STUMBLING STONE

“Now to you who believe, this stone is precious, 

But to those who do not believe,

‘The stone the builders rejected 

has become the capstone,’ and,

‘A stone that causes men to stumble 

and a rock that makes them fall.’

They stumble because they disobey the message – 

which is also what they were destined for.”

1 Peter 2:7-8 (NIV)

timē⁵⁰⁹² – a value, i.e. money paid, or (concr. and collect.) valuables; by anal. esteem (espec. of the highest degree), or the dignity itself: - honour, precious, price, some.

lŏgŏs³⁰⁵⁶ – something said (including the thought): by impl. a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extens. a computation; spec. (with the art. in John) the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ): - account, cause, communication, concerning, doctrine, fame, have to do, intent, matter, mouth, preaching, question, reason, reckon, remove, say (-ing), shew, speaker, speech, talk, think, tidings, treatise utterance, word, work.

            The word translated message here and as word in other versions implies far more than an ordinary utterance. People stumble over the idea of a suffering Son of God, but the Lord makes it clear that Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior. The gospel message presents Jesus as the key to a relationship with almighty God. He is the Word incarnate. Honor him as most precious.

           

Father, thank you for the Word made flesh. Thank you for sending Jesus to walk on earth and die on the cross that I may call you Father as well as Lord.