Connect Luke 22:67 with Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah's rejection. Setting the Scene “You are the Christ—tell us.” The temple leaders press Jesus in Luke 22:67, and He calmly replies, “If I tell you, you will not believe.” Their skepticism is not new; it was foretold centuries earlier. Old Testament Echoes of Rejection “Who has believed our message? … He was despised and rejected by men … we esteemed Him not.” – Luke 22:67 fulfills Isaiah’s forecast that even clear revelation would meet unbelief. “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” – The “builders” (religious leaders) question Jesus’ identity, unknowingly fulfilling this verse. “I am scorned by men … ‘He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD deliver him.’” – The mockery in Luke’s trial and later at the cross mirrors this psalm of rejected kingship. “I gave My back to those who strike Me … I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.” – The physical and verbal abuse that begins with this interrogation continues in exact detail. “They will look on Me, the One they have pierced, and they will mourn for Him.” – Present unbelief (Luke 22:67) is temporary; the prophecy promises future recognition after rejection. “I have become a stranger to my brothers … zeal for Your house consumes me.” – Jesus’ cleansing of the temple and the leaders’ subsequent hostility fit David’s lament. Why the Rejection Was Necessary • Prophecies prove divine authorship—only God can announce history in advance. • Messiah’s suffering secures atonement (Isaiah 53:5-6) before His ultimate reign (Isaiah 9:6-7). • Human unbelief highlights God’s grace: salvation comes through the very One rejected (Acts 4:11-12). Tracing the Thread into the New Testament • John 1:11—“He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” • Acts 3:14-15—Peter confronts the same leaders: “You rejected the Holy and Righteous One.” • 1 Peter 2:4-7—Believers now honor the “Living Stone” refused by men. Living It Out When the world dismisses Christ or questions His authority, remember that rejection was foreseen and woven into God’s redemptive plan. Stand firm, trust the Scriptures, and rejoice: the Cornerstone once rejected is now the foundation of our faith. |
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