So what is a “rock of offense?” With this talk of stumbling, our English ears lose a bit of seriousness. We think of the last time we stubbed our toes in the dark or tripped over a crack in the sidewalk.
But Saint Paul’s original word for this offense is skandalon. This kind of scandal has nothing to do with tripping or stubbing your toe. In fact, this scandal has a deeper meaning than “who is kissing whom on Desperate Housewives!” A skandalon was the triggering mechanism on a death trap. So this kind of scandal does more than cause one to stumble; it is fatal!
The fact that the Father in heaven sent Jesus to be the one and only Source of salvation is scandalous to the rest of the world. Those outside of the Church have a terrible time with this “scandal of particularity;” it is completely against our worldly culture to be so “intolerant” and “unyielding.”
Just watch an episode of Oprah, and you’ll notice the prevailing thought in our country. “Jesus is fine for you,” they may say, “He can be your way to heaven. But I can choose another way.”
Faithful Lutherans often are ridiculed for holding firm to Christ as the exclusive Way to eternal life with God. We are pressured to forget that Jesus says: “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (St. John 14:6 ESV) We are even called anti-semitic if we insist that non-Christian Jews are lost, since those who deny Christ deny the Father who sent Him.
We join Jesus in weeping for the children of Israel who have stumbled on the “rock of offense” and rejected Him. We pray for their conversion to the Way, that they may see the Truth and receive Life in Him! God be praised that He has kept us from being scandalized and gathered us to Himself!
I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. Philippians 4:11b
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