The Rock of Offense

1 Peter 2:4-8

Jesus is so much more than that little baby in the manger. He is so much more than the sacrificial Lamb. (Revelation 19:11-16 and Colossians 1:15-17)

People who do not believe find it offensive when we say that there is only one way to heaven (John 14:6). They become angry when confronted with the truth of their sin. When the light of Truth shines into someone's life, and their mask is torn away, they come unhinged. At the mere mention of Jesus' name, nice, smiling people form a scowl on their faces. They show their true colors for just a moment. They stumble. (Isaiah 8:12-15)

I read in 1 Peter 2:7-8 that for those who do not believe, Jesus has become a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. I had to ponder this for a while. As I rolled it around in my little head, a thought began to take shape.

We (I say we because all of us are in the same boat (Romans 5:8, Ephesians 2:1-9)) generally don't like to hear the truth about ourselves. It is that pride that so easily ensnares us. Pride is the sin that will sneak up on us. When you think you have done so well in resisting temptation and treating everyone as you would have them treat you, it is then that pride will try to enter your mind and produce sin (Genesis 4:7). It was pride that got Satan booted out of heaven (Isaiah 14:12-14).

Truth knocks at the door, Truth begins seeping in through all the cracks, shedding light on everything that is dirty. Truth holds out hope. Truth offers to clean up that which is dirty, to make it new, to restore everything. Pride wakes up and hears the knocking. "I can deal with it myself, thank you very much!"

Truth offends people because there is nothing you can hide that Truth can't find. Offended people become angry. Anger takes away focus, reason and balance. Without those three, a stumble is inevitable.

Jesus is Truth. The world offers a lie that sounds better than Truth. The world offers multiple ways around The Way and says that there is no Truth. So some exchange Truth for the beautiful lie (Romans 1:25).

But there is still the pesky Truth. Every time they try to step over it or go around it, they always manage to catch their toe on it...the Stone of Stumbling.

God is AWESOME!