What does it take to stir a city? I live in a city with about the same population as Jerusalem in the times of Jesus. At that time, the historian Josephus pegs the population to be about 80,000. “When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” ” (Matthew 21:10, NIV84)
The whole city was stirred. There was a buzz in the air. The atmosphere was filled with excitement. There was curiosity. There was talk. There was something happening. Jesus was coming to town. Jesus was the topic of conversation. The city saw the crowds who were following Jesus. The city was asking, “Who is this?” and “What is happening?”
Today, perhaps the only example I have of a city being stirred was when the Green Bay Packers brought home the Super Bowl trophy. Crowds lined the street to catch a glimpse of the super-star players and the trophy. Schools cancelled classes so the students could go and watch the buses drive in. The TV crews were broadcasting live. There was an excitement in the air.
Why is that, today, with all our modern technology and our many ways of communication that we find it difficult for our cities to get excited about Jesus? What is it about the first followers of Jesus that caused the city to take notice that Jesus was someone important?
The followers of Jesus worshipped loudly in public. The shouted out publically their declaration of who Jesus was. “The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!” ” (Matthew 21:9, NIV84) Their worship was from the heart. Their worship was an expression of joy because of their own experience with Jesus. Their declarations were full of life and passion. Their worship was real, authentic and alive. They were unashamed to make a public spectacle of themselves because they were full of joy.
The followers of Jesus humbled themselves. They positioned themselves as servants of a King. They lay their own cloaks on the road for Jesus to come on. They prepared the way. They invested their time and their resources to ensure that Jesus was arriving as a KING. “A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. ” (Matthew 21:8, NIV84)
When the city saw the excitement of those who followed Jesus, when the city saw the passion and worship of the crowds who followed, when the city heard the public declarations of faith, then “the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” ” (Matthew 21:10–11, NIV84)
What would our city think if we became extravagant worshippers? What if we held a worship service in a park? What if the city saw us laying down our lives and our agendas to make room for the King. What if we would declare our praises and our testimonies of Jesus publically? What if we would not be afraid to give a shout out for Jesus?
I think if we would do what those first followers of Jesus did we would get the same results. Our worship and our humility combined with a fearless testimony of Jesus would certainly stir a city.
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