A Fall that Saves
“Whoever falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.” Matthew 21:44
This verse is the closing comment that Jesus made after he had told the religious leaders the Parable of the Tenants. A landowner had planted a vineyard and had rented it out. When it was time to collect his share of the crop, the tenants refused to pay and beat the servants, sending them back empty handed. After a number of attempts, he decided to send his only son. He reasoned that they would respect him because he was his son.
Instead, they decided to not only beat him but kill him, because they would then get the vineyard, the son’s inheritance. Jesus’ hearers realized the faulty thinking of the wicked tenants. When Jesus asked them what they thought the owner would do, they replied: “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end. Then he will lease out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his fruit when it is due.”
Jesus’ closing comment describes that fall that saves. Jesus is the cornerstone. The kingdom of God is built on it. Yes, “whoever falls on this stone will be broken to pieces,” but that fall is what saves. By grace we have come to see Jesus as the Cornerstone. We can’t get into the kingdom of God on our own. Our sinful pride of self-righteousness is broken to pieces by him. But with that realization of our sin, the Spriit has also led us to see what the Cornerstone accomplished. We have new life in him.
Jesus also gives the result of those who reject him. That Cornerstone “will crush anyone on whom it falls.”
Praise the Lord for that Fall That Saves!
Lord Jesus, thank you for making us aware of how desperately we need you, and the new life you have raised up in us. Amen.