The Cornerstone

A Series on the parables of Jesus – Part 2
Parable of the tenant farmers
 (Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Matthew 21:33-46 

[During the first century, it was common for a rabbi to use parables when teaching their disciples. The parables of Jesus were stories that he told to illustrate spiritual truth using some element from everyday life. Jesus used seeds, fish, trees, bread - things people could easily relate to – for a “teachable moment”.]

  

Can you imagine traveling without your GPS nowadays?

 

Recently, my wife and I were discussing a western vacation that we had taken thirty years ago. We went everywhere: Pikes Peak, Yellowstone NP, the Tetons, Mount Rushmore, Devils Tower and Wall Drug just to name a few.

 

As I thought about all the places that we went, I couldn’t imagine how we made our plans without the internet and Google Maps. We must have used AAA books and those darn foldable road maps that you can never get back to their original shape.

 

For sure, we needed something to guide us. You can imagine that if we had taken a couple of wrong turns here or there, we could have ended up in Texas or Oklahoma. It doesn’t take much to miss by a lot. Just ask the chief priests.

 

Preceding today’s parable, Jesus had a confrontation with the chief priests. They questioned his authority. In no uncertain terms, Jesus told them that he had authority over the kingdom of God. But wait, there’s more.

 

Following this, he told a parable about a landowner who rented his vineyard to some tenant farmers. However, when it was time to collect his rent, the tenants beat and killed his servants who he had sent. Later, they killed his son too.

 

He finished by tightening the noose around the chief priest’s neck by asking, “When the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants”. They responded, “He will kill them and rent his vineyard to others who will pay what he is due”.

 

⁴² Then Jesus asked them, “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures?

‘The stone that the builders rejected
    has now become the cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing,
    and it is wonderful to see.’

⁴³ I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit.        NLT

 

Over the years, decades and centuries, the Jewish religious leaders had missed the mark. It was probably one little decision after another that lead them down the wrong road; that lead them to reject the cornerstone.

 

And who is the cornerstone?

 

¹⁹ So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. ²⁰ Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.          Ephesians 2    NLT

 

Despite using those antiquated travel tools of AAA books and foldable maps, we got to our destination. But life is a lot more complicated than a two week vacation. We need a cornerstone in our life to give us direction; to keep us on track.

 

What is the cornerstone of your life?

 

***

Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.

Mark 4:23 NLT

Copyright 2023 Joseph B Williams

www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com

 

Magi: Persistent Servants

Christmas Character Series

Matthew 2:1-12

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%202%3A1-12&version=NIV;NLT

  

Recently, my wife and I were planning to meet some friends for lunch at the Mohican State Park lodge; a little over an hour’s drive. It would be a beautiful setting in the rustic lodge, overlooking Pleasant Hill Lake in the middle of the Mohican State Forest.

There would be a fire in the stone fireplace and a twenty-five foot Christmas tree beautifully decorated.

 

Before leaving, we set our GPS for Mohican State Park… but not the lodge. Recalculation required! When our GPS said “You have arrived”, there was nothing but pine trees and hills around us; no sign of the lodge. Panic quickly set in. We found that our GPS is only as good as the settings for the final destination.

 

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem ² and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”         NIV

 

The Magi didn’t have a GPS, but they saw the star and knew it was a sign. Because they didn’t know precisely where to find the king of the Jews, they went to Jerusalem to continue their search. They consulted King Herod who in turn consulted the religious leaders who led them to Bethlehem in Judea.

 

⁹ After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. ¹¹ On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. NIV

 

To find the king of the Jews, the Magi went on a long journey. That journey started and ended with a star. To find the king of the Jews today doesn’t require a brightly lit star or consulting with a king or even a long journey.

 

Jesus continuously stands at the door of your heart knocking, waiting for you to respond. He sends the Holy Spirit to open your heart, to give you direction and then the power to follow him. You don’t need a GPS to find Jesus.