This is the Lord's Doing!

Wicked men rejected Christ Jesus as the cornerstone, but God made Him the chief corner anyway. To all who believe in Him, He is their savior, their fortress, and their righteousness. To all who are disobedient, Christ as the cornerstone is their judge and destruction.

Jesus used this text to preach His crucifixion and resurrection, the fulfillment of the promised Gospel for His people.

But Jesus pointed out that this all is the Lord's doing, and His people heartily agree!

We often assume that when things happen, they are by chance, or because of our plans or the plans of others.

But the Gospel plan was not the design of any fallen man, for who plans great victory and salvation based upon apparent defeat?

Wicked men no doubt took credit for the rejection of Jesus. They demanded He be crucified, and they gloated at the foot of the cross.

His disciples objected strongly to the death of the Savior, but Jesus rebuked Peter for not delighting in the things that God delighted in.

When he died, they lamented that they had hoped He would redeem Israel.

In fact, the rejection of Christ was the Lord's doing, just as was His exaltation as chief cornerstone. It was the Lord's doing from beginning to end!

Men fought it, men grieved over it, men tried to prevent it at every turn, but it was the Lord's doing!

God's accomplishment in all this was not an example of Him rescuing His plan after a dangerous swerve, or recovering from a disastrous setback. Christ's death was no mishap - rather, the rejection of Christ and His sacrifice at Calvary were necessary for the Gospel purpose. They were the Lord's doing!

Jesus died deliberately to save poor sinners!