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Jesus as the Building Block for Our Faith
From Luke 20:9-19: He began to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard, and leased it to tenants, and went to another country for a long time. When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants in order that they might give him his share of the produce of the vineyard; but the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Next he sent another slave; that one also they beat and insulted and sent away empty-handed. And he sent still a third; this one also they wounded and threw out. Then the owner of the vineyard said, "What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.' But when the tenants saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, "This is the heir; let us kill him so that the inheritance may be ours.' So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others." When they heard this, they said, "Heaven forbid!" But he looked at them and said, "What then does this text mean: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone'? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls." When the scribes and chief priests realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to lay hands on him at that very hour, but they feared the people.
Why did Jesus come to the earth? Why was it necessary for God to send His only Son? Those answers are found in this passage. In the presence of those who wanted to kill Him, Jesus tells this parable. A parable was a teaching method used to help people identify with something or someone they knew, and in this one, Jesus is talking about a vineyard. Many knew or walked by those who owned vineyards. They knew the work involved in a vineyard and they also knew the harvest that came from a well-tended one. They also knew that not all owners of vineyards tended their own, and so they knew that sometimes slaves would tend them. In this case, since it was a leased vineyard, part of the crop was the owners, but those who were leasing it did not want to share with the owner his rightful part and so beat and sent the slave away empty-handed. A second slave was sent and the same results. Also, a third. After wondering what might convince the tenants to comply with the arrangement they had, he sends his son. The tenants discussed this and believed that murdering the son might make them become heirs of this vineyard. And so, they threw the son outside the vineyard and killed him. Jesus then asks the question, "What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?" And answering his own question says, "He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others." Those listening replied with an unbelievable, "Heaven forbid!"
Jesus offers the explanation that they could not understand: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." Jesus is that cornerstone, the symbol and building block of our faith. Not yet fully understood by the world, and even rejected by some whose agendas and passions are not spiritual; to those who come to know and love Jesus, Jesus is their all. On this Tuesday of Holy Week, many in Jerusalem, like now, are wondering Who Jesus is, and what does He want? The answer is that Jesus wants them, and you, and me. Jesus' whole purpose was to restore the broken relationship and agreement God had with His people, and it would take His death on a cross to restore and renew and rebuild that relationship. It was our sin, our stubbornness to believe and repent that led Him up that painful way to the cross. Still, He loves you and me, and wants very much to have us in the relationship for which He came.
PRAYER: Loving God, make this week more meaningful by allowing me to be restored into the right relationship with You. Let Jesus be the cornerstone of my life and faith; this I pray in His precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
