It All Started With A Cornerstone

How did Jesus become so well-known in today’s society? For more than twenty centuries, it took lots of blood and tears to spread his name as God’s promised Messiah. Today, because of the hard work and faith of Jesus’ disciples, Christianity has expanded to the most practiced religion in the world.

But let’s go back in time when Jesus was here on earth…Back then, he was well-known alright, but he was not glorified or honored like he is today. He was spit upon, rejected, thrown to the ground, and persecuted by his own people. Jesus endured all these things in order to save his lost sheep. Jesus spoke about the kingdom of God so that they might recognize their own savior, yet they rejected him and later on killed him. In fact, he already knew this had to happen to him and we know this because Jesus directly quotes Ps. 118:22-23 in Matt 21:42.

²² The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
²³ This is the Lord’s doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes. (Ps. 118:22-23)

⁴² Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

“‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
this was the Lord’s doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’? (Matt. 21:42)

A cornerstone is the foundation, or the reference stone for all the other stones. A person who was brought low before all people, became the one that everyone depended on. Jesus was that cornerstone, the one who laid down his life for his sheep (John 10:14-15). This was the marvelous thing that the Lord has done.The builders here are talking about the builders of churches/people, the false pastors. In Jesus’ time, the Pharisees and Sadducees, these Jewish priests knew Jesus was talking about them when he says afterwards:

⁴³ Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. ⁴⁴ And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”

⁴⁵ When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. (Matt 21:43-45)

The Pharisees and Sadducees denied Jesus and mistreated him. They were the ones who were leading others to do the same, but Jesus overcame this cruelty and became the savior of mankind. This is what the Lord has done, and it is marvelous in our eyes!

Please share your thoughts and comment!

Shepherd Struck and Sheep Scattered

If I were someone reading Zechariah 13:7 thousands of years ago…

“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd,
against the man who stands next to me,”
declares the LORD of hosts.
“Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered;
I will turn my hand against the little ones.
(Zechariah 13:7 ESV)

…I’d be thinking WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?! By just looking at this prophecy alone I would have never understood the true meaning of this until…

…this prophecy is fulfilled and becomes a reality.

Wait a minute. Let’s gather our thoughts here. Does that mean that there will be an actual sword that would be awaken from its sleep to strike a shepherd causing all the sheep to be scattered??? Uh…wha…what? Perplexed?

It can’t possibly be talking about an actual shepherd and sheep. Right??? Here, instead of presenting my case…let’s let the Bible do the talking!

On the night of the Passover…

[30] And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. [31] Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ [32] But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” [33] Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” [34] Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” [35] Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.
(Matthew 26:30-35 ESV)

Think about it. All of the disciples are enjoying a nice Passover meal with Jesus, eating warm bread and drinking delicate wine. And after the making of the new covenant and singing a hymn, Jesus, all of a sudden, declares to the twelve “You will all fall away.” Ouch, a little harsh isn’t it? Jesus directly explains “For it is written” and cites Zechariah 13:7 implying that in order for Scripture to be fulfilled, the disciples will fall away and deny Jesus. Peter, emotional as he was known to be, asserts that he will never deny Jesus even if he had to die. But in the end, before that rooster cried, Peter denies Jesus three times. The Scriptures had to be fulfilled.

Through the prophecy fulfillment, we can easily detect and understand the true meaning of Scripture. God was not trying to express to us through his prophets about literal shepherds and sheep but about the crucifixion of Jesus and the disciples’ denial.

Thankfully and graciously enough, I am not that guy reading Zechariah 13:7 thousands of years before. And since this word came to fulfillment and became a reality, I, the guy living in the present age of 2012, am able to understand what this is actually talking about. I am sure all of you are thankful as well, right?

Ask questions, leave a comment, and share your thoughts! And also keep checking back with us for DAILY posts about more eye opening observations of the Bible!