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Sermon #16 Zechariah Series
Title: The Stone Laid Text: Zechariah 3:8-10 Subject: Christ the Stone Date: Sunday Morning — October 16, 2005 Reading: Isaiah 28:5-23, 29 and 1 Corinthians 3:5-15 Tape # Zechariah #16 Introduction:
At the end of his Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 7:24-27, our Lord Jesus draws a clear distinction between true and false faith.
“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”
Christ is the Rock upon which we must be built. He is the precious Corner Stone the Lord God has laid in Zion. Those who believe on him shall never perish, but have everlasting life. Those who build on the sand of their own works shall be buried in the everlasting ruins of their own confusion in hell.
Faith in Christ is compared to the building of a house of refuge (v. 24). Sooner or later, our house will be tested by earthly trials, spiritual trials, rains of trouble, floods of sorrow, and winds of adversity (v. 25). If your house is built on Christ the Rock, it will endure the trial and stand the tests of time. If your house is built on the sand, anything other than Christ, sooner or later the rains and floods and winds will bring it crumbling down around you.
Zechariah’s Vision
This is what Zechariah saw and spoke of in Zechariah 3:9-10. The title of my message is “The Stone Laid.” I want to show you from the Scriptures that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only Rock of Refuge and Foundation Stone for our souls.
Proposition: Everything built upon the sand will crumble. Only that which is built upon Christ, the Stone that God has laid, will stand. — Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Foundation, and God’s elect are the building reared upon that Foundation.
Turn with me to Zechariah 3:9-10. Let’s see what the Lord God showed Zechariah about the Stone God has laid.
(Zechariah 3:9-10) “For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. (10) In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.”
The Stone Laid
“For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua.” — There is no question that this Stone is Christ our Savior, the Foundation Stone of God’s church and temple, the Stone upon which we must be built, and upon which we must build. — “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:11).
(Psalms 118:22) “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.”
(Isaiah 8:14) “And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.”
(Isaiah 28:16) “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.”
(1 Peter 2:5-10) “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (6) Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. (7) Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, (8) And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. (9) But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (10) Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”
The crucified Christ is to many a Stone of stumbling and Rock of offence. But to you who believe, “he is precious,” more precious than the mountains of gold. In his person, work and offices, in his character and relations, in his complete righteousness and salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ is our Blessed Hope and everlasting Portion. May God give us grace that we may never build on the sands of our own works, or anything of our own, that we may never mix Christ’s complete work the wood, hay and stubble of legal righteousness.
Christ, “the Stone of Israel” (Gen. 49:24), whom the builders refused, is the Foundation and Cornerstone of God’s spiritual temple, the church, which is “God’s building” (1 Cor. 3:9). He is the Foundation Stone typified in the foundation laid before Joshua (Ezra 3:9-10), the Foundation upon which he was to look and build.
(Ezra 3:9-10) “Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites. (10) And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.”
1. Christ is the Foundation laid by God (Isa. 28:16).
(Isaiah 28:16) “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.”
The Foundation was laid in God’s eternal purpose of grace. Christ is the Foundation laid in Holy Scripture. And Christ is the Foundation laid before us and in us by the Gospel, by the effectual power and grace of God the Holy Spirit, the Foundation upon which we build. The Lord God says, “I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people” (Ps. 89:19). He lays that Foundation before us by his Spirit, builds us upon that Foundation, and causes us to build upon it.
2. Christ is low Foundation (Phil. 2:8).
The lower the foundation, the stronger and surer the building. And Christ, the Foundation upon which we are built was laid low, that he might be a sure Foundation for our souls.
(Philippians 2:5-8) “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
The Son of God was laid low in our nature (John 1:14), that we might be lifted high in his nature (Gal. 4:4-5).
(John 1:14) “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
(Galatians 4:4-5) “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, (5) To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”
He stooped to become Jehovah’s Servant, to be made under the law, to be obedient to the whole law, the moral law and the ceremonial law. He was presented in the temple as a firstborn son devoted to the Lord, circumcised as a child of Abraham, redeemed and ransomed with a pair of turtledoves in anticipation of that day when he would be made sin for us. He was obedient to God’s holy law and perfect will all the days of his life, as the man of perfect righteousness.
