May 9, 2023
Today’s Reading: 1 Peter 2:2-10
Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 23:1-22; Luke 12:13-34
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:4-5)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Alleluia! Christ is risen! The hope of many is to see the temple rebuilt in Jerusalem, a “Third Temple,” they call it. There is even a movement among some orthodox Jews to dress the stones for the future temple they hope to build.
Even more puzzling, there are also many Christians who are encouraged to support the Jews in this rebuilding fantasy. Those who hold to a so-called “literal” interpretation of the Bible believe that rebuilding the Temple is a major part in the fulfillment of Jesus’ return.
How wrong we can be in our sinful blindness! The reading from St. Peter’s epistle teaches us to rightly understand the prophets when they speak of God establishing a house, of making His people holy priests, of building a place for His name to dwell. “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.” The prophet Isaiah was not speaking about a building, but Jesus Christ Himself!
As for us who believe in Him (not in a building), we are made like Him by the Holy Spirit: “you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” This is how to look at the communion of saints we confess in the Creed: God is at work building His church, stone by stone.
Each stone—each believer—is dressed by God working by His Word and Holy Spirit. Living daily in our Baptism, we are fitted anew into the temple of God’s design, according to Christ, the Cornerstone.
We are also called a holy priesthood, who offer spiritual sacrifices within this Temple of the Christian Church. It’s not that we have anything worthy enough to offer God. But out of what flows from the Lamb of God, we are made alive to give our lives: for building up our fellow stones, for offering prayer for them and for the world, for service within the temple and in our various vocations. In all of it, proclaiming “the excellencies of Him who called [us] out of darkness and into His marvelous light.” In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
We are God’s house of living stones, Built for His own habitation. He through baptismal grace us owns Heirs of His wondrous salvation. Were we but two His Name to tell, Yet He would deign with us to dwell With all His grace and His favor. (Built on the Rock, LSB 645:3)
– Pastor Michael A. Miller is Pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Lebanon, OR.
Audio Reflections Speaker: Jonathan Lackey is an LCMS seminarian.
Study Christ’s words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.
