Why Even the Rocks Will Cry Out (Luke 19:40)

At the triumphal entry Jesus's "disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice" (Luke 19:37). The Pharisees said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples” (Luke 19:40). Jesus responded, "I tell you, if these were silent, even the rocks will cry out." This was the only time Jesus permitted a public demonstration on his behalf. On this day there would be no silencing the welcoming of the Son of David, Israel’s king.

https://youtu.be/OXYG89Hzyuc

Table of contentsEven the Rocks Will Cry Out, Because Jesus Was Following a Divine TimelineThere Was a Time to Be SilentThere Was a Time "Even Rocks Will Cry Out"There Was a Time to DieJesus Repeatedly Said, “My Hour Has Not Yet Come”Jesus Finally Said His Hour Had ComeThe Triumphal Entry Ensured Jesus Would Die on TimeGod Has a Course for Our Lives

When I was in Army ROTC at Florida Tech, there was an ITT (individual tactical training) course. You’ve probably seen courses like this in movies that depict basic training, or if you’ve been in the military, you’ve probably been on courses like this multiple times. Unlike other obstacle courses, which teams typically go through together to build teamwork – think of soldiers helping each other over walls – ITT courses are performed individually. Hence, the word individual is used in the acronym.

ITT courses include numerous obstacles that involve running, climbing, swinging, balancing, high crawling, low crawling, jumping, dropping, and sometimes swimming. You move from one obstacle to the next as quickly as possible with soldiers yelling that you are moving too slowly and need to pick it up…regardless of how fast you are going.

The entire course is laid out for you. You don’t get to decide whether to go left or right. You can’t skip any obstacles or do them out of order. You move from one to the next in the order laid out for you.

Even the Rocks Will Cry Out, Because Jesus Was Following a Divine Timeline

A you read the gospels, you might notice that Jesus’ ministry seemed like this. He moved from one event (or obstacle) to the next in the order laid out for him by God the Father. Listen to Jesus describe his ministry this way:

John 5:30 “I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me."

John 6:38 “I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me."

Matthew 26:39 “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

Jesus was describing the course that was before him. At least once he even described his earthly ministry as a course:

Luke 13:32 “Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course.”

Jesus didn’t get to decide whether to go left or right. He didn’t get to skip obstacles or do them out of order. He moved from one obstacle to the next.

There Was a Time to Be Silent

Let me show you some examples from Jesus’s life. In Mark 1:40-42 Jesus cleanses a leper. Then:

Mark 1:43 And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” 45 But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.

It is surprising that Jesus told this man not to tell anyone about the miracle. Why would he do that?

One reason is it wasn’t time for the people to recognize Jesus was the Messiah. That might sound odd, but he was following the divine timeline set by His Father.

Another reason is large amounts of publicity would hinder Jesus’s mission and divert public attention from his message to his miracles. He wanted to continue teaching ministry in an uninhibited way. He needed to be able to move around easily.