The Stone

The Prophecy of Christ

Daniel 1:44-45

 

In all of the kingdoms that are referred to in the dream, we see the one that will last forever. The writer of Hebrews expresses this same insight.

Hebrews 12:28-29 “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.”

 

Here are some prophets that were prophesying during a similar timeframe as Daniel: Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Obadiah, Habakkuk (about Babylon), and Ezekiel. There are more than 300 prophecies of Christ that have been fulfilled. 

 

Jesus is Our Foundation (Matthew 16:18; 7:24-27, Isaiah 28:16)

 

Matthew 16:18 “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” I believe the rock is the message of Christ.

Matthew 7:24-27 ““Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Isaiah 28:16 “therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’

Jesus is the Cornerstone of Our Formation (Psalm 118:22, Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10-11, Luke 20:17-18, Colossians 1:16)

What does the cornerstone in a structural formation do? It is the base that holds everything stable. Life, as uncertain and unstable as it is must have a stable anchor! Jesus is that cornerstone.

Psalm 118:22 “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”

Matthew 21:42 “Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

Mark 12:10-11 “Have you not read this Scripture: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”

Colossians 1:16 “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.”

Jesus is the Source of Our Faith and Forgiveness (Luke 20:17-18, 1 Peter 2:6-8)

Luke 20:17-18 “17 But he looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written:“‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”

1 Peter 2:6-8 “For it stands in Scripture:“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.”

Isaiah 8:14 “And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.”

Romans 9:33 ““Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

I believe Paul sums up the offensiveness and stumbling block in 1 Corinthians 1:21.

1 Cor 1:21 “For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.”

We will have families members and loved ones who will see Jesus as an offense, a stumbling block. It surprises me why atheist hate Jesus so. I wonder how can you hate someone that doesn’t exist? Creation shows His presence is real! We are wired to believe His presence is real!