Jesus: Name Above All Names — Cornerstone

Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. ⁷ Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner (1 Peter 2:6-7)

In biblical times, a cornerstone was used as the foundation and standard upon which a building was constructed.

Once in place, the rest of the building would conform to the angles and size of the cornerstone. In addition, if removed, the entire structure could collapse.

Messianic Prophecies spoke of the Messiah as the Cornerstone

Isaiah 28:16 – Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

Psalm 118:22 – The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

The Gospels record Jesus referring to Himself as the Cornerstone

 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? (Matthew 21:42; cf. Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17)

The Apostles refers to Jesus as the Cornerstone

Peter – This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. (Acts 4:11; cf. 1 Pet. 2:6-7)

Paul – Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; ²⁰ And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone (Ephesians 2:19-20)

For those living in societies where people often built their own homes, using construction terminology to explain the priority of Jesus the Messiah as the Cornerstone of the household of God provided a clear connecting point that would have been well understood by the original audience. Today, we read these words and clearly see the Bible’s indication that Jesus serves as the cornerstone of the Church as well as for each Christian’s individual life.

Questions:

1.         In biblical times what was the cornerstone used for?

2.         According to Isaiah 28:16, what was the cornerstone to be?

3.         According to Psalm 118:22, what does Israel do to the stone?

4.         What is the result in believing in the Cornerstone?

5.         Who is the cornerstone?

Prayer:

Lord, you are the promised Cornerstone upon which you are building your church. There is no other Cornerstone than you. Not only are you the foundation for the Church, but you are the foundation for my life. My life is sometimes crooked and uneven, but you will build me up in Christ – the most reliable, true and solid foundation. Help me to build my life on the Cornerstone of Jesus Christ. Thank you! In his name we pray. Amen.

Hymn:

My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less
by Edward Mote

https://hymnary.org/text/my_hope_is_built_on_nothing_less

1. My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Refrain:

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:
all other ground is sinking sand;
all other ground is sinking sand.

Jesus: Name Above All Names — Bread of Life

Bible Text: John 6:34-40

He is the Sustainer of life

The staple food in many cultures is bread. It is a common part of the daily diet. In the model prayer (Luke 11), Jesus instructs his disciples to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” If a man did not have bread, he did not eat. If  he did not eat, he died. Bread was that necessary for the physical life. It is what sustained humans.

In John 4, Jesus told the woman at the well that he was that living water, and here in John 6 He declares that He is the bread of life. He is the all sufficient sustainer. He who comes to him will never thirst, and he who comes to him will never hunger.

The implication is that Jesus like the physical loaves of bread, is sufficient for the need of mankind. Jesus is the all sufficient Savior.

Jesus told his disciples in John 4:33-34 : “But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. . . .My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.”

In Deuteronomy 8:3: “man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceeded out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.”

Jesus is that living word. He is the sustainer of life.

He is the Satisfier of life.

In verse 35, Jesus says, “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”

The construction here is one of emphasis. He who comes to me shall never ever hunger at anytime.

Jesus is affirming in the most dramatic way possible the satisfying nature of the life that He brings.

Cf. Isaiah 55:1-3

Obviously what is promised here is a satisfaction of our spiritual hunger; the hunger for meaning, the hunger for peace, the hunger for contement. It is the Lord and the Lord alone that meets this need and satisfies completely. It is in the Lord alone that we find the satisfaction for our inner desires. All other sources fail to satisfy. Wealth can satisfy for a while but it can never give us real peace. Fame can satisfy for a while but can never give a lasting sense of meaning to life. Even success can only give a momentary contentment.

The alternative to this satisfaction found in Jesus is in verse 36 where the word “but” introduces a strong contrast: “But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me and believe not.”

Those who choose not to believe, and as a result have not come to Him, accordingly have not received the satisfying life He is offering. Their failure to believe was the critical factor that cut them off from the blessings He was offering.

But by believe more is meant than just a mental assent to the facts of what he was saying. One can believe that Jesus was a real person, that He died on the cross and even believe that He arose from the grave and still not be saved. To receive what He is offering one must come by faith and be born again.

Jesus is our Bread of Life!

