The Nugget:
Luke 19:40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
My Comment:
Jesus said these words (“I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out”) in answer to the objections of some of the Pharisees, who were upset that on what we call “Palm Sunday” the crowd was proclaiming, “Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest” (Luke 19:38), as Jesus entered Jerusalem.
In some quarters, the chronology of the Passion Week is much disputed. It is very highly likely that the chronology we traditionally celebrate today is actually mistaken. This is not a major issue, but the traditional account does not agree with the Bible when the Bible is carefully studied. This creates unnecessary so-called contradictions in the Bible account, which I have seen exploited by those of other faiths and world religions who do not accept the record of the New Testament as being true history.
Just last night I heard a brief fragment of the popular late night Coast to Coast radio program. It featured an interview with Bart Ehrman about his new book regarding heaven and hell. A caller posed a question about why should anyone bother to study the Bible, or even the New Testament, because it is filled with contradictions. Mr. Ehrman gave an academically respectable answer as far as I heard. But his approach is not the approach I would take. But my point is that unbelievers and atheists latch on to any objection they can find to attack the Bible in support of their unbelief.
A great portion of the New Testament Gospel accounts are given to the events of Passion Week. These records are filled with specific details. An author, Roy M. Allen, wrote a book on the Passion Week chronology, a book titled Three Days in the Grave, published in January of 1942 by Loizeaux Brothers, Bible Truth Depot, New York City. I have found this book to be the best work on this subject, and I plan, Lord willing, to present the events of this week in their proper chronological connection. I am following the “Chronological Chart of the events of the passion week, in terms of the Jewish Day of the Week, the Month Nisan and our Modern Week Days” (page 160).
The account begins with the “Arrival at Bethany” of John 12:1.
Joh 12:1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead (see John 11:43, 44).
This took place on the 8th day of the Jewish month of Nisan, the 6th day of the week, our Friday.
On this day there was a supper and the anointing of Jesus, as recorded in John 12:2-8.
Joh 12:2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
Joh 12:3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
Joh 12:4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him,
Joh 12:5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
Joh 12:6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
Joh 12:7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
Joh 12:8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.