Chief cornerstone

 

Cornerstone – Hillsong Worship

 

I ran across these verses in Zechariah and cannot say I fully understand what they mean but there is a stone, seemingly an important one. There would seem to be an allusion in these words to the chief cornerstone of the temple.

For behold, on the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single stone with seven eyes,[f] I will engrave its inscription, declares the Lord of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day. In that day, declares the Lord of hosts, every one of you will invite his neighbor to come under his vine and under his fig tree. – Zechariah 3:9-10  ESV

In verse eight, Jesus is clearly identified as the Branch, the rod out of the stem of Jesse and right away in verse nine the stone is cleary Jesus as well.

It’s the eyes that mess me up a bit. I think of the Father’s eyes as key – taking care and protecting Him. I think of the prophets and the Old Testament faithful, like Abraham. I think of myself and other followers of Jesus who put their eyes on Him as they follow, similar to the brazen serpent in the desert when all of Israel looked upon it and were saved. I also think of the eyes on the wheels in Ezekiel’s vision. Maybe it signifies knowledge and wisdom found in Jesus and His ever watchful eye over us. I could even go as far as the various gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit, something out of Revelation involving the seven spirits of God, as well as the seven stars. Revelation talks about His eyes piercing through my fakeness, searching my heart. Jesus is the searcher of hearts.

One thing is for certain, only the Messiah prophesied from the prophets like Zechariah, could die on the cross and have God remove the iniquity of the land in one day. Only God could create that peace which extended to every neighbour in the land.

While the invitation is there, Jesus’ words still need to be addressed. His words create crisis for us because we find them hard to follow.

When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” – John 6:60-69  ESV

Who else can be the foundation of my life – only Jesus – the one I have believed and have come to know, the Holy One of God.

 

 

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World visonary

 

Last night I had the opportunity to share the gospel with eight young adults who are trying to make it into the professional basketball world at some stage. There were some who had made a decision for Jesus and so I wanted to challenge them as well.

I started with John 3:16.

For God so loved the world,[i] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

At the end of the day I think that a disciple of Jesus wants to share God’s vision expressed here to the world.

Such commitment can only come when a disciple realizes that they have no life of their own. I am totally dependent on Jesus. My eyes are on Him until He shows me mercy.

To you I lift up my eyes,
O you who are enthroned in the heavens!
Behold, as the eyes of servants
look to the hand of their master,
as the eyes of a maidservant
to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the Lord our God,
till he has mercy upon us. – Psalm 123:1-2  ESV

This is another way of saying that a disciple’s dependence on God and submission to God should be no less than what an obedient servant or employee would be to their employer. It is here that my foundation for a world vision begins, making one disciple at a time and they in turn making one disciple at a time until the whole world is reached with the gospel message.

 

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