Peter Misselbrook's Blog
Feb 8 2020 - Luke 20:1-26 – Jesus the cornerstone

The Jewish leaders were not happy that Jesus had thrown the traders out of the temple. Who gave him authority to do such a thing? When they challenged Jesus on the matter he turned the tables on them by asking who they thought gave John the authority to baptise?

This was not just a tit-for-tat question. Jesus goes on to tell them a parable about a vineyard whose tenants will not give the owner his share of the harvest. As Jesus tells the story of how servants are beaten and sent packing and then the son of the owner is killed, he is speaking about these leaders and their like down the years. They have rejected the messengers sent by God – they rejected John, and now they are planning to kill the son and heir. Jesus has authority to cleanse the temple because he is the one to whom it belongs.

Jesus concludes the parable by quoting Psalm 118:22, "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone [or capstone]" (Luke 20:17). Again he is speaking about himself. The Jewish leaders may reject him, but it is God's purpose to make Jesus the chief stone in the new temple that he is building. He will have a temple that is a fit place for his dwelling with his people.

God plans to create a people among whom he will live and in whom he will display his glory. This will be a new people (see 20:16); a temple for God's dwelling made out of living stones. Jesus is the foundational cornerstone for this new temple; the stone against which every other stone is positioned and fitted. And he is the capstone; the one who finishes off and crowns the whole edifice. He is the first and the last, the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end.

We are to live out our lives in vital connection with Jesus. He is to shape our lives. Only as our lives are connected to him will his glory be seen in us.

We are to live also in vital connection with one another. There is more to a temple than a field of scattered stones. We are to "grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work" (Ephesians 4:15-16). This is an organic temple, bound together and made strong by the ligaments of love. This then is our prayer:

Bind us together, Lord
Bind us together
With cords that cannot be broken
Bind us together, Lord
Bind us together
Bind us together in Love

There is only one God,
There is only one King
There is only one Body,
That is why we sing.

Bind us together, Lord
Bind us together
With cords that cannot be broken
Bind us together, Lord
Bind us together
Bind us together in Love

Made for the glory of God,
Purchased by His precious Son;
Born with the right to be clean,
For Jesus the victory has won.

Bind us together, Lord
Bind us together
With cords that cannot be broken
Bind us together, Lord
Bind us together
Bind us together in Love

We are the family of God
We are the promise divine
We are God's chosen desire
We are the glorious new wine.

Bind us together, Lord
Bind us together
With cords that cannot be broken
Bind us together, Lord
Bind us together
Bind us together in Love

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Peter Misselbrook