May 24, 2012 - Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Daily Lectionary: Numbers 16:41 - 17:13; Luke 20:1-18

"The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." (Luke 20:17)

In the Name of + Jesus. Amen. A house is only as good as its foundation. Strong foundation, strong house. Weak foundation — a huff and a puff and your house is blown down. That' s what a cornerstone is for. It keeps the walls straight and sturdy. Without it everything tumbles down, just like Jericho, only without the trumpets.

So it is with life, especially life for Christ' s Bride, the Church. Strong foundation, strong church. Weak foundation, weak church. Without Jesus, everything tumbles down.

Now you know why Jesus is called "the Cornerstone." Trouble is, that also means Jesus will be rejected. As Jesus tells this parable the Jewish authorities reject Jesus. They killed the prophets of old and now they were plotting to kill the Son of the vineyard, too.

But here' s the blessed irony. The tenants in the parable are right: "Let' s kill the heir and so that the inheritance may be ours." That' s precisely what happens. Jesus, the stone is rejected. And He becomes the cornerstone. The Son of the vineyard is killed and by His death He gives out his inheritance.

Jesus is the great death-and-life architect who rose from the dead and does the same for you, too. "For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children of Abraham." He has raised you up out of the ash heap and placed you on the firm foundation laid in His death and resurrection.

The old temple and the Old Testament are fulfilled in Jesus. Jesus is the new temple, the New Testament. Destroy Him and He will rise again in three days — a temple, not of stone, brick or mortar, but of flesh and bones. The temple of God is the God-man Jesus.

He is the foundation of the Church. His life — that comes to you from the font, altar and pulpit — is your foundation. Strong foundation, strong house. Nothing and no one, not even the big-bad wolf can blow Jesus' house down. In the Name of + Jesus. Amen.

The Church' s one foundation is Jesus Christ, her Lord; She is His new creation By water and the Word. From heav' n He came and sought her To be His holy bride; With His own blood He bought her and for her life He died. (LSB 644:1)

Questions or comments regarding the Reflections may be sent to the Rev. Mark Buetow, Reflections Editor, reflections@higherthings.org.

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