Stones: Making God's Faithfulness Your BedrockSample

Your Rescue Comes from Jesus’ Resurrection

Jesus talked about stone so much. Why? In part, because, as Jordan K. Monson observes, Jesus was a master craftsman, a skilled builder, and a stonemason.

Isn’t it interesting that Jesus would have spent much of his career hammering, breaking, carrying, and laying stone? The same Jesus who was resurrected from a rock tomb by rolling away a gravestone and who replaced the Temple completely? Jesus’ life experience layers new meaning on the Bible’s words about Christ—he was the stone the builders rejected (Psalm 118:22; Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Acts 4:11).

Consider how the stone's storyline develops through Jesus’ life and ministry:

• Matthew 4: The enemy tested Jesus’ allegiance to God when he dared Jesus to command stones to become bread (verse 3).

• Matthew 7: In Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount, he challenges his listeners to build their faith in him because he is the Rock.

• Matthew 16: One of Jesus’ closest friends was Peter, whose nickname was “Rock.” Jesus’ play on words in his conversation with Peter about the future church builds on Peter’s part in the Christian movement (verse 18).

• Matthew 21: Jesus concludes a convicting message with this quote from Psalm 118:22: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.”

• Matthew 24: Jesus’ stone-cold accusations against his accusers don’t stop with threatening words in his sermons. He also condemns the Temple, the most precious stone building in existence for ancient Israel. Only the Chief Cornerstone had the authority to say such things.

And then, after his death on the cross, Jesus was buried in a tomb, the entrance sealed with a stone. Because I know the end of the story, this failed attempt to secure Jesus’ tombstone seems laughable. But given what Pilate, his men, and the Pharisees thought they were up against, their security measures make sense. As we reflect on Christ’s miraculous, bodily resurrection, I can’t help but think about how many futile attempts Jesus’ enemies made against his life and even after his death. Not one of their efforts had the final word.

Jesus is the new and better Jacob, the new and better Moses, and the new and better Joshua. Jesus is the Rescuer we’ve all needed. Jesus is the one who has all authority, and that means all. Jesus had authority over the Romans who were in power. Jesus had authority over the Jews, even if they didn’t recognize him as their Messiah. Jesus had authority over the Gentiles of his day. He had authority over his disciples. But also, he ruled the whole cosmos. Our world and any world beyond. He is transcendent above everything. His power is absolute and unrivaled.

His resurrection story echoes all the stories we’ve studied so far, which is a signal: Jesus came to fulfill the law and prophets.

Prayer: God, There is nothing more beautiful than the resurrection. Thank you for making a way for us to be rescued and reconciled to you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.