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The Shouting Was Loud Until It Stopped

Well, today is the first day of Passion Week. And the joy of Passion Week is exciting. It is absolutely exciting! The title of the message today is the shouting was loud until it stopped. The shouting was loud till it stopped.

Our jump-off text today is going to be Luke chapter 19. The triumphal entry on Palm Sunday through the Passover and Resurrection Sunday is that season above all seasons when people seem to be more open-minded about spiritual conversations specifically about our risen Lord and Savior.

So over the next week as we serve God in great might that Paul described in Ephesians—or how the spirit worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead—we get to see his resurrection power and what it can do and work in and around us through us. And then we get to witness him raising spiritually dead folks to eternal life. And that's the coolest thing on the planet. I don't care what you say. That is just the most awesome thing to watch God work. And when we get to have a small little part in it, nothing's better.

Making Passion Week Worthwhile

Now a quick overview for those of you who wish to make Passion Week something worthwhile in your journey:

The first step is to believe that lost people are truly lost, that despite the tolerance-based relativism of our culture, Jesus was right when he said the following scripture. It's so important. John 14:6. He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me."
Then out of gratitude and by the prompting of the spirit, we will do whatever it takes to help people we know come to know the Lord.
And then we will do all we can to grow in the Lord in authentic ways. Authentic ways.
And then we'll be able to discern from the counterfeits that dilute the true message and that plague many of us claiming Christianity when it's not Christianity, and we have to sort through it in this techno-filled media assault culture that's all around us.

Look, false teachers are lurking at just about every click of the mouse nowadays. Next, Passion Week can restart us to share our story with people in our circle, telling folks how we met Jesus and how they can do the same. This is our lifestyle. It's not just an occasional effort. The Bible tells us to sing to the Lord, bless his name, tell of his salvation from day to day.

Our job—listen—our job is not to convict people of sins or lead them to faith. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. Our job is to be a witness. Someone who is willing to stand up when the spirit calls us to testify simply what we know.

A Simple Testimony

Do you want to hear one of the most simple and most awesome testimonies in all the world? Read John chapter 9. I'll paraphrase it for you:

The blind guy receives his sight and they call him in and say, "Who sinned, you or your parents? How did this happen?" They called the parents, and they were like, "He's of age. He can speak for himself." And the dude gave the best testimony that you and I can have if we have nothing else. And that is this: "Look, dude, once I was blind, now I'm not."

If someone rejects the one on whose behalf we give testimony, that's their fault, not ours. If they accept his offer of forgiveness, that will be their eternal joy and ours. If, however, we do not tell what we know, we refuse to engage because we want to customize our own walk with Christ, then isn't that our fault?

The Shouting at His Entrance

So with that in mind, let's start our Passion Week journey with the entry into Jerusalem. Luke chapter 19:

When he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at a place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said, "Go into the village ahead of you. As you enter it, you will find a colt tied there on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone asks you why are you untying it, say this: the Lord needs it."

So those who were sent left and found it just as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owner said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?" "The Lord needs it," they said. Then they brought it to Jesus. And after throwing their clothes on the colt, they helped Jesus get on it. And as he was going along, they were spreading their clothes out on the road.

Now he came near the path down the Mount of Olives, and the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen: "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heaven!"

Some of the Pharisees from the crowd told him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples." He answered, "I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out."

I don't know how often you think about it, but the life of our Lord was marked by a bunch of 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. They were drawn by the excitement of his miracles and the uniqueness of his teaching. By the second year of his earthly ministry, Jesus was overrun with crowds of people everywhere he traveled.

These crowds were with him as he began to speak the message of extreme commitment found in John chapter 6. Now by the time Jesus reached the end of his ministry, the crowds were reduced and were comprised mostly of people who were actually committed fully to supporting him and standing with him and following him.

Now must be stated that the crowds were not always in favor of the Lord and what he was doing and saying. You know, many times the crowds were comprised of those who were violently opposed to his teaching. Look, even among his own disciples there was Judas, right? But remember, the crowd is fickle. Never allow anyone to force you to be part of the crowd. You need to be man enough or woman enough to make your own decisions.

And as Jesus reached the last week of his life on earth, the crowds are still there. They're still there. Now one thing that strikes me about these crowds that surrounded Jesus during the last week of his earthly ministries: it's recorded they did a lot of shouting. These were not a quiet bunch. They were shouting all the time.

So I want to travel with Jesus to three events in his life during the last week of his ministry. And all three of these events, the crowds were shouting in the presence of the Lord. And all these events lead up to the day when the shouting stopped. And that's what I'd like to focus on. There's three points. Point number one: the shouting at his entrance.

The Electric Atmosphere

Now let's get the context in verse 37 of the Luke passage. Can you see that the air was just electric? They had experienced excitement, the miracles, and the power they had seen him demonstrate. Some in the crowd had this genuine love for him. Others were there because they had seen what he could do. People are still interested in Jesus for what can be seen. For some of these folks, it seems like they only want the miracles and the excitement.

