Collect for Psalm 118: Lord God, your Son, rejected by the builders, has become the cornerstone of the Church. Shed rays of your glory upon your Church. that it may be seem as the gate of salvation open to all nations. Let cries of joy and exultation ring our from its courts to celebrate the wonder of Christ’s resurrection, now and forever. [1]
Have you ever been given such good news that you had
to share it with someone? Life changing events must be shared; an engagement, a
promotion, a new hire, your first grandchild. Such good news must be shared!
The night of the first Easter. When the disciples saw
Jesus. They experience – both surprise and fright. This immediately turned into
joy. It was almost too good to believe! “It
seemed too good to be true!” But it was true. And Jesus gave them this
instruction – What is good and true - must be told.
It seemed
too good to be true. The reports were
coming in. Sin and death had not conquered. News was traveling fast; “The Lord has risen indeed!” Jesus
appeared to the disciples in the upper room. Joy and doubt clashed. Our
reaction too is mixed both awe and joy. It seems too good to be true. Despite
our sin. The LORD offers forgiveness. And life. Through His Son Jesus.
It is good. Because it is true.
It is not a human plan of salvation. Human efforts reject Christ. ‘This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by
you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.’ -Acts 4:11
Builders are expected to know their trade. It is
reasonable to assume they know where to build, how to build and what materials
to use in the building.
Yet those who fancied themselves the builders of the
kingdom of God—the chief priests, rulers, elders and scribes of Israel—didn’t
even recognize the key component of the structure, the stone which determines
the direction and design of all the other stones.
And now a Galilean fisherman named Peter dares to
accuse them of such spiritual ineptitude and blindness!
Peter was not the first person to quote Psalm 118:22
to these leaders. Jesus was confronted by these same people asking Him the same
question they posed to Peter and John: “By
what authority are you speaking?” Matthew
21:23, See also Acts 4:5-7
Yet, Jesus’ warning fell on deaf ears. The leaders
arranged for His betrayal, arrest, illegal trials and crucifixion death, all
the while thinking they are contributing to the kingdom of God in their zeal.
Thankfully those “builders” are not the true constructors
of God’s kingdom. The LORD Himself is the true Builder, and by His design the
very stone which the builders rejected became the head of the corner for His
kingdom.
By the LORD’s power Jesus is raised from the dead,
seated at the right hand of the Father, and given all authority in heaven and
on earth. The LORD vindicated Jesus by accepting His finished redemptive work,
making Jesus the central of His kingdom. He is the cornerstone; the one around
whom everything fits.
Because of self-righteousness. And deceit. There is a
denial of the truth. And the Scriptures speak clearly; "If we say
that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."
1 John 1:8
Yet, it had always been the Father’s plan; revealed
already to the Old Testament faithful concerning the LORD’s Christ. “Then Jesus said to them, ‘These are my words
that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about
me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.’ Luke 24:44
This plan of salvation. This plan of restoration and
hope. This plan of reconciliation is fulfilled in Christ. “And He said
to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third
day rise from the dead,’ v.46
Jesus is the Truth of the LORD’s salvation. It is
good. Because it calls for you to repent. And offers the truth of the Father’s
forgiveness.
“And that
repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all
nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” v.47 Thus, through the proclamation of
this gospel you become right before God. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
It is truth. That is good for others. It is good for you! The
Father desires that His salvation be proclaimed to all nations. Luke 24:47 Repentance and
forgiveness will restore people. From the darkness of sin. To the goodness of
His light.
“This is the
message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in
him is no darkness at all. If we say we
have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice
the truth. But if we walk in the light, as
he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus
his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1
John 1:5-7
The people of God are witnesses. To the power of
Christ’s death and resurrection. Jesus said to his disciples, “You are witnesses to these things.” Luke 24:48 Throughout the
book of Acts; as the Word of the Lord continued spread from one location to the
other this message would be repeated constantly and consistently; “We are witnesses to these things.” Acts
5:32
All of us can share Christ in our daily conversations
with others. The Holy Spirit has promised to give you power to tell what is
true. And what is good.
Jesus said, “And
behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city
until you are clothed with power from on high.” vs.49
And when the day of Pentecost came; these disciples
went as the Father directed them starting in Jerusalem the fanned out into
Judea, then Samaria and to the rest of world.
The LORD’s salvation is never “too good to be true.” It is utterly good. It is utterly true. You
can tell the world. So that all people can experience its truth and goodness.
As you begin another week; may the Lord use you to be his mouth-piece, his
ambassador in the environment in which you live. May you be the hands and feet
the fingers and toes of Jesus. Godspeed and God bless as you begin this week in
Jesus’ name.
[1] For All the Saints A Prayer Book for and By the Church
Vol. II © 1995 by the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
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