The Day the Stones Almost Shouted
Imagine with me for a moment, a 5 Star General riding to war in on a child’s tricycle, or maybe an Navy Admiral setting off to sea on a raft made from recycled plastic bottles, or maybe a multiple Michelin star chef serving a can of cheap baked beans at their restaurant. Those examples pale in comparison to the type of extraordinary contrast that is at the heart of Jesus’ triumphant entry to Jerusalem.
We think of the humility that was exhibited by our Lord who was deserving of honour and praise beyond our wildest imaginings, informed by the prophet Zechariah 9:9 "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!...Behold, your king comes to you…humble and riding on a donkey." But was this contrast more than just a model of Jesus condescending to humanity in humility, could this contrast be a foreshadowing of building a kingdom through peace and reconciliation, or obtaining real victory through submission? There is much to reflect on in this passage.
Even in this corner of the North Shore, in the hustle of this city of Auckland, it is prestige and power that often screams the loudest. Yet, despite our society’s constant pressure for us to submit to these values, there is a whisper of humility that resonates with a radical truth: that real strength lies in sacrifice, that true love is most clearly experienced in peace and reconciliation in an outward expression toward the ‘other.’
As the crowds of Jerusalem shouted, “Blessed is the King!” and the Pharisees grumbled in abject disgust, this was a mystery clash of hope and envy, a clash that we experience in some way even today. A form of this might be called ‘tall poppy syndrome,’ where we as Kiwis, much like the Pharisees, tend to criticise or resent others who achieve some type of success or prominence. We shut down well deserved praise, or grumble, and when Jesus was asked to shut down those voices of praise, Jesus said if they stopped, even the stones would cry out! No, we are called to give praise and glory to the only One who is worthy of all honour, and even if we are silent, creation would cry out praise for this King.
The difference between the followers of Jesus and the Pharisees, is who we understand Jesus to be. As we approach Easter, this passage matters because this wasn’t just a parade, this was the prelude to the cross and the resurrection. In Auckland, which is a city of increasing disconnect, this Sunday of the Palms dares us to ask: Can humility, sacrifice and love heal our divides? Can we truly find meaning, purpose and hope in the cross? And what does this mean for us eternally?
Take a moment to explore Luke 19:28-40 and meditate on it as we discover how Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem helps us to understand the victory of our Lord on the cross and what it means for us today. Let the stones be stones in their silence, and let us lift our voices in praise instead.
Blessings.
Josh