Then, the Lord of Glory stooped to die the death of the cross for us, the painful, shameful, ignominious death of the cross! Why? Because he loved us! Because there could be no atonement for sin without the shedding of his blood upon the cursed tree as the sinner’s Substitute! — Until the Foundation was laid, the building could not be erected.
3. Truly, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Foundation Stone, the Chief Cornerstone, is precious!
(1 Peter 2:6-7) “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. (7) Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner.”
· He is precious to God because he is his elect, chosen of God and precious! · He is precious to us because we trust him; and trusting him we are safe and secure, and cannot be confounded. · He is precious because he is the Rock of Ages in whom we hide. The Rock of Ages is from everlasting to everlasting. He is the same yesterday, and today, and forever! — His righteousness is everlasting righteousness! — His redemption is everlasting redemption! — His salvation is everlasting salvation! — His promises are everlasting promises! — And all are yea and amen in him! · Christ the Foundation laid before God’s Joshuas is a precious Foundation Stone because he is a mighty, proven Foundation for our souls! — He is able to carry the weight of his building! — The load of all our sins! — The weight of God’s furious wrath! — The weight of all our cares!
4. The Lord God says, “Behold, the Foundation that I have laid!”
He calls our attention to his great work and his great Foundation, Christ Jesus, saying, “Behold, the Foundation that I have laid!”
(Isaiah 28:16) “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.”
(Isaiah 45:22) “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”
Build on this Foundation. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. He is laid for that purpose, that we might build on him. Behold him! Behold him! To behold him is to…
They are all but sand. If you build upon the sand, your building will fall. — “Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. Every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it” (Matt. 7:24-27).
Trust Him wholly, trust Him wholly! Let not other hope intrude. — None but Jesus none but Jesus Can do helpless sinners good.
In all our perils, troubles, trials, and dangers, let us fly to him, trusting him, relying upon him.
(Psalms 46:1) “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
(Psalms 62:1-2) “Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. (2) He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.”
(Proverbs 18:10) “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”
Seven Eyes
Back in Zechariah 3:9. — “For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes.” Perhaps these seven eyes refer to Christ himself, speaking of his all-seeing omniscience, to whom we come “as unto a living Stone” (1 Pet. 2:4). We see a similar passage in Revelation 5:6.
(Revelation 5:6) “And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.”
He who has seven horns of perfect power to protect us has seven eyes of perfect wisdom and knowledge, by which he watches over us. Christ our Savior is a Stone with seven eyes, representing… · The perfection of his sight as our God and Savior. · His special watchfulness, oversight of, and constant care for his people. — From Eternity. — Through All Ages Of Time. — Before Conversion. — After Conversion. — In All Our Trials. · And the perfection and fulness of grace in him as our Mediator.
Perhaps the seven eyes upon the Stone laid before Joshua refer to the fact that all eyes are upon him. · The eyes of God the Father, “who first trusted in Christ,” are upon him from everlasting as our Surety, looking to him to make satisfaction for us. · The eyes of the triune God are upon him, looking upon him (and us in him) with pleasure, delight, satisfaction, approval and acceptance. · The eyes of God the Holy Spirit are on him, to take the things of Christ and show them to us by his grace. · The eyes of all the holy angels are upon him, as they bow before his throne. · The eyes of all the saints are upon him, looking to him, to his blood and righteousness, for peace, pardon, righteousness, life, and salvation. · And in the last day “every eye shall see him.” · But we shall see him as he his, face to face, beholding his glory forever. · And when we see him as he is, we shall be like him!
(1 John 3:1-3) “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (2) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (3) And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”
The Engraving
Next, the Lord God speaks of an engraving he would make upon the Stone. — “Behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts.”
