Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you ever read this in the Scriptures? “ ‘The stone the builders wouldn’t accept has become the most important stone of all. The Lord has done this, and it’s wonderful in our eyes.’
And, “It’s a stone that causes people to trip, a rock that makes them fall.” People who don’t obey the message trip and fall, just the way God planned it.
Even though you’ve never seen Jesus, you love him. Though you don’t see him now, you believe in him and you’re filled with a glorious joy that can’t be put into words.
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived, and controlled by all kinds of wrong desires and pleasures. We were hostile and envious. Other people hated us, and we hated them.
To those who are being lost, we are the aroma of death. But to those who are being saved, we are the aroma of life. Who is able to do this kind of work?
Pray that I’ll be kept safe from those in Judea who do not believe. And pray that the offering I’m taking to Jerusalem will be well received by the Lord’s people there.
They told the woman, “At first we believed because of what you said. But now we’ve heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”
Jesus looked right at them and said, “Then what’s the meaning of what has been written: “ ‘The stone that the builders didn’t accept has become the most important stone of all’?
Then Simeon blessed them. He said to Mary, Jesus’ mother, “God has sent this child to cause many people in Israel to fall and to rise. Many will speak against him,