Jesus, the stone the builders rejected | Westside Eagle Observer

"The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes." Psalm 118:22-23

When Jesus asked His disciples who they believed He was, Peter responded for all the disciples: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matt. 16:16; Cf. v.13ff.). And Jesus told Peter (Petros) that upon this confession and truth (petra) He would build His Church and the gates of hell would not prevail against it (v. 18; cf. Isa. 28:16).

But, sad to say, the religious rulers of Jesus' day, as well as many religious leaders today, reject and set aside the Jesus of the Bible and do not believe and teach that He is the very Son of God and the One anointed and appointed of God to be the Savior of the world. They do not hail Him as the Messiah and Savior and look to Him and His cross for eternal salvation. And they seek to build God's Church in other ways -- such as obedience to the commandments, charitable works, entertaining worship services, and programs to please everyone.

What does the psalm say? "The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes."

Though the builders rejected Jesus and were not in agreement with the people who hailed Him with hosannas and acknowledged Him to be the promised Son of David and Son of God (Matt. 21:9,15f.), it was upon Jesus Christ that the Church is built and endures (cf. Eph. 2:19-22).

Your salvation and mine depend upon Jesus being the eternal Son of God in human flesh to fulfill the demands of God's law for us and to suffer and die in our stead and to pay in full the just punishment for our sins and disobedience. Our salvation depends upon the fact that this Jesus, true God and true man, died for our sins and the sins of the entire world and rose again (cf. Isa. 7:14; 9:6-7; Matt, 1:20-23; Luke 1:26ff.; Gal. 4:4-5; 1 Cor. 15:3ff.; 1 John 2:1-2; Isa. 53; Psalm 130:7-8; Col. 1:12-23).

But, many stumble over that stone. They do not believe that Jesus is the eternal Son of God in human flesh (cf. John 1:1-18), and they do not trust that His death on the cross was a perfect sacrifice for our sins and the sins of the whole world (cf. John 1:29; Heb. 7:26-27; Isa. 53:6) or that He then rose again bodily from the dead in victory on the third day (1 Cor. 15:3ff). They stumble over the person and work of Jesus and, when Jesus returns in judgment on the Last Day, the stone they rejected will crush them in judgment (c. Matt. 21:42-44; 1 Pet. 2:4-8; Isa. 8:13-14).

But, blessed are all who do not stumble over Jesus (cf. Luke 7:23)! Though rejected of the religious leaders of His day and ours, He has become the chief cornerstone -- the rock of our salvation! Through faith in Jesus and His cross we have forgiveness for all our sins and a place in God's eternal kingdom.

It is as Jesus said to Peter in Matthew 16:17: "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven."

Not a single one of us can say, "I came to know and trust in Jesus by my own decision or by my own 'reason or strength.'" Rather, we say: "The Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith; in which Christian Church He daily and richly forgives all sins to me and all believers, and will at the Last Day raise up me and all the dead, and give unto me and to all believers in Christ eternal life" (Luther's Small Catechism; cf. John 1:12-13; 3:3,5-6; 6:44,63; Rom. 10:17; Phil. 1:6; Eph. 1:13-14).

In Christ, we "are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that [we] may proclaim the praises of Him who called [us] out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy" (1 Pet. 2:9-10). God's working "is marvelous in our eyes." Indeed, "this is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24).

Thank You, O gracious and merciful God, for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, to be my Redeemer and Savior. Grant that I not stumble over Him but look to Him for mercy, forgiveness and life eternal. In His name, I pray. Amen.

Editorial on 04/12/2017