The names of God’s elect were written by him in the Book of the Lamb before the world began. We were put into his hands as our Surety and Shepherd. — “Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me” (Isa. 49:16). And our names are engraved upon his heart, as the names of Israel were engraved upon Aaron’s breastplate. · His heart beats with love for us. · In all things, he represents us. · Everything he does is for us.
Union with Christ
When I think of Christ the Stone, of our being built upon him, and of our names being engraved upon him, I cannot help thinking that this picture is surely intended to again show us that Christ and his people are one, just as the Foundation and the building is one, and just as the Stone and that which is engraved upon it is one. We are one with our Savior.
(1 Corinthians 6:17) “But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.”
(Hebrews 2:11) “For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren.”
Iniquity Removed
Yet, the words “Behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts,” should be read in connection with the next part of the sentence, indicating that these are the words engraved upon the Stone. — “And I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.” In a word, when our Lord Jesus Christ came into this world, he had this commission engraved upon his heart (Heb. 10:1-10).
That is the emphasis of this paragraph. Christ as our Great High Priest, Jehovah’s Servant, the Branch, and Stone will fulfill his mission. He will perfectly perform his work, removing the sin of Immanuel’s land (Isa. 8:8) in one day. And that which Zechariah saw and wrote of him he has done!
The Book of Hebrews is the Holy Spirit’s inspired commentary that explains this to us. It shows that Christ fulfilled the picture prophecy before us in Zechariah 3.
(Hebrews 7:24-27) “But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. (25) Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (26) For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; (27) Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.”
(Hebrews 1:1-3) “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, (2) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (3) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.”
(Hebrews 9:12) "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us."
(Hebrews 9:22-27) “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (23) It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. (24) For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: (25) Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; (26) For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (27) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”
(Hebrews 10:9-22) “Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. (10) By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (11) And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: (12) But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; (13) From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. (14) For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (15) Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, (16) This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; (17) And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (18) Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. (19) Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (20) By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (21) And having an high priest over the house of God; (22) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”
The Lord God laid upon this Stone all the sins of his elect. And Christ, bearing our sins in his own body on the tree, suffered all the wrath of God for us, to the full satisfaction of divine justice, dying the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. And when his work was finished, he had put away our sins by the sacrifice of himself. God removed them from him and from us by his precious blood “in one day!”
(Hebrews 4:16) “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Blessed Rest
Now, looking upon the Stone God has laid before us, seeing that our sins have been completely and forever removed by his one great work of atonement, we sit down under our vine and fig tree and rest.
(Zechariah 3:10) “In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.”
(Matthew 11:28-30) “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
(Romans 8:1) “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
(Romans 8:33-39) “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. (34) Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. (35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (36) As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. (37) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. (38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
When iniquity is taken away…
· We reap the blessed peace of complete justification, standing before God in all the blessedness of grace in Christ, having received the atonement he accomplished for us (Rom. 5:1-11).
(Romans 5:1-11) “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (3) And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; (4) And patience, experience; and experience, hope: (5) And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (6) For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (7) For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. (8) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (9) Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (10) For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (11) And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”
· We enjoy blessed tranquility, being free from the fear of evil. — What can terrify us if iniquity is taken away? — What can harm us, when iniquity is taken away? — When we sit down under Christ’s shadow we are sheltered from the scorching heat of the law. — We now live under the dominion of the Prince of Peace, and our great Solomon gives us peace that passes understanding (1 Kings 4:24-25).
· And finding rest in Christ, we call you, our neighbors, to come to Christ and rest with us under our Vine and under our Fig Tree. Christ, the true Vine, is our Vine. He is a vine loaded with precious fruit. He is our Fig Tree. We sit under his shadow with delight, and his fruit is sweet to our souls. Here we have sweet communion and fellowship with our God. And here we have sweet communion and fellowship with one another. Come, sit down under this Vine and this Fig Tree, build upon this Stone, and find rest for your soul.
Illustration: The Boy Selling Grit in Chicago “Would you like to be my Son?”
(Micah 4:4) “But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.”
(Micah 7:18-20) “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. (19) He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. (20) Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.”
Amen.
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