Opening Statement:
The life of our Lord was marked by contrasts. In the beginning of His ministry, He operated in obscurity. However, as the news of His power and His claims to be the Messiah spread, people began to flock around Him.
As Jesus reached the last week of His life on earth, the crowds are still there. One thing that strikes me about these crowds that surrounded Jesus during His last week of earthly ministry is the fact that they were engaged in a lot of shouting. All these events lead up to that one event that silenced the crowd. That is what I would like to focus our attention on this morning.
I) THE CROWDS SHOUTED AT HIS ENTRANCE (Luke 19:29-40)
Causing us to ask, “Why all the Excitement?”
A) They had experienced Excitement (V. 37)
Some people only want the miracles and the excitement Jesus brought.
B) They had experienced Enlightenment (V. 37)
Some were there shouting because of the radical teachings they had heard Jesus giving out.
C) They had experienced Expectation (V. 38)
They shouted at His Entrance to Jerusalem, but they didn't understand that there was more to His story. Those who know Him know that there is a reason to shout and to praise His name! They know He is worthy of honor and praise. I don't know about you, but I don't want a pile of rocks doing my praise for me!
II) THE CROWDS SHOUTED AT HIS EXAMINATION (John 19:13-16)
The words "cried out" mean "to scream for or to demand something be done." That is why we find some of the same people who were calling Him the King when He rode into Jerusalem, now crying out for His blood.
Making us ask, “Why the sudden change?”
A) They Considered Him An Imposter (John 19:13-16)
Because He did not overthrow Rome.
B) They Considered Him An Instigator (Matt. 23:25-28)
Because He defied their Rulers.
C) They Considered Him An Intruder (Matt. 26:63-65)
Because He spoke against their Religion.
Jesus is on trial in your heart this morning! What is your verdict concerning Jesus?
III) THE CROWDS SHOUTED AT HIS EXECUTION (Mark 15:25-37)
By this time, their tolerance of this strange man with the strange message had turned to pure hatred. They wanted Jesus dead and they wanted His teachings to die with Him!
Leaving us to ask; “Why all the anger?”
A) They Misunderstood Christ's Mission
Again, they were looking for a man that would overthrow Rome. What they missed is that Jesus did not come for revolt, but for redemption!
Jesus summed up His mission in one clear statement - For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10)
Has He fulfilled His mission in your life?
B) They Misapplied Scriptures Message
When Jesus came as a Servant of the people, as One destined to die on a cross, they stumbled and totally missed what the Word of God had taught them. These people missed the Servant while they looked for the Soldier! When they saw Jesus on that cross, they were finished with Him. The cross became their great stumbling block.
C) They Missed God's Methods
They expected a soldier and got a Savior! In those 6 hours on that cross, Jesus accomplished more than any conqueror in history! He defeated the most persistent, and terrible of man's enemies: Death, Sin, Satan, Hell, Eternity, etc.!
But they didn't get it then, and many do not get it now!
In Closing:
Finally, that terrible day ended. The lifeless body of Jesus hung dead on that cross. They aren't shouting now.
Challenging us to ask, “Why so quiet?”
The shouting stopped because the object of their anger was dead!
Come to the foot of the cross by way of the alter this morning and I promise you Jesus will change everything.
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