Palm Sunday today and I was preaching on Luke's retelling of the story, which ends with Jesus saying that if his disciples didn't shout out 'Halleluia!' then the stones they were walking upon certainly would.
Thoughts then turned to Psalm 118 which talks of the stone the builders rejected becoming the cornerstone, and a theme started emerging - Jesus is the cornerstone, of our faith and of the church. But, says Peter, Jesus is not only the cornerstone, he's also a stumbling stone!
Jesus a stumbling stone or block - how can that be?
1 Peter 2:4-6 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame. Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
Jesus a stumbling stone or block - how can that be?
1 Peter 2:4-6 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame. Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
"The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone," and, "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for."
Because Jesus, the cornerstone, is still a stumbling block to many and not just outside of the church. Even within our churches there are many who still struggle with the idea of Jesus as Messiah, Saviour. They struggle with the whole idea of sin and the need for God to go through this incredible process of coming to earth as flesh and blood and enduring suffering and death so that we (and that’s the whole of humanity) might be made right with him again, as it was in the beginning, to be made righteous, forgiven and receive the promise of eternal life. If that sounds a bit heavy and theological then I don’t apologise because that’s the core of Christianity. We are the prodigals; God is the loving father who welcomes us home!
Because Jesus, the cornerstone, is still a stumbling block to many and not just outside of the church. Even within our churches there are many who still struggle with the idea of Jesus as Messiah, Saviour. They struggle with the whole idea of sin and the need for God to go through this incredible process of coming to earth as flesh and blood and enduring suffering and death so that we (and that’s the whole of humanity) might be made right with him again, as it was in the beginning, to be made righteous, forgiven and receive the promise of eternal life. If that sounds a bit heavy and theological then I don’t apologise because that’s the core of Christianity. We are the prodigals; God is the loving father who welcomes us home!
The problem is that many people have a distorted view of God, that he is somehow distant and remote. That he set the world in motion and then stepped back and let it get on with life; that he doesn’t get involved in the day to day of existence, in the nitty-gritty of everyday life. They have a distorted view of what being a Christian is all about, in the sense that it’s more about me than anyone else – what benefit, what comfort can I get from it? And they have a distorted view of what God expects from us – what can I do to make God love me more, or what could I do that would make God love me less?
Does that sound a bit severe an assessment? It’s actually the way a lot of people who call themselves Christians live out their faith. Every time you say to yourself ‘I don’t like those modern hymns or songs!’ or ‘God wouldn’t be interested in my problems’ or ‘I ought to be a better human being if I expect God to bless me!’ you’re in danger of tripping over that stumbling stone, rejecting the one who rode into Jerusalem to the sound of people’s praise, and so soon afterwards died for you and I.
Jesus rode into town as the King of Peace, he suffered rejection and humiliation at the hands of people like you and I and died the death of a common criminal. Why? So that you and I might open our eyes and see that God so loved the world so much, so loved you and I and those sat next to us and the whole of humanity that he was prepared to become flesh and blood and poor out that blood on a cruel cross to show you how much he wants to be a part of your life.
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