ONE OF THE STRANGEST STATEMENTS OF JESUS WAS UTTERED AS HE CAME INTO JERUSALEM IN TRIUMPHAL ENTRY

1. In 3-22-70 when I preached on this passage I mentioned this verse, then I saw this mountain mystery
2. The World over, this is Palm Sunday- and people are waving palms- then returning to their sins
3. The justice, righteousness and love that praises Jesus is not being manifested - people are not really shouting His praise-- maybe the stones will speak, & men forced to pray

I.- THE PEOPLE THEN PRAISED HIM Luke 19:37

I am well aware that probably some of the people were the same that later cried "Crucify Him"

A.- THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY WAS A JOYOUS VICTORY PARADE, LEADING THE KING OF JERUSALEM TO HIS CITY!

1. It was a great feast day, and the people thronged into Jerusalem over Mt. of Olives -
2. As Jesus came His Disciples first started the parade- telling what they had seen. v.37b
3. Then the people took up the parade- and grew loud! v.38, and fulfilled Luke 13:35 & others

B.- THE PHARISEES RECOGNIZED THE SIGN, AND ASKED JESUS TO REBUKE HIS DISCIPLES v. 39

1. Psalms 118:26 was being quoted, and this was a Psalm of a processional for the King to Jerusalem
2. They did not want the people giving worship to Jesus- nor the Romans to see parade from
3. For them to ask the King to repudiate His people was impossible-/even though people denied

C.- JESUS ANSWERED THEM WITH ONE OF THE STRANGEST STATEMENTS IN THE BIBLE, STONES CRY OUT? v.40

1. Phillips Translation says "these very stones would burst out cheering".- a royal parade!
2. Hab 2:11- the Prophet warns of the stones crying out of the injustice and cruelty of people
3. Matt 3:9 -John the Baptist told the Pharisees that God could raise children from stones.

The stones are a part of God's creation, and have declared His Glory, and shall yet do so!

II.- THE STONES HAVE SPOKEN !

The Goliath of criticism has turned against Bible, and modern Davids have found 5 smooth stones

A.- GERMAN-BORN HIGHER CRITICISM HAS TURNED AGAINST GOD AND HIS SON, AND HIS WRITTEN WORD

1. They said they were protecting the Bible by pulling all its teeth- explaining all miracles
2. For 100 years people with a case of smarts have torn the Bible apart, smeared doubts on page
3. But the stones of the earth have floated to the top, and are crying out for Truth & Justice

(1) They denied the Flood of Noah's time, and denied the existence of great city Nineveh.  But Botta in 1842 found Nineveh, and for 100 years scholars read its library of-flood!
(2) They denied the miracles of Jericho- and the walls falling out as the Bible recorded But the spade and trowel has uncovered it for all to see- & Donna & I saw walls fell
(3) Queen Helena's vision picked the spot for Calvary, & the tomb of Jesus- Church of the Holy Sepulcher. But General Gordon's book (Bible) led him outside the wall- called now Gordon's Calvary. The shovel uncovered an empty grave in a garden; Baptistry by door; underground church- that was buried 70 AD.- and in the church some artifacts- a jeweled emblem of Cross
(4) Isaiah was divided into two sections-, But a Bedouin lad threw a stone & it spoke. The Dead Sea scrolls proved unity of Isaiah- & a fragment of Mark- 63? AD
(5) Critics denied historicity of Darius, who ordered temple rebuild- no other reference! But British army officer found Behistun Rock- 400 ft. up cliff -carved 516 bc - Rosetta Stone, & hundreds of others- (Whose got my book- Rimmer- "Dead Men Tell Tales"?)

III.- THE STONES WILL CRY OUT AGAIN!

The very earth, with its stones will cry out that the Lord is God- worship Him!

A.- THE STONES OF PALESTINE ARE NOW READY TO CRY THEIR MESSAGE TO THE WORLD!

1. Zech 14:4 tells of a time when the Mount of Olives will split- and water flow from temple.
2. An American Airline company has built a night club & hotel on top of Mt of Olives-
3. But Scientists tell of a Geological fault- splits the mountain, and may go any time!

B.- MAYBE THE STONES IN AMERICA ARE CRYING OUT TO US TODAY TO WARN US OF OUR DANGER!

1. If Hab 2:11 warned of the stones crying out of injustice, those of our land must!
2. The Ecology nuts are right about our sitting on an Ecological Time bomb- wrong reasons!
3. The earth is ours to subdue, but not to abuse! America will have its famine & pestilence

C.- GOD HAS PROMISED OF A TIME WHEN HE WOULD REMOVE THE STONY HEART FROM US Ezek 11:19

1. In ancient day a heap of stones was put up as a witness of a treaty- Gen 31:45-48
2. Jesus was to be a foundation stone for your life, or a stone of offense... the choice is yours!
3. God offers eternal life- and we become "living stones" - witnesses of Jesus I Pet 2:4

Will you speak for Him now- or wait until the stones cry out of His coming?

LIKE A RECORD STAMPED AND BONDED, THE SOLID FACE OF STONE AND ROCK CRY MESSAGE OF THE LORD!

1. Be saved and give your confession of Christ
2. Live for Him- building stone, stumbling