This Is the Day
I remember hearing Psalm 118:24 quoted often growing up, “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” It sometimes felt that it was the remedy for every bad day — the reason you had to smile on your worst days. Someone would say “Cheer up, this is the day the Lord made, we’re going to rejoice!” As you read through Scripture and see the context of the passage, we understand that there is so much more to this verse.
In the gospels, Jesus illustrates a difficult truth to the religious leaders in the form of a parable. The parable begins with a farmer with a vineyard tended by workers. The workers begin to believe they have the rights to the vineyard. The farmer sends his servants to gather the fruit of the vineyards, but the workers beat him and sent him back empty. This happens every time the farmer sends a servant. They mistreat, abuse, and wound them. When the husbandman sends his son, believing they will respect his son, they murder the son. They actually develop a plan, believing that if they kill the son, the vineyard will be theirs. It’s a simple, but tragic story.
Jesus points out to the religious leadership of His day that God sent prophets and the prophets were beaten and abused. Now, God has sent his Son and they desire to kill Him (Matthew 21:45-46). Then Jesus brings the parable to a pencil sharp point. He asks “Have you never read in the Scriptures…” Jesus knew they were familiar with the words of David. As he quotes the portion Psalm 118:22 “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.” Jesus clearly articulates to them that He is the stone that the builders set aside, but will become the Chief Cornerstone. The religious rulers have rejected The Stone and will kill Him, but the same Stone that they rejected, will be the Stone that everything is founded on. Everything would rest on the Chief Cornerstone, and they could do nothing to stop Him. (Luke 20:18)
As we walk through a difficult week in Jesus’ life, we can rejoice. We understand from Gethsemane to Golgotha that Christ will be abandoned and rejected, but we rejoice because the morning is coming when Christ will have the victory. Jesus will walk through some challenging days, but on the other side, we will hear Peter and John preach to the religious leaders, “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:10-12) This is the reason that we can be glad and rejoice today because our Savior will have the final word! (John 10:18)
The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:22-24
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
And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?
Luke 20:17
Today’s Bible Reading:
Psalm 110, Psalm 118:19-27, Matthew 21:23-46, Luke 20