The very stones in the walls cry out...
Habakkuk 2:11
(In Limmasol, Cyprus)
(at King of Kings Community Church, Jerusalem)
(Kollosi, Cyprus)
Two days prior to the retreat in Jerusalem, we visited the ruins of Magdala and Capernaum, then sang a multitude of praise songs (& danced) our way across the Sea of Galilee (in a boat of course...), where Jesus walked on water and calmed a chaotic storm.
(Magdala, Israel)
(on the Sea of Galilee)
We were privileged to take in some of the Holy sites of the Old City of Jerusalem, visit the Garden tomb outside of the city, stand on the Mount of Olives, walk through what remains of the Garden of Gethsemane, and pray at the Western Wall...and in many of those places, our little group, AGAIN, could not help but worship our Lord through song.
(at the Southern Steps)
(Old City)
(Garden Tomb)
(Western Wall)
For me, these times were moving experiences. Truly, indescribable.
"Seeing" brought color, texture, smell, and life to the gospels in a fresh new wave.
For some, touring in other groups around us, perhaps not-so-much.
I overheard a conversation (okay, I may have been eavesdropping) of one young American woman, who was completely over her sight-seeing. In her words, she was "so done" looking at piles of rocks that archeologists had uncovered; amazed that they were still sifting through dirt looking for treasures-of-knowlege regarding the past.
I take in those things, sitting with them, pondering...
As I pondered, I was reminded of some words of Jesus...and, went back to look them up. The story begins in Luke 19, as Jesus made His way down the Mount of Olives, into the Kidron Valley, heading into Jerusalem, riding on a colt. We know this as the Palm-Sunday-Story. Let's pick the story up in verse 36 and end at verse 40:
As He rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of Him. When He reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of His followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.
“Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!”
But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke Your followers for saying things like that!”
He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”
Jesus was anathema to them.
They vehemently disliked Him.
He was a popular teacher, with great crowds of followers...but, when His followers began to praise Him as the Messiah, they were of one-adament-mind to SILENCE the notion.
So, they whined to Jesus: "Tell them to stop!"
But Jesus...Those words He spoke?
"Even if you silence my followers, the stones will cheer for me..."
"Even if, over time, My praise get drowned out, the ROCKS will cry out...they will tell my story!"
I think what I've realized as I've been mentally processing this trip is that I have seen with my own-little-brown-eyes the TRUTH of this sound-bite straight from Jesus' mouth.
What is just a "pile of stones" to one is "evidence of God's reality" to me!
These stones, uncovered, are a testimony to the Reliability of Scripture.
The proof of this reliability points to the life, death, resurrection and CREDIBILITY of Jesus-as-Messiah.
What is TRASH to one is TRUTH to another: veracity...certainty...undeniable fact!
THE ROCKS (all over Israel) ARE TELLING THE STORY OF JESUS - GIVING HIM PRAISE - DECLARING HIS GLORY!
And, when the stones cheer the AUTHENTICITY of the ANOINTED ONE, they also cry out the fact that we have a God, who is our HOPE for every tomorrow...a HOPE that is an anchor of the soul.
Have a Blessed and HOPE-FILLED Thanksgiving.
Don't make those rocks cry out on your behalf!!!
O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms.
(Ps 95:1-2)
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