The Very Stones

Last week, as we approached Palm Sunday, I was thinking a lot about how Jesus entered Jerusalem. Here they were, giving Him acclaim and laying branches of trees on the path before Him. His disciples must have felt really confident about the way that things were going.

Jesus knew better. He knew that, a few days later, He would face rejection, desertion, and agony for our sakes.

But, for this moment in time, He was given honor.

In Luke 19, Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem is described: “As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all of the miracles which they had seen, shouting: ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the Name of the Lord; peace in heaven and glory in the highest!’ Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, ‘Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.’”

Then Jesus said something that I have never forgotten: “I tell you, if these become silent, the very stones will cry out!” [Luke 19:37-40 (NAS)]

Think of it -- the very fabric of our world would have cried out in praise to Him! The created giving honor to the Creator.

In your reflections as we approach Resurrection Day, take a moment to consider that it was our very Creator, the Light of the world, the Word made flesh, who laid down His life for us all.

It’s the song of the redeemed rising from the African plain,
It’s the song of the forgiven drowning out the Amazon rain,
The song of Asian believers filled with God’s holy fire,
It’s every tribe, every tongue, every nation,
A love song born of a grateful choir.

It’s all God’s children singing,
“Glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns!
He reigns!”
It’s all God’s children singing,
“Glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns!
He reigns!”

Let it rise above the four winds caught up in the heavenly sound.
Let praise echo from the tower of cathedrals
To the faithful gathered underground.
Of all the songs sung from the dawn of Creation
Some were meant to persist,
Of all the bells rung from a thousand steeples
None rings truer than this.

It’s all God’s children singing,
“Glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns!
He reigns!”
It’s all God’s children singing,
“Glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns!
He reigns!"
It’s all God’s children singing,
“Glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns!
He reigns!”

And all the powers of darkness
Tremble at what they've just heard,
Because all the powers of darkness
Can't drown out a single word!

When all God's children sing out,
“Glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns!
He reigns!”
When all God's children singing,
“Glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns!
He reigns!”
All God's people sing out,
“Glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns!
He reigns!

It's all God's children singing,
"Glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns!
He reigns!"
It's all God's children singing,
"Glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns!
He reigns!"

~~ “He Reigns” by the Newsboys (Album: The Greatest Hits, 2007)