The gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke bring us the “Parable of the Tenants.” Jesus told the parable during Holy Week, likely on Tuesday. It was part of the last teachings to the people and the religious authorities before his death and resurrection.

In the Parable of the Tenants the owner of a vineyard sends his servants to ask the tenants for his share of the harvest. This is a normal and reasonable request, but the tenants have other plans. They beat up the servants and send them back empty-handed. Finally, the owner sends his own son, thinking the tenants will surely respect him. But they treat him worse and put him to death. The parable is clearly directed at the Jewish religious leaders who opposed him and are standing right there listening. Jesus is pointing out the history of many in . . . . Israel who opposed the prophets in the past, and now they have risen up against the Son of God himself.

Jesus quotes a verse from the Psalms: The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone (Psalm 118:22). Interestingly enough, this is one of the top ten most quoted Old Testament verses in the New Testament.

So is our Christian belief centered around rejection?

It wasn’t just Jesus. In Acts, chapter 4, Peter and John were arrested for healing a lame man and preaching about Jesus. They were brought before some of the same powerful religious leaders who had condemned Jesus to death just a short time before that. The apostles boldly proclaimed that the healing was in the name of Jesus Christ. Their faith was in the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone (Acts 4:11).

Peter later quotes the same verse in his first letter. He tells his readers that the stone which was rejected is precious to them and all believers (1 Peter 2:4-10).

Is the Christian faith about rejection? In a way, yes. There will be some of that. Plenty of that, in fact. God’s way is not the way of the human world. So people will set themselves up against the preaching of Jesus as the Savior of all. But we don’t let that change our valuing of Jesus as the foundation of our life.

The “underdog” wins! We cheer for the ugly duckling who after much trouble finds out he’s a swan and is accepted by a family of swans. We’re inspired by the U.S men’s hockey team that beat the heavily favored Soviets in the Miracle on Ice in 1980.

It’s not always the “most likely to succeed” who win the victory. Jesus was often rejected, but is our precious cornerstone. He’s the foundation and guide for everything we believe and hold dear.

Even though rejection is there, the victory is the main message of our faith. The way of God triumphs. Sin and death are defeated in the only way possible, Jesus’ death and resurrection. What has been pushed aside by natural human resistance is really the greatest message of all. Let everyone know your faith and hope rest on the stone that became the cornerstone!

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