Tripping on Jesus

Tripping on Jesus. Romans 9:30-32

What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. As it is written: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." Romans 9:30-32 (NKJV)

If you were a champion, running a race and were beat by the last place contender, how would that make you feel? If you were a smart student who failed an exam and was held back from graduating, would you not feel abandoned? Everyone likes to be a champion and everyone likes to graduate, no one likes to be left behind, yet the Jew that does not follow Jesus as the Messiah fits into this category.

What a shame to have so much history, so many great blessings, and be a people of great faith, only to make a wrong turn or as Isaiah the prophet put it, stumble and fall. Yet Jesus has become a stumbling block that causes Jews to fall down in their relationship with God.

At the time of Christ, there was a problem amongst the Jewish men; they would study the scriptures only to debate, struggling for influence. Ridding to Jerusalem, Jesus looked towards the city and in remorse said "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes" and also said, "you did not know the time of your visitation."

In this, Jesus referred to prophesies of Himself as Messiah, where He would come from, how He would come, and according to the prophesies of Daniel, the exact day that He would ride into the city; but they missed understanding the prophesy and those who continue to miss these things are sadly fallen on the road to knowing their God.

What greater scripture could there be, than this one Paul draws emphasis to. In Zion, there would be a stumbling stone, a rock of offence. This scripture alone joins passages throughout the Bible that should bring a well studied person to know that Jesus is the Messiah.

Zion, which means "fortification," is Jerusalem, the city of David. During the times of Solomon, the building of the temple expanded the boundaries of Zion to include Mount Moriah. It was believed that the temple was built on the very site where God told Abraham to offer his only son Isaac, as a sacrifice.

There on mount Moriah (Zion), Isaac would help build an alter and ask his father, "Where is the lamb?" To which Abraham would speak these prophetic words, "God will provide himself a sacrifice." There on a hill of the mount, Jesus would become that sacrifice; God did provide.

Later Zion, known as the City of Jerusalem was also used to refer to the land of Judea, and eventually used to speak of the nation as a whole. Therefore to the scholarly Jew reading Isaiah, they would look for a person who would be strong, but offend the nation. This offensive person would be sent there by God. His offensiveness would cause people to stumble, yet He would be the one to follow.

The soil of Palestine is very rocky and stones are in abundance. Stones became tools for many uses to the Jews. Stones represented strength and could be used to fight enemies. Just as David picked up a stone to hurl at Goliath, Jewish boys grew up knowing that a stone could kill or cause great harm and often overlooked is the stone thrown in defense, it can save one's life.

Stones were also used to make alters, memorials, and mark grave sites. Stones represented hardness and the very best stones were used as the corners for structures. Yet stones were also used after judgment, to stone a person to death.

After the death of Christ, Christians were quick to point to Isaiah's mention of stones when he wrote, Therefore thus says the Lord God: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily." Isaiah 28:16 (NKJV)

Referred to as "The people of the way," started a movement of people who would worship God and Jesus as the Messiah. The claim to be God's son infuriated the Jewish leadership and the offence ran deep, cutting away at the fabric of their religion. Yet none looked at this offence to be the fulfillment of prophesies written by Isaiah.

Though many Jews have found Jesus to be the Messiah, the name of Jesus continues to offend Jews. Yet not Jews alone, people in general become offended at the mention of His name.

This response to Jesus does not rest in a man, but in the sinful nature of mankind. Jesus becomes a bright light that exposes sin and like Adam and Eve, people hide. People want to live life in benefit to themselves; they horde their money, they love their pleasure, and reach for intoxicating substances. To them it is freedom, yet they do not see the bondage they are in.

Jesus came that we might have life in abundance. He does not desire us to act as monks in a monastery; He wants us to live life without having to hide or run from the affects of sinful practices. Until a person is willing to let go and accept Jesus as their Messiah, they will never know true freedom.

Jesus is the foundation cornerstone of the kingdom of God and to us it means that we can live in a secure, safe kingdom. All eternity awaits those who will be faithful to reach out for forgiveness and let the light of Jesus Christ light their path, so there is no more stumbling in darkness. If in darkness, Jesus Christ will get in your way and you will trip and fall to the ground.

Many people brush Christianity off because of the ill habits and ways of a few misguided individuals. The antics and attitudes of some become an indictment against the whole; however, Christianity is not on trial, it does not matter what people think. What matters is that each and every soul is on trial and being watched by God.

In His love, He gave His only son to die for all sins of all people and yet this time of grace small; people have only a short time to reply. In this world there is eternity at stake and what you do in this life matters. Yet we cannot run a race to heaven if we continue to trip and fall into the pit holes of this life.

Either you have made peace with Jesus as a Messiah or you have stumbled upon the rock of offence.