Praise Ye the Lord

Jun 19

Did Creation Cry Out When Christ Died?

Praise Is Our Responsibility

When Jesus entered Jerusalem on what we now call Palm Sunday, the crowds praised Him openly. The religious leaders were troubled by it and asked Him to rebuke His disciples.

Jesus answered with a remarkable statement:

"I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out."
— Luke 19:40 (KJV)

Most of us read that verse and assume it is merely a figure of speech. We understand the point Jesus was making: He is worthy of praise whether men offer it or not.

But then we come to Calvary.

And something extraordinary happened.

What Happened When Jesus Died?

As Jesus hung upon the cross, the Creator entered into the suffering of His creation. The One through whom all things were made bore the sins of the world.

Then He cried:

"It is finished."
— John 19:30 (KJV)

And He gave up the ghost.

Matthew records what happened next:

"And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent."
— Matthew 27:51 (KJV)

The earth shook.

The rocks split apart.

The heavens bore witness.

Creation itself reacted to the death of its Creator.

Was There Mourning or Praise?

The Bible tells us many of Christ's followers were overwhelmed with grief.

Some stood at a distance.

Some watched in sorrow.

Some fled in fear.

Some hid behind locked doors.

The disciples who had walked with Him for years saw their hopes nailed to a cross.

From a human perspective, Calvary seemed like defeat.

But Heaven knew something mankind did not yet fully understand.

The sacrifice was being completed.

Redemption was being purchased.

Death itself was being conquered.

The Lamb of God was taking away the sin of the world.

The Stones Cried Out

The Bible never explicitly says that rocks literally shouted words.

Yet it is difficult to ignore the connection.

Jesus had declared:

"If these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out."

Then, at His death, the earth quaked and the rocks split apart.

The very stones He spoke of could no longer remain still.

While many voices fell silent in grief, creation itself responded.

The earth trembled.

The rocks broke apart.

The heavens testified.

The Creator was dying for His creation.

We Join Creation's Praise

Sometimes we think of praise as something we give to God because we are thankful.

Certainly gratitude should produce praise.

But praise is much more than gratitude.

Praise is not a favor we do for God.

It is not a gift offered by creatures to One who lacks something.

Praise is the rightful response of creation to its Creator.

The angels praise Him.

The heavens declare His glory.

The trees clap their hands.

The mountains and hills break forth into singing.

The seas roar.

The stars declare His handiwork.

And we join our voices with theirs.

We are not the only worshipers God has made.

We are participants in a chorus that began long before we arrived and will continue long after we are gone.

Heaven's Testimony

Scripture does not record the exact words spoken by the angels at Calvary.

But Scripture does tell us what they proclaim before the throne of God:

"Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come."
— Revelation 4:8 (KJV)

And again:

"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing."
— Revelation 5:12 (KJV)

The Lamb who died on Calvary is the same Lamb praised in Heaven.

The One hanging upon the cross is the One worshiped by angels.

The One rejected by men is the One before whom every knee shall bow.