Today’s Scripture

Psalm 28         Isaiah 43:16-21           Philippians 3:7-14       Luke 20:9-20

 

Luke 20:17-18

            Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written:

                        ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone?’

Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.

 

Children’s Message:  The four walls made by cards cannot stand by themselves.  When a card is placed over one corner (use the “Jesus” card), the walls hold together.  When Jesus is taken away, the walls (cards) fall down.

 

            Next weekend we will celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the dedication of this church building.  Included in the photos and movies we will see will be some of the cornerstone laying, a significant event in building a church.  Other significant structures celebrate the cornerstone also.  Even when building a house, a carpenter will often place a freshly minted coin and/or a daily newspaper in the walls during construction.  The cornerstone is symbolic of what holds the building together.  In Immanuel’s cornerstone are several items.  One specific item and included in any Lutheran church cornerstone is a copy of The Bible.  God’s word is what holds the church together.  The confession of Jesus Christ (as per Peter) is what the church is built upon.  The foundation of the church are the prophets and apostles with Jesus as the chief cornerstone [Ephesians 2:20].  Symbolically, if the cornerstone is yanked out, the entire structure will collapse.  The cornerstone holds it all together.

 

            In today’s reading, the NIV translation uses the term, “capstone.”  That too is a significant piece in a structure.  Picture an arch (i.e. St. Louis).  Either side of the arch cannot stand on its own.  The final stone, the one connecting the two sides is the capstone.  It holds the entire structure together.

 

                        So many lives are in crisis.  So many lives that do not appear in the least bit to be in crisis are in crisis.  Many of you have come to your pastor saying, “I cannot see how someone who does not have faith can make it,” as you have discussed your situation.  Many come to a pastor’s study or a fellow Christian with issues that are overwhelming.  There is a question that is often asked, “What if everything on this earth fails, nothing works?”  The answer so often and I thank God each time I hear it is, “I will be in heaven.”

 

            God’s word is the counsel we seek for earthly issues.  Following his commandments of love and given in his love leads his people to righteous decisions.  Those decisions may not always result in earthly gain and wealth as some evangelists and pundits would have one believe.  Our pride is big and it is tough to go outside of that personal pride that thinks that all things have to work out my way.  I have trouble with that.  You have trouble with that.  We are sinners and that causes us all to have a lot of trouble with that.  It is breaking down confessing that Christ is the cornerstone, confessing sins and sinful nature to God and trusting his forgiveness and strength that gives his strength to his people.

 

            The cornerstone is Christ.  Each reading today focuses on that one truth.  The passage from Hebrews (the Gradual for Lent), let us fix our eyes on Jesus who is the author and perfector of our faith, and he is.  Isaiah reminds of God’s delivering Israel from Egypt.  They were stuck in their situation.  Even when leaving, they had no place to go when Pharaoh decided to pursue them with the mightiest army there was.  Time and again God delivered his people through and from all kinds of situations.  He did this to prove himself to us and to bring glory to him through these miraculous things.  People would believe in him as they saw his miracles with his people.  People believe in him today hearing of his love in Jesus who suffered, died and rose again to save us and to take us eternally with him.

 

            Paul considers all earthly things “rubbish,” or sewage in comparison to the eternal joys God gives in Christ.  Nothing of this earth can gain one’s salvation, only Jesus.  As we prepare to witness his final hours with the disciples, his suffering, death and resurrection, we learn again and again how much God loves you, the price God paid to make you his again, and the only way to heaven through faith in his love in Jesus Christ to you.  Without Jesus, your house will crumble.  Without Jesus, Immanuel, God with us, this house will crumble.  We may have a fine building and lots of good things happening here.  But without Jesus first, without the one true faith in the one true triune God, there is no house here, only a collapsed shell.

 

            Peter and John quoted this verse from Psalm 118 to the temple leaders.  Peter again quotes this verse in his first letter.  Those who reject God’s love in Christ will be crushed.  It is a certain judgment.  Those who trust God’s love in Christ will be part of his church, part of him as he is the chief cornerstone, holding all together.

 

            In a few moments we will receive that one thing that holds all Christians together throughout all time, the precious body and blood of Jesus.  We know and believe that it is this very body and blood that he gave on Calvary that saves us and makes us one with him and with all believers of all time.  Others reject that he is or can be present in the bread and wine.  Many reject that he is the Son of God.  Many do not believe that it is by God’s grace alone through faith alone in Christ Jesus alone that we hear through God’s word alone that salvation is received.  Rejecting that stone breaks one to pieces, crushes one completely.  Receiving that stone to be your cornerstone saves.  Those who reject will see others who receive it receive all of God’s blessings instead.  Jesus gives that message to those who opposed him then, and to those who will not follow him today.  That is what judgment is.

 

            Here at Immanuel, we are placed by God to nurture and grow his vineyard here in Des Plaines.  We are to do that though the confession of the one true faith as God has given it to us.  Let us go forth in confidence that Christ is the cornerstone of both personal lives and our life together in faith here at Immanuel and forevermore.

 

In Jesus’ undying love.  Amen.