Rock of Offense

Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense…..”

1 Peter 2:7-8*

These verses point out obvious contrasts: Believers/Unbelievers; Precious stone/Stumbling block. The first is two distinct groups of people; the second is two aspects of the same rock.

Everyone at some point in their lives must focus on Christ. Their perception of who He is will determine their reaction to the same. If discovering the Savior is like finding a many carated, flawless diamond in a field, the response will be one of joy, excitement, and fulfillment. However, if someone trips over that same piece of geology multiple times, it becomes a rock of offense that produces resentment, frustration, and anger.

Jesus gets in people’s ways. He makes them feel uncomfortable or inadequate so they want Him to just go away. When He doesn't (because He is everywhere) they try to run away. They go further from the light, and the further down the tube they fall, the deeper they go into the slime of sin. But that doesn't work either, because the Lord still reaches out with His nail pierced hands to the sinner to pull him out.

At this point, one of two things happen: 1. Faith takes hold of the Savior’s hand and everything changes, or 2. Nothing changes except for intensity. Frustration and anger builds along with an acute sense of being offended.

Few, if any, are truly indifferent about the Savior if they really have known Him. To those whose lives He has transformed, He is precious. To those who have rejected Him, He makes them mad and offended. He is their “Rock of Offense.”

*See also Isaiah 8:14 and Romans 9:33