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Author: Stephen Weller
531 words, 3 minutes read time

An Attempt to Silence the Crowd

Scripture: Luke 19:39-40; John 12:16

In the previous lesson we observed the celebration that Jesus allowed as he rode into Jerusalem. Those making up the crowds anticipated Jesus was coming as their king to deliver them from the bondage of Rome, but we will soon see what happens when they realize their mistake. With this lesson we will finish this section by covering what we couldn’t quite squeeze into the previous one.

^{Lk 19:39} “And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” ⁴⁰ He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”’

Some of the Pharisees who were among the crowds, who sought the praise of the people, were displeased with the excitement of the people over what Jesus was doing and the attention he was receiving and were indignant and asked him to rebuke his disciples, who apparently were like cheerleaders, encouraging the people on. These Pharisees were “like clouds and wind without rain . . . who boast of a gift he does not give” (Proverbs 25:14 ESV).

These Pharisees are like the ones described in John 11:45 – 53, who confess that Jesus performs many signs and as a result is drawing people to himself, who then decide that Jesus must be put to death to stop the work he was doing. In an attempt to squelch the joy and excitement that is taking place as Jesus rides into Jerusalem, the Pharisees want Jesus to silence the ringleaders, who are the disciples of Jesus.

In response to their request, Jesus says to them, “If these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” All of creation was made to worship Jesus the King who is Lord of all. Riding on this colt is the one who created all things, who was before all things and now holds all things together, and these Pharisees want this worship of their creator to stop; they want the worship of God to cease and they instead be praised.

^{Jn 12:16} “His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.”

The disciples, the cheerleaders at this time, did not understand that Jesus was not riding into Jerusalem to become their king, but to die for their deliverance from sin by purchasing their salvation by dying on a cross. After the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, the Holy Spirit came to indwell them and to give them understanding. Reference to “these things had been written about him” refers to prophesies made and recorded in the Old Testament about him.

Conclusion

The disciples are encouraging the crowds in this joy filled exciting time, but Jesus knows that they will soon be crying out “Crucify him!” They see Jesus as their King, their Messiah, but Jesus knows he has to first suffer and die as their Savior and he begins to weep as he enters Jerusalem.