Today’s devotion covers the parable of the vine-growers in Mark 12:1-12. We will focus on verses 10 and 11.
“10 “Have you not even read this Scripture:
‘THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,
THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone;
11 THIS CAME ABOUT FROM THE LORD,
AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES’?” Mark 12:10-11. (Emphasis added.)
‘THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,
THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone;
11 THIS CAME ABOUT FROM THE LORD,
AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES’?” Mark 12:10-11. (Emphasis added.)
The most obvious message of the parable is a summary of what the nation of Israel did to God’s Son, His prophets, and His other servants. In Matthew’s account, we also have this quote with this following addition: “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit. “And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.” Matthew 21:43-44.
But, what is so marvelous? Certainly, we do not rejoice in the rejection of Christ, nor the persecutions and the killings of God’s Son, His prophets, and His other servants, nor the stumbling of the nation of Israel, nor the salvation of “only” a remnant, nor the kingdom of God being taken away from the nation of Israel. We understand Paul’s sorrow when he begins His summary of what happened to nation of Israel with these following words: “… I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart.” Romans 9:2.
But, we do rejoice in Christ, that despite the suffering and death that He received from primarily the nation of Israel and despite what it meant to the nation of Israel, He did become the chief corner stone.
We rejoice in Christ being our one and only source of salvation. “He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone. “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:11-12.
We rejoice that Christ is our corner stone of “a holy temple in the Lord” in which we are now included! “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22.
We rejoice in the “precious value” of Christ, and that we have become A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION”. “This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,” and, “A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed. But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.” 1 Peter 2:7-10.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 