Friday Scripture and Prayer: Luke 19
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Some of the religious folks in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
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Jesus came riding into Jerusalem on a wave of crowd demonstrations.
People were shouting and carrying on.
The authorities said, "SHHHH! Make them be QUIET!"
They had good reason to be concerned.
The city was in a constant state of martial law.
The Romans had no sense of humor about public assemblies.
The response would be brutal and terminal.
Shutting down that demonstration was only sensible.
Keeping it quiet was a reasonable response.
But they didn't take time to listen to the message.
Jesus said some things are too important to keep quiet.
You can try to shut it down, but Creation itself will cry out.
The truth will out.
It can be hard to listen when the crowd is shouting.
But before we call for them to be quiet, let's take time to listen to what they are trying to say.
It just might be too important to keep quiet.
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Lord, let me live a message that is too important to hold back, and let me be a voice cheering for you.