Questions:

1.         Jesus says that He is the Bread of Life after what miracle?

2.         What does it mean that He is the sustainer of life?

3.         What does it mean that Jesus is the satisfier of life?

4.         In order for Jesus to be your bread of life, what must you do?

5.         How is Jesus being you bread of life comfort to you?

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for being my bread of life. First, you are the sustainer of my life. You are what I need for a spiritual life. Thank you for saving me. Second, you are the satisfier of my life. It is in you that my life finds satisfaction. Help me to remember that and not try to find satisfaction in anything or anyone else. In Jesus name, amen.

Hymn:

Break Thou the Bread of Life

by Mary A. Lathbury

https://hymnary.org/text/break_thou_the_bread_of_life

1 Break now the bread of life, dear Lord, to me,
as once you broke the loaves beside the sea.
Beyond the sacred page I seek you, Lord;
my spirit waits for you, O living Word.

2 Bless your own word of truth, dear Lord, to me,
as when you blessed the bread by Galilee.
Then shall all bondage cease, all fetters fall;
and I shall find my peace, my All in all!

3 You are the bread of life, dear Lord, to me,
your holy word the truth that rescues me.
Give me to eat and live with you above;
teach me to love your truth, for you are love.

4 O send your Spirit now, dear Lord, to me,
that he may touch my eyes and make me see.
Show me the truth made plain within your Word,
for in your book revealed I see you, Lord.

Jesus: Name Above All Names — Advocate

Advocate:

1 John 2:1

The Greek word for advocate is paraclete. It appears only five times, and all five instances are in the writings of John.

In John 2:1 it is translated advocate

In John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7 it is translated Comforter.

What is Jesus’ advocacy?

The intercessory ministry is not a new activity on His part.

The high priestly prayer, embraces intercession for both His immediate disciples (John 17:9-19) and their converts (John 17:20 ff). This ministry is reinforced by His perfect sacrifice.

The Basis of His advocacy

His presence before the Father is advocacy enough by itself, for He is there as the propitiation for His people’s sins.

The atonement – not something man must do, but something God has provided in His grace to bring men into His presence with the assurance that they are accepted by Him, since Jesus has removed the barrier that kept them at a distance.

Eph 2: 13 – But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

The high priest would enter the holy of holies once a year to bring a sacrifice on behalf of the people. He was constantly moving. Tradition has it that there were bells in the hem of his robe that rang when he moved. If bells stopped jingling, the other priest would pull him out by a rope that was attached to his leg. They never entered in.

But Jesus when He entered the holy of holies. He sat down at the right hand of God. He intercedes for us.

Jesus is our Advocate!

Questions:

1.         In 1 John 2:1, paraclete is translated as advocate, how is it translated in the Gospel of John?

2.         Who is the advocate in 1 John 2:1?

3.         What is the basis of Jesus’ advocacy work?

4.         How is his advocacy work part of his intercessory work?

5.         How is Jesus being our advocate a comfort to you?

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for saving me through the shed blood of Jesus Christ I thank you that when I sin as a believer that Jesus is my advocate and pleads my case. I cannot come to you in my own righteousness, but in the righteousness of Jesus, my advocate. I am grateful that you forgive me and cleanse me because of His atoning work. Amen.

Hymn:

Arise My Soul Arise
by Charles Wesley

1 Arise, my soul, arise,
shake off your guilty fears;
the bleeding Sacrifice
in my behalf appears.
Before the throne my Surety stands,
before the throne my Surety stands;
my name is written on his hands,
my name is written on his hands.

2 He ever lives above,
for me to intercede,
his all-redeeming love,
his precious blood to plead.
His blood atoned for ev’ry race,
his blood atoned for ev’ry race,
and sprinkles now the throne of grace,
and sprinkles now the throne of grace.

3 Five bleeding wounds he bears,
received on Calvary;
they pour effectual prayers,
they strongly plead for me.
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“nor let that ransomed sinner die,
nor let that ransomed sinner die!”

4 My God is reconciled;
his pard’ning voice I hear.
He owns me for his child,
I can no longer fear.
with confidence I now draw nigh,
with confidence I now draw nigh,
and “Father, Abba, Father!” cry,
and “Father, Abba, Father!” cry.