Sunday – A Day of Resurrection
22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief
cornerstone. 23 This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our
eyes. 24 This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:22-24
On Jesus’ last night, at the conclusion of their Passover meal, Jesus and his disciples sang a hymn (Matthew 26:30). We know from rabbinic tradition what would have sung at the end of their meal; it is the hymn contained in today’s text. This hymn text, taking from Psalm 118, was the grace to be sung at the conclusion of their Passover meal. And again, one cannot help but be struck by the prophetic detail woven into the ancient text.
The hymn or psalm draws upon imagery familiar in the ancient world. Here is the picture of a stone that has been carefully sized, chiseled, and hewn, but when it is brought to the construction site it is rejected because it does not fit. This Passover hymn also sings of the dramatic reversal of fortune as the stone which the builders had rejected is brought back and made “the chief cornerstone.”
From this stone that had been rejected, the whole building will be aligned and constructed. On this day of resurrection we rejoice that “This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” Christ was rejected, but raised, and made the cornerstone of our faith and our lives.
To the same crowd that had earlier clamored for Jesus’ death, Peter boldly declared: “… Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, this Jesus is ‘the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone‘” (Acts 4:11).
It is remarkable that the words of this hymn, Psalm 118:22, and the words that Jesus would have sung on his last night, become the words most often by the New Testament writers. Jesus, despised and rejected, is now Lord over all. This is surely the Lord’s doing! This day of resurrection is “the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Yes, let us rejoice today and live in his resurrection victory!
MEDITATION
Soaking in Scripture…
Today’s Andy Moments…
