Persistence And The Rejected Rock
by Eric Engelmann
All content © 2024 Static Force, LLC
When are we?
30 AD. This is near the end of Jesus' ministry on earth. We’re extending the previous episode, so we’re just moments after Matthew 21:39.
Where are we?
Still Jerusalem, in Israel.
Why are we here now?
In the previous episode, we looked at a theme of permanence. Jesus isn’t done with the theme, and he’s going to use more illustrations of permanence to describe himself.
Scripture
Listen for more indications of permanence -- things that last.
Matthew 21
Verse 42 Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures,
‘The stone which the builders rejected
was made the head of the corner.
This was from the Lord.
It is marvelous in our eyes’?
NOTE: Jesus just quoted from Psalm 118:22-23.
This is a clear cross reference in the Scripture. I call cross references “clear” when there’s one passage about a rock in the Old Testament and a corresponding passage about that rock in the New Testament. The quote says something like, “The man the government rejected was made head of the government. The Lord has done this and it is marvelous.”
Now we’re going to come to a part of the passage that’s not so clearly mapped to one Old Testament reference. At least, I have a hard time finding just one.
Verse 43 “Therefore I tell you, God’s Kingdom will be taken away from you and will be given to a nation producing its fruit. 44 He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but on whomever it will fall, it will scatter him as dust.”
Verse 45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke about them. 46 When they sought to seize him, they feared the multitudes, because they considered him to be a prophet.
-- Matt 21:42
In the Future
Jesus will be tried by representatives of the Jerusalem government. He will admit He is the Christ – the Messiah – and say, "After this you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of the sky.”
Afterward, Jesus will be crucified and stay dead for three days.
Further in the future, the apostles Peter and John will take a trip into the temple; heal a crippled man; preach in the temple and be jailed. Peter’s defense will include a painful reference to Jesus’ words. He’ll say,
“May it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus – Christ – of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, this man stands here before you. 11 Jesus is ‘the stone which was regarded as worthless by you, the builders, which has become the head of the corner.’
– Acts 4:10-11 (Ed)
Further in the future, God will make good on His promise. The government of Jerusalem – and the people of the world – will respect His Son.
When Jesus comes on the clouds of the sky and shows His permanence, may as many as possible be respecting Him.
All content © 2024 Static Force, LLC