Just days before His death, Christ made a dramatic and triumphal entrance into the city of David (Matt. 21; Mark 11; Luke 19). His entry was marked by actions and words of exaltation and adoration. Some spread out their clothes on the street and others covered His path with leaves from trees they had cut down. In fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy, He rode on a colt and heard the voices of those who shouted “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Mark 11:10). In the midst of their rejoicing, came the voice of jealously and unbelief. The Pharisees who were present insisted that Jesus rebuke His followers and deny Himself the attention. In response, Jesus said, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out” (Luke 19:40). In essence, Jesus is telling the Pharisees that His deity was so sure and so real (despite their rejection of it) that even if there were no man or woman to confirm it, the rocks would cry out in testimony. If all men were silent, His deity would still be a reality.
Now, fast forward a few days and there you will find the silence of all men. Stifled by the thought of the cross and silenced by possible retribution from the Jewish leaders, the very ones praising Christ as he entered stood silently by the cross and did not speak. What happened? Exactly what Jesus said would happen if they were silent. The stones cried out. Matthew records that “the earth quaked, and the rocks were split” (Matt. 27:51). What was the result? His deity was confirmed. How do we know? Because upon seeing this event and those related to it, the centurion said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matt. 27:54). John Phillips described it this way: “One and all they held their peace. They had nothing to say. So, the stones cried out. The rocks rent with roar” (The View From Mount Calvary, 184).
The questions for us are numerous. Does Christ need a witness of stones today? Are we silent in defending and sharing His deity, His power, His church, and His salvation to the world around us? In which group do we find ourselves? Are we like those welcoming Him into the city with shouts of “Hallelujah” and “Hosanna”? Or are we like those standing silent around the cross in fear and/or shame waiting for His defense to come from another place? Will we hold our peace and let the stones cry out?
