Shaken & Stirred

And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” – Matthew 21:9-10

The whole city was stirred up.

This man on a donkey shook Jerusalem to its core.

When Jesus rode into the city – as crowds shouted, “Hosanna,” language reserved for God Himself, foretold by Zechariah – one could imagine the rumble of the word spreading through the masses. “Who is this?! Is this Him?!” Is this the Messiah?!”

At this point, excitement was building, though many believed He was about to set up a physical, political, military kingdom in their midst. They weren’t aware that His mission was so much higher and more excellent than their expectations.

His arrival upended prior plans. His entry riled up the entire city, including the Pharisees.

According to Luke 19, the Pharisees wanted Jesus to shush His adoring followers – to rebuke them for heralding Him as King. His response was glorious: “I tell you, if they keep quiet, even the rocks will cry out.”

This was and is the Son of David. The rocks only cry out for one purpose: to bring glory to their Creator God.

The city was stirred up because God in flesh walked among them. 

The Greek word translated as stirred up shows up one other time in the New Testament, but the second time, it is translated as shook. And the second time, the rocks did cry out.

 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split…When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” – Matthew 27:50-51;54

Father, Your ways and thoughts are far above our ways and thoughts. You surpass all of our expectations. You are our Redeemer. Lord, please stir our hearts as we approach this week of focusing on the enormity of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Please shake us to our core. Where we are unmoved, Lord, please move us. Father, we ask that as your Word goes forth and your people go about their lives, that you would stir our city this week. May we reflect you and live our lives in such a way that the watching world says, “Who is this Jesus you follow?” We plead that they would come to know You, and we want to know You more. Truly, Jesus was and is the Son of God. It’s in His Name we pray, Amen.