“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’?” Luke 20:17 ESV
Reflection: how is Jesus your salvation?
You might remember from Luke chapter 19, Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem for the Passover festival. He knows well what is about to happen, to fulfill his mission. Keep in mind that the religious leaders had made a decision that there would be no disturbance during Passover.
But God had a different plan.
One of the first things Jesus does after arriving in Jerusalem is to go the temple, to clean house, all the money changers as we looked at a couple days ago. And since the temple “business” practices were disrupted, money flow drying up, the Pharisees challenged Jesus on his authority. On his right to challenge how they conducted the temple service. After all, they had been given the charter by God of the Levitical priesthood, passed down through the bloodline lineage of the tribe of Levi (ref book of Numbers). Jesus responds to their question, by telling them the parable of the “wicked tenants” (Luke 20:9-16). In essence, the parable describes how the wicked tenants had not managed the vineyard well, that they have not fulfilled their priestly duties as God intended. They rejected all who God sent to warn them, and now rejected God’s son and were planning to get rid of him, as Jesus summarizes in the focus verse,
“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’?” Luke 20:17 ESV
The Pharisees and religious leaders fully understood he was talking about them. And, they fully understood now that Jesus said he was the Son of God. How can we know that for sure, you might wonder? Jesus said “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone” is a direct quote from Psalm 118:22, referring to the religious leaders as “the builders”, and himself as “the cornerstone”. This is very significant, and we need to look at why he specifically quoted this Psalm, because there is a lot more here. I highly recommend taking some time to read and meditate on Psalm 118.
In the verse prior what Jesus quoted, we read “I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.” Psalm 118:21 ESV. The word used in Hebrew here for “salvation” is “yᵊšûʿâ”, pronouncedyesh-oo’-aw, which is very close to the name of Jesus in Hebrew, Yeshua. His name actually means to save, to rescue, to deliver. Now remember, the Pharisees knew this Psalm very well, had studied it for years, perhaps could quote it by heart. They knew the verse preceding what Jesus quoted. They knew therefore that Jesus said that he was the salvation,
“I thank you that you have answered me and have become my yᵊšûʿâ.”
This is the central verse in the Psalm, giving glory to God that He is his salvation, his deliverance, that God is merciful. “Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The Lord is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.” Psalm 118:5-7 ESV The psalmist is describing Jesus all throughout this Psalm. A love song, describing how he looks to God as his Yeshua.
The Pharisees and the religious leaders refused to acknowledge God’s love, His mercy standing right in front of them. They were filled with themselves, with hate. They claimed to represent God, but they didn’t even know Him. They rejected Him.
God sent His yᵊšûʿâ into this world for you and I. The salvation is himself, given to us, for us. He wants to lead us through this world to safety, if we put our trust in Him. If we let Him be our yᵊšûʿâ. Read Psalm 118 and let Him really speak to you, of His love for you.