Power, stones, and disciples laying down their coats. What do they mean?
By Dean Collins
Several chapters before today’s reading from Luke’s Gospel we see Jesus setting his face toward Jerusalem. Only Jesus knew what Luke would later realize concerning the importance of that journey. The tensions were rising day by day, both within the band of disciples and among the Pharisees. What is interesting to consider is that both the disciples of Jesus and the Pharisees and religious leaders all wanted a common thing. They all wanted to be free from the power of Roman authority. But only Jesus who held all power knew what it would take. But don’t be confused by what Jesus would do in Jerusalem. His mission was far greater than setting the Jewish people free of the power of Rome.
Zechariah had written about this moment long before: “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.”
The psalmist provided some of the phrases the disciples shouted as Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey. “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We bless you from the house of the Lord” (118:26). The script was written long before this scene took place. No one but Jesus knew all of the implications. That is the case in our stories as well.
Nervous Pharisees
As a multitude of Jesus’ disciples began to lay down their cloaks and lift up their voices in praise, some of the Pharisees became nervous about what was happening and asked Jesus to silence his admirers. It might have been that the Pharisees were less concerned about Jesus as a successful Messiah and more concerned that the noise of this parade might stir up the Roman leaders. When that happened, it always resulted in more difficulty for them and for the Jewish citizens
Jesus answered the Pharisees: “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”
Divine authority
This wasn’t Luke’s first mention of stones in regard to Jesus. All the way back in the introduction of John the Baptist there was tension with the religious leaders when John the Baptist was calling for repentance. The Jewish leaders claimed they had Abraham as their authority and that they would defer only to him, not to a wild-eyed prophet telling them to repent. Luke then records John’s response: “God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.”
According to Luke, divine authority can turn stones into children of Abraham and also silence children of Abraham as those stones shout praises to God. Who has that kind of power? Only the Word made flesh who had come to dwell among us.
The multitude of disciples who accompanied Jesus and shouted his praise when he entered the city had witnessed and experienced his power. Jesus had just left the home of Zaccheus before his triumphal entry. This little man may well have been one who took off his cloak and laid it at the feet of Jesus. And since Jesus was at Bethany, maybe Lazarus, Mary, and Martha were with him as well. They had all seen the power come from Jesus to raise Lazarus from the dead. No doubt that others of Jesus’ disciples who lined the streets had experienced the power of Jesus to cast out demons, heal diseases, and provide meals when they were hungry.
Jesus is with us
Returning to Psalm 118, we also read this: “Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it. I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.”
Here in Luke 19 Jesus, the righteous one rides into Jerusalem. The psalmist said the stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. The religious leaders and all of the Roman authority would reject this humble king, yet he would be the foundation that ushered in a kingdom that lasts forever. Jesus the king has power over rocks and rulers. And he is sufficient to meet all of our needs. We must not fear the powers of our age when Jesus is with us.
Psalm 118 declared that “this is the day the Lord has made and we will rejoice in it.” The next line of the psalm is, “Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” When Jesus entered Jerusalem 2,000 years ago, it was on a day the Lord had made. As you head out the door today, the same is true.
The response of the disciples on the day of Jesus’ triumphal entry is a good one for us as well. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We, too, must bow before him in praise and adoration for the work Jesus did on the cross that set us free. His power over death gives us life forever. We can go in the name of the Lord today and live out a life of love, mercy, and grace with those we encounter.
Go with the word of the psalmist in mind: “The Lord is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us”!
Your time with God’s Word
Luke 19:36-40; 3:8; Zechariah 9:9; Psalm 118:19-27 ESV
Photo by Matt Botsford at pexels.com
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