This Is Marvelous in Our Eyes
by Terry Wane Benton
“This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes” (Mark 12:11 ESV). Watch closely what Jesus is saying and why. He is talking to the Jews who were rejecting Him and reminding them that they were fulfilling the scripture statement of Psalms 118:22 that said, “The stone which you builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.”
This verse was written to Israel (Psalms 118:2), and they are “you builders.” They were supposed to be building a foundation for a solid conviction of faith. But they would reject the chief cornerstone, toss Him aside, and despite their rejection of this stone, this rejected stone would still become the chief cornerstone for others. “This was the Lord’s doing”!
He used a stubborn and rebellious nation (Israel) to give the world more confidence in Jesus. Their rejection of Jesus was actually proof that He was the right foundation for our faith. “It is marvelous in our eyes” as to how God worked out His great blessings to come in Jesus despite the Jews’ rejection of Him.
Instead of Jewish rejection of Jesus being evidence against Him being the Messiah, it actually becomes proof that Jesus is the Messiah. It is marvelous in our eyes how God worked it out. Jesus became the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:19f) of the church of Christ, and His church has stood on this solid rock for nearly 2000 years. Isaiah also said the Jews would not see “the arm of the Lord” (Isaiah 53) involved but would think this Man was being “smitten by God and afflicted” and would fail to see the truth that this Man was actually being “wounded for our transgressions.” So, this man was God’s Servant to give us the remission of sins, justification before God. The rejected stone that the Jews had been building toward and then rejected was trying to provide a justification on which we could stand, and what an amazing foundation He provided!
The same rejected Servant of Isaiah 53 is the rejected stone of Psalms 118:22f. Isaiah said, “He was rejected” and “we (Jews) did not esteem Him,” and Psalm 118 says “you builders (the Jews) rejected” the stone. Isaiah 8 had talked about a “stone of stumbling,” meaning that people would be tripping over this person, which is true of Jesus. Some people could not reconcile that a man humiliated in crucifixion could be the king. They tripped over Jesus because their understanding was incomplete and misguided as to what they should have expected.
Isaiah also said, “tell this people (Israel): Keep on hearing but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive” (Isaiah 6:9)… “lest….they return and be healed” (Isaiah 6:10). Jesus quoted that verse to them to remind them that God told them things ahead of time regarding their rebellious and stubborn hearts amiss nd how it would cause them to miss out on the messianic blessings that can get us back to Paradise. It is marvelous that Psalms 118 had spoken of the rejection they would give “the stone” that others would regard as the chief cornerstone of their faith. Also, Peter quoted this Psalm back to the Jewish leaders in Acts 4:11-12, and then later explains the “marvelous” light that Psalms 118:23,27 spoke about, calling it “marvelous light” in I Peter 2:9. In chapter 2 of I Peter he quotes Isaiah 28:16 and Psalms 118 to pull together the prophecies that Jesus was the chief cornerstone that those who believe “will by no means be put to shame”. They stand on rock-solid ground for their conviction. The prophecies were clearly talking about Jesus and no one else, and the fulfillment was “marvelous in our eyes”.
The unbelievers cannot explain it away or retrofit failed prophecy either onto the prophecies or onto the believers who rejoiced in Jesus’ marvelous light. Those who saw this marvelous light would never be put to shame. The chief cornerstone of Christianity has been a sure foundation for 2000 years, and there is no sign that the modern critics will succeed any better in making us ashamed of Jesus, our foundation, our rock, our “marvelous light.” You can “stumble” over this rock or stand on it, but in the end, the shame will go to the unbeliever.
I hope you see the “marvelous light” found in knowing Jesus, the key to knowing God.
