Rejected Love

Isn’t it our human tendency to reject first those we know will reject us?

Only Love doesn’t spurn when rejected.

And only Love loves when scorned.

God knew they would reject His Son.

Yet in the prophecy of such rejection He promised blessing anyway.

“The stone the builders rejected 
   has become the capstone;”

[Ps 118:22]

Even Jesus knew they would reject Him but, in love, He taught them anyway.

“He then began to teach them that the Son of Man

must suffer many things and be rejected

by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law,”

[Mk 8:31a]

He knew, as prophesied, that the Stone the builders would reject was Him.

But it was also foretold that He would become the Capstone—the center stone at the top of the arch that holds the whole arch together.

And Isaiah foretold that He would become the Cornerstone—the sure foundation previously mentioned. (The cornerstone being the straight and level base that lines up all other stones of a structure.)

The Capstone and Cornerstone promised is the Alpha and Omega—the Beginning and End of His Church—even knowing full-well He would be rejected and scorned.

Other promises have been made to those that reject this Stone of Zion. Promises to heed as warning this side of Calvary.

Jesus has made it clear that those that fall on the Capstone, in judgment will be crushed by it.

“Jesus looked directly at them and asked,

‘Then what is the meaning of that which is written:

The stone the builders rejected 
   has become the capstone?’

Everyone who falls on that stone

will be broken to pieces,

but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”

[Lk 20:17-18]

{see also Jn 3:36; Jn 12:48; 1 Pt 2:3-8}

Jesus Christ—rejected by man, lifted high by God—The One and Only that loves anyway.

How many times and in how many ways have You been rejected by man…by me? And yet You love! I am humbled beyond words and thankful beyond measure. 

Artwork:

Antonio Ciseri's painting of Pontius Pilate presenting Christ to the crowd.