Author: icbc

Introduction

The testimony of the Psalms about the Messiah is further discussed in this edition of our newsletter. Here, Jesus Christ as the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone is detailed.

The Rejected Stone

“The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psa 118:22-24).

Psalms foresaw the rejection of Christ Jesus as recorded in the New Testament. It is written that His own people and nation did not receive Him (Joh 1:11). Not even His own brothers believed Him (Joh 7:5). However, in later times, some of His brothers became His Apostles (1Co 9:5, Gal 1:19).

Rejecting Jesus

It has been testified that when the morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. And when they had bound him, they led him away and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor (Mat 27:1-2).

When the multitude came together, they were asked, which of the two, Jesus or Barabbas, is to be released?  The chief priest and the elders persuaded the multitude to say that Christ should be crucified and destroyed, but Barabbas should be set free. So they crucified Him and parted His garments (Mat 17: 17-35).

Jesus Christ, having been rejected and destroyed, was raised from the dead, and through that, He has been given a name that is higher and above all other names (Php 2:9-11). By the name of Jesus Christ, people receive their healing. Peter writes “that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole” (Acts 4:10-11). Peter adds that this Jesus is the stone which was set at naught by the builders but has now become the head of the cornerstone (Acts 4:11). It is through faith in His name that man receives forgiveness of sin and salvation (Acts 4:12).

Mark also cites Psalms and quizzes: “have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? (Mar 12:10-11). It is marvelous that a person who has been rejected and abandoned now becomes the savior of the world. It is only God who makes this happen.

If you think that you are alone and that all people seem to reject you, do not worry because it is not difficult for God to turn the circumstances of His children around overnight, and make them objects of praise. It is difficult with men but with God, all things are possible (Mat 19:26).

Conclusion

Jesus was not recognized as the Lord of Lords by His own people. He was rejected by those who should have received Him. But after His resurrection, He becomes the chief cornerstone, a stone which no one could avoid and still see God. He is the only person who connects humans to God. Psalms saw this and thus testified that the stone that the builders rejected has now become the chief cornerstone.

Prayer: May the good Lord turn your life from hopelessness and despair into a fountain of life and relevance, in the name of Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Introduction

The book of Psalms gives several prophecies about Christ Jesus. One of such prophecies is the fact that Jesus would mostly speak in parables. This thesis seeks to detail the reason why it is believed that such prophesy points to the Messiah.

Speaking in parables

The  Psalmist made a prophetic statement in his writing and stated that:

“I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us” (Psa 78:2-3).

The use of the word ´parable´ has a wide range of meanings including the use of poems, allegory, metaphors, oracles, and analogies, among others. The ´dark sayings´ on the other hand, are the deep sayings or mysteries of God which are meant to be understood by a careful study of His word. Jesus refers to the dark sayings as those “things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world” (Mat 13:34-35).

Jesus, in His teachings as a great teacher and a philosopher, spoke a number of parables in the thirteenths chapter of the book of Mathew. In referring to them, the author writes that all those things were spoken by Jesus to the multitudes in parables so that it might fulfill that which was written by the prophet in Psalms as cited above (Mat 13:34-35). When Jesus was asked his reason for His use of parables, He  mentioned that it is given to the people of the Kingdom to comprehend the dark sayings of the Kingdom of God but not to the people of the world (Mat 13:10-11), because though they see, they do not see it rightly, in hearing, they do not hear it properly, and neither do they comprehend what they hear (Mat 13:13).

Heard, known and taught

Jesus did not intend to teach us anything new except those things which have already been taught by His fathers, vis-a-vis the Law, the Psalms, and the Prophets. He constantly referred His listeners to the established teachings of the holy scriptures (Luk 10:26, Joh 5:39). Paul admonished Timothy to commit those things which he has heard and learned from him to other faithful brethren who would also be able to teach others (2Ti 2:2). Trying to teach a new doctrine would only make one an apostate.

The continuity of our Christian faith is about passing on of the learned tradition and teachings to the younger generation. Jesus and His disciples only expanded the teachings as they appear in the scriptures, and what they experienced as they walked with Christ. Luke indicates that he writes to declare those things that are most surely believed among them as they were delivered unto them, and as eyewitnesses and ministers from the beginning of the time they began to walk with Christ  (Luk 1:1-4). The basis of our faith is the authentic doctrine of Christ.

Conclusion

Jesus is a man full of wisdom and the knowledge of God. He has insight into speaking and explaining parables,  as well as dark sayings of the old. The psalms is one of the books that prophesies about the supremacy and the deity of Christ.

Prayer: May the good Lord enlighten us and give us a perfect understanding of the bible and the teachings of Christ. Amen.