Lessons to leaders from Jesus, 3.

We are reading 3 parables from Jesus where he reveals to the Jewish leaders how they have failed.

If there is one leadership seminar that every leader should attend then it is to be found in these 3 stories.

At the end of the second parable (the Tenants) Jesus says this, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvellous in our eyes’? “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.” When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.” (Matthew 21 v 42-46)

40 years after the parable was taught, the Romans entered the city, flattened it and then led the religious leaders bound in chains into foreign nations. They came under God’s judgment. The stone had fallen on them just as Jesus had said.

But right now, at this moment, they still have an opportunity to respond, it is not too late. They can choose Jesus. But they won’t and he knows it. At the end of the parable when the son is rejected Jesus basically says this: ‘I may be rejected now but I will be seen as the Messiah very shortly.’

It is far better to make Jesus the cornerstone of your life. There is a key place in all our lives. Some say the capstone, the place above the door. Some say the cornerstone, the first stone in a building. Whatever it is, it is of huge importance.

What Jesus says poses such a challenging question to our churches and the people within them! Is Jesus occupying the place of huge importance? Is he in the decision making part? If he is not Lord then you may stumble over him and worst still you may be crushed by Him. Churches have closed because they rejected the Living Stone.

Lesson 3: You are not the CEO.