To Encourage You

1 Peter 2:8 “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.”

Have you ever been walking along and stubbed your toe on something?  It can be embarrassing, especially if you’re in some public place.  And it is upsetting, don’t you think?  So, why in the world would the apostle use such a strange metaphor when speaking of Jesus Christ?  Interestingly, he uses the metaphor of a “stone” in two ways in 1 Peter 2 with reference to Christ.  The first way likens Jesus to a “living stone” and a “cornerstone.”  With these thoughts he is pointing to Jesus as the very foundation of our faith and the foundation of life itself. He is spoken of as One that we are to look to and as we do so, we become more and more like “living stones” ourselves.  A similar thought is expressed in Hebrews 12:2 which tells us that we should be “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” But it’s in exactly this context that we see a hint to the other use of the metaphor of a stone, i.e., the one above. We are told that it is to unbelievers that Jesus is this “stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.”  

So, how can two people look at the same person and have such literally opposite opinions regarding Him? It’s all about expectations.  You see, in the first century, the Jews were looking for a Messiah.  They had read about this coming one everywhere they looked in the Old Testament Scriptures.  However, when Jesus came on the scene, He was nothing like most of the Jews expected.  They anticipated a great leader who would overthrow the oppressive rule of Rome. They expected someone who would affirm them as “God’s chosen people” and highly exalt them in the eyes of the world. But Jesus, when he came, was an embarrassment to them. He offended them. Rather than tell everyone how wonderful they were, He ridiculed their form of religion and continuously challenged their religious leaders’ beliefs.  He pointed to how insufferably proud they were while He spent time with those whom they saw as the scum of the earth.  And then, to top it all off, he was humiliated and crucified between two common thieves. What kind of a Messiah was THAT?  

But isn’t that the view of so many who have not put their faith in Him, for to do so is a very humiliating thing.  Jesus told us in many ways that “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11). One such example is the following account from Luke 18: “He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: ‘Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.” But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.’”  You see, many view themselves as inherently “good.”  But Jesus taught that “No one is good except God alone” (Mark 10:18).  

Then Romans 3:10-18 doubles down on this truth in the following words: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.  Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.  The venom of asps is under their lips.  Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Doesn’t do much for your self-esteem, does it?  These are such humbling words. But they are necessary words, for unless one sees himself or herself in this light, they will never turn to the only One Who is truly good for the remedy.  

But people don’t like to be humbled. It’s not our natural bent. To the proud, this is an embarrassing “stumbling block,” and nothing more than a “rock of offense.” But for those who are humbled, and for those who truly see themselves as the sinners that God has said we are, to those who will bow at the feet of the King of kings, confess that sin, and seek forgiveness from the crucified One, He is the Cornerstone, the Living Stone, the One Who cleanses us from all unrighteousness, but to His glory not to ours. And so we have the truth that it is only “by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).” And no one means absolutely no one, no matter how they may view themselves now.