Sidebar part one: Just because they love the miracles of Jesus does not mean that they were saved.

In verse 37, it's just such an alive verse, you know. Now think of Jesus in his message. They had experienced a form of enlightenment. Some were shouting because of the radical things they'd heard Jesus give out. He was different, and they were drawn to that all throughout his earthly ministry. You know, we still even in our day have that crowd that flocks to the unusual. Folks can hear someone who is a little different, and they act like they've heard an angel speak to them. I'm always amazed when someone with a British accent comes to America and people are just like, "Settle down, Nigel. You're not that special." People are attracted to what's unusual to them.

Sidebar part two: Just because they love the message does not mean that they are saved.

In verse 38, you see that they shout that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah. Today is Palm Sunday. Today is the day we commemorate our Lord's triumphal entry into the city some 2,000 years ago. For the disciples of Jesus, this is a great deal. This is big-time doings. It's just full of excitement and joy. However, for the Lord, I believe it was probably a day of disappointment and heartbreak.

You see, this is the time, this is the moment that Jesus made it stone cold clear to anyone who saw him just who he was. All through his life in public ministry, Jesus had proven himself to be the Messiah. He had fulfilled prophecies, performed miracles, and he had told Jews repeatedly that he was the savior they had been anticipating. However, many of them dug their heels in and refused to believe his claim.

The Prophecy Fulfilled

But this was the day when Jesus drew the line in the sand. When he appeared on a donkey, riding down from the Mount of Olives, there was no doubt as to what he was doing. He was revealing himself as the Messiah of Israel. The prophecy spoken of in Zechariah 9:9. Do you know the Jews of that day would have known that verse as well as any Christian knows John 3:16? Look at it:

"Rejoice greatly, daughter Zion! Shout in triumph, daughter Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, humble, riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."

It's incredible, on point what Jesus is doing here. This is a great event. You will notice that the multitudes are shouting and lifting their voices in praise to the Lord. They know what he is doing, and they are certain that he has come to deliver Israel from the bondage of Rome. Therefore, they cheer him and shout praises to God because of him.

Sadly, they miss the significance of the entire event. He also did this, by the way, to force the hands of the Jewish leaders. In your own time, if you look up Matthew 26:1-5, you'll see they plan to kill Jesus after the Passover. However, the reason Jesus came to Jerusalem was the sole purpose of going to Calvary during the Passover to be the spotless lamb that takes away the sins of the world. And these people missed it all. Jesus was headed to the cross. It was the sole purpose of his existence.

Sidebar part three: Just because someone thinks Jesus is the Messiah does not mean that they are saved.

What Is True Salvation?

There are many who enjoy the miracles, the message, and the Messiah of the church, but they miss the fact that salvation does not come through anything else but a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Well, what does that mean, a personal relationship with Jesus? What's that? It means that sin separates us from God. And we cannot have a personal connection with our creator God because of sin. Sin has caused a gulf between us and God. Sin cannot be in the presence of the holy God.

Jesus provided perfect sacrifice for sin on the cross and his victory over death with the resurrection. This offers us a chance to claim his righteousness in him paying the penalty for our very sin personally. It has to be us alone with the Savior in his incredible gift. My righteousness won't save you. Your spouse's righteousness won't save you. Your children's righteousness won't save you. Your parents' righteousness won't save you. "Grandma was an awesome Christian." What does it matter to you? This is you and Jesus, right?

And keep in mind now, Jesus did not, did not come to solely heal you, feed you, bless you, teach you, or to fulfill a bunch of dusty Old Testament prophecies to the people of Israel. Jesus came for the sole purpose of going to the cross and dying for the sins of mankind. He came to be the Savior of the entire world—those that would accept his substitute. And until you know him as your substitute who takes away your sins, you're still in your old life. You're still separated. Sorry. So in effect, you don't really know him at all, do you?

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 was a reason to shout and praise his name. They know he is worthy of honor and praise. However, those who do not know him will always attempt to stop those who do know him from glorifying his name. And we've seen it all down through history.

I don't know about you, but I want to sing praises to the one who took away my sins. I don't want a pile of rocks doing my praise for me. Just saying.

The Shouting at His Trial

Point number two: there was shouting at his trial. Here we need to go to the gospel accounts for additional context. And I am choosing John 19 for this next part. John 19:12-16. Could have chosen any of the gospels really:

"From then on Pilate sought to release him. But the Jews cried out, 'If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.' So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called the Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. Now it was the day of preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, 'Behold your king.' They cried out, 'Away with him, away with him, crucify him!' Pilate said to them, 'Shall I crucify your king?' And the chief priests answered, 'We have no king but Caesar.' So they delivered him over to be crucified. So they took Jesus."

