith, and a life style that is not in keeping with the words flowing from their mouths.  What happens to those who come in contact with Christians who intentionally engage their community with the love of Christ?  And what happens to followers of Christ when they are willing to proclaim the gospel of the risen Lord with words and actions?

The story of Jesus coming into Jerusalem is often titled, “The Triumphal Entry” and so it was for at Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’” (Luke 19:30-31 ESV)   A prophet of God named Zechariah lived 520 years before Christ and his mission was to encourage the Israelites returning from captivity to rebuild the temple and rededicate their lives to the Lord.  Why are we addressing him because God had spoken to him about this very day that Jesus would enter Jerusalem, “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout in triumph, Daughter Jerusalem! Look, your King is coming to you; He is righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zechariah 9:9)

When they found the colt it was where the Lord had told them it would be, and when ask why are you untying the colt, they said what Jesus had told them to say, “The Lord has need of it.”  The Scriptures do not report any push back from the owner, it was as if he had been given insight into the use of his colt.  Now for a brief time I had horses and raised a mare with a colt, it is not natural to put a blanket on a colt that has not been broken without them going nuts.  But they put their cloaks on the colt, and Jesus sat on it and rode into Jerusalem. 

Earlier I asked these questions: “What happens to those who come in contact with Christians who intentionally engage their community with the love of Christ?  And what happens to followers of Christ when they are willing to proclaim the gospel of the risen Lord by words and actions?”  People get excited, they begin to forget it’s not politically correct to declare what God has done for them, and they do it in the market place, in their neighborhoods, and in the public square.  As you see them doing in Luke 19:37-38, “As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Yes believers, followers of Christ come out of the woodwork with joy proclaiming what they have been reluctant to do for fear of man, and yet you are always going to have the Pharisees, the protectors of traditions and rules, they try to control what they consider is their church, and to ask them to be quiet.

Church, pay attention to the words of Jesus; “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”  As one who is a follower of Christ, it is a choice each day to keep quiet and miss out on letting the joy pent up in me about what Jesus has done for me, or to intentionally engage the community with the love of Christ.  Do not be replaced with stones!

Form the Back Porch,

Bob Rice