Let's get the context together. The word "cried out" means to scream for or to demand that something be done. This crowd is whipped into a frenzy that nothing but the punishment of Jesus can satisfy them. Here's some of that same crowd that shouted the previous Sunday are shouting for his death during his trial before Pilate. Crowd's fickle, man.

When they see Jesus whom they supposed was their Messiah a few days earlier, they're now shouting for his death before Pilate. When he didn't act the way they thought a Messiah would act, they wrote him off as an impostor. That is why we find some of the same people who were calling him king when he rode into Jerusalem are now literally crying out and shouting for his death.

Three Reasons for the Change

Why the sudden change? Well, three things come to mind:

They considered him an impostor because he did not overthrow Rome. This was the Jewish expectation concerning the promised Messiah.
They also considered him a rebel. I mean, he defied their rulers. Jesus did not cow down under the authority of the priests and the scribes. He possessed an authority that was far greater than they had hoped to have.
And then thirdly, they considered him a trespasser. He spoke against their religion. He claimed to be God. So in effect, he was stomping all over their significance to have this special knowledge or the secret way. You know, those scribes and Pharisees and priests that had the keys to unlock God in your life with all the rules that they can impose on you.

Jesus on Trial in Your Heart

Now whether you know it or not, Jesus is on trial in your heart today. You are either in his corner or you're one of those who are shouting out against him. You can't have it both ways. That's the biggest problem I see in our culture today—everybody wants it both ways. You know what's the goofy weird dude with the bird? "Customize your car insurance." They want to customize their sanctification. You can't. Either you are with Jesus, or you are against him.

If you are one of those who has not yet yielded to the Lord by trusting him for your salvation, you are part of that crowd that cries out against him. Jesus is on trial in your heart today. Why do I know that? Because you're sitting here listening, or you're watching online. Which side of the issue you going to be on? What is your verdict concerning Jesus? That's the question this passion week.

The Shouting at His Crucifixion

Point number three today: There was shouting at his crucifixion. Again I want to go to another gospel account, and this time I just chose Mark. No reason, I just liked it. But there's others in the parallel gospels. Mark 15. Mark 15:25-37:

"And it was the third hour when they crucified him. And the inscription of the charge against him read, 'The King of the Jews.' And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right, one on his left. And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, 'Ah, you who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself and come down from the cross.' So also the chief priests and the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, 'He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down from the cross that we may see and believe.' Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.

"And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?' which means, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' And some of the bystanders hearing it said, 'Behold, he is calling Elijah.' And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, 'Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come and take him down.' And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, 'Truly this man was the Son of God.'"

The horrors of his death and the indignities in which the lamb of God was subjected cannot be overstated. While the Lord Jesus hung on the cross, the crowds all around him shouted at him. They mocked him, they ridiculed him, they falsely accused him, they even walked by and wagged their heads at him. Do you know what that means? That is the equivalent of what children do in elementary school and they stick their tongues out at each other. It's a sign of huge contempt. It's a sign of hatred.

Even those men who were dying with him on the cross joined in with the crowd as they mocked the Lord Jesus. We learn in a different gospel that one of those men had a moment of repentance, and that day he was with Jesus in paradise. Something to consider. Yes.

Hatred and Misunderstanding

By this time, their tolerance of this strange man who claimed to be a king with a strange message had turned into pure hatred. They wanted Jesus dead, and they wanted his teachings to die with him. Why all the anger? Well, they misunderstood Jesus's mission. Again, they were looking for a man that would overthrow Rome. They were looking for a revolutionary.

What they missed is that Jesus did not come for revolt but for redemption. They were so busy looking for this Messiah who would usher in their view of what a kingdom should be that they totally missed the passage and its clear teachings of what their Messiah must do. It's in Isaiah 53. It teaches clearly that the Messiah must die for the people. People still miss it today.

Jesus did not come to this earth to be a mere guide or an example. He did not come as a teacher, one who just simply communicated truth. He did not come as a social reformer, one who desired to lift the standard of life for the people. No, that's not what he was doing. Jesus Christ came to this world as the way, the truth, and the life. He came for one purpose and one purpose only. And we're here for one purpose and one purpose only. And that is Jesus Christ came to the world to die—to "hosana" (save us, we pray).

Jesus's Mission Summarized

Jesus summed up his mission in one clear statement in Luke chapter 19 verse 10. He sums it all up with this one statement: "For the Son of Man has come to seek and save the lost." Has he fulfilled that mission in your life?

See, when Jesus came into this world, he came to a people in a nation that was very religious. He came to a people who knew the word of God and they were looking for the arrival of the Messiah. However, in all their study of scripture, they totally missed Jesus. They were looking for this reformer, this great military leader who would overthrow their enemies and would lead the Jewish people to world dominance. That's where their heart was. They were looking for an earthly king.

When Jesus came as the Son of Man, as a servant of the people, one destined to die on a cross, they stumbled and totally missed out what the word of God had taught them. Don't miss this part. Remember what Jesus told them in John 5:39-40? Don't forget this. Jesus said:

"You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, and it is they that bear witness about me. Yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life."

I'm known as the Bible idiot. I know how powerful the scriptures are. They are not the power. They are the unleashed tiger on the soul—that's the scripture. Jesus is the power. He came to give us life, eternal life.

The Need for an Innocent Sacrifice

From the time God killed the first animal in Eden to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3, through the many years and millions of animals that were killed in the tabernacle and temple, God was teaching his people that an innocent sacrifice had to die to take away the sins of those who are guilty.

Why can't other humans do it? I love my family so much. Why can't I be the sacrificial death for my family? Because I'm flawed. Because I'm sinful. I'm not spotless—i.e., the spotless Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.

So these people missed the servant while they were looking for a soldier. Certainly, the Messiah would do the things as they expected. He just didn't do it when they expected. Jesus is coming back to rule and to reign with an iron rod. And when they saw Jesus on the cross, they were done with him. They were finished with him. The cross became their great stumbling block, as it is for many of us (1 Corinthians chapter 1).

He's still a stumbling block to so many folks. So where do you stand in regard to the cross? That's the only question.

Jesus Alone Can Save

Look, peeps, Jesus the teacher cannot save you. Jesus the miracle worker cannot save you. Jesus the good example cannot save you. "Oh, he gets us." Whatever. Who cares? I don't need Jesus to get me; I need him to save me.

Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God who shed his blood on the old rugged cross, can save you. And he saved me. And that, my friends, is the only reason I'm standing here today. It took the death of Christ to open the way to God. It took the shedding of his blood to wash away man's sin.

Have you come under that substitute this morning? Have you received Jesus and his death on the cross as an atonement for your sins this Passion Week? Are you saved today?

If those people had just understood the message of God, they would have been shouting the victory, knowing that their sin debt was forever being settled on the cross. But they didn't get it then. And many in our world do not get it now.

There's false teachers out there that want to talk about religiosity. They want to talk about unity. "Can't we just all come along and dialogue together? Chris, let's set the cross, Christ aside for a minute. Let's dialogue." Shut up. No. Without the cross, I have nothing.

The Path to Salvation

Don't let anyone deceive you. Salvation is not to the good, to the diligent, to the holy, to the hard worker, to those who've turned over a new leaf. Salvation belongs to those who come face to face with their own sinfulness. To those who are willing to admit that they are, in fact, sinners. To those who look to Christ who died on that cross and come before him confessing their sins and calling on him for salvation.

Have you done that? That's the first step to salvation. You must come to a place where you see yourself as a sinner. And that's not cool in American Christianity anymore. Have you ever confessed yourself to be a sinner before the Lord? Have you come to the place where you knew that you would never be saved apart from the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ? Have you turned to him and him alone for the saving of your soul? If you will, he will save you today, and he'll seal you for eternity.

When the Shouting Stopped

So finally, when that terrible day ended, the lifeless body of Jesus hung dead on that cross. The blood had poured out. The blood and water hit the ground and was coagulating near his feet. And the awful death he endured on that cross was finally, mercifully over. Two men alongside him were also dead.

Now there's silence as the crowd slowly leaves this wretched scene and they head to their homes. They aren't shouting now. Uh-uh. The shouting stopped because the object of their anger was now dead.

If those people on the hillside had known what you and I know this morning, they would have not been silent. They would have been shouting the victory. They could have just seen that in three days, this one they had watched die would rise from the dead and conquer death, hell, and the grave. They would have bowed before him in humble submission and left that hillside shouting in victory.

You want the joy of the Lord? That's it.

The Shouting Starts Again

So before I finish, let me tell you that yes, the shouting stopped the day Jesus died. His enemies stopped because the object of their hatred was dead. Even his followers lost their shout because the object of their affection was dead.

But let me remind you there came a day just three days later when the shouting started up again. Listen, those of us who know Jesus, we're not here to worship a dead Savior. We're here to proclaim to you a Savior who died on the cross, who rose from the dead. We're telling you about the one who is alive. He's alive forever to provide you with salvation if you will come to him.

Are you saved today? Are you trusting Jesus? Are you walking in fellowship with him today? If you are, you have everything. And there is nothing this world can offer you that can take that place. Nothing.

Are there needs in your life that only Jesus can meet? If there are needs and burdens and sins, you need to bring it to Jesus. You need to bring it to Jesus one-on-one. You need to be alone with Jesus, just the two of you. And when you lay out your needs before him, he is the great conqueror. He's the great King of kings and Lord of lords. And he is our salvation. He means everything to those of us who know him.

Shouting was Loud Til it Stopped

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