Palm Sunday | “The Rejected Stone Becomes the Cornerstone”

Psalm 118:22-27 —

22 The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
23 This is the LORD’s doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

25 Save us, we pray, O LORD!
O LORD, we pray, give us success!

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!
We bless you from the house of the LORD.

27 The LORD is God,
and he has made his light to shine upon us.
Bind the festal sacrifice with cords,
up to the horns of the altar!

The Original Context

Psalm 118 was likely sung during one of Israel’s major festivals, like Passover. It was a song of thanksgiving – a declaration of God’s steadfast love and salvation. The image of the “stone that the builders rejected” (v. 22) captured Israel’s story: once overlooked and often oppressed, now lifted up by the Lord to a place of prominence and purpose. God had done something unexpected and wonderful, and the people were called to rejoice. 

In its immediate context, this passage may have celebrated a king’s return to the temple after a victory, or perhaps commemorated God’s steadfast love and deliverance of His people. Verses 25-27 echo the cries of those longing for salvation, welcoming the one who comes in God’s name and leading the sacrifice to the altar in thanksgiving.

Fulfillment in Jesus

Centuries later, as Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, the people cried out these very words:

“Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

(Matthew 21:9, John 12:13)

Their cry of “Hosanna!” literally means “Save us now!” and is the Hebrew word from the beginning of v. 25. They waved palm branches and welcomed Jesus as the promised King. Yet they did not realize the kind of salvation He had come to bring – not military or political victory, but a deeper, eternal rescue.

Jesus is the true and better cornerstone – the One whom the religious “builders” rejected but God exalted (Matthew 21:42, Acts 4:11). He is the foundation of a new and everlasting temple, not made with hands but built through His body, the church (Ephesians 2:19-22). And he did not merely lead the sacrifice to the altar – He Himself was the festal sacrifice. He was not led in by a priest but rode into Jerusalem willingly. He did not have to be bound with cords because He “humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8).

The light of God’s salvation has Indeed shone on us through Jesus. And it is beautiful and marvelous to behold.

Hope for Today

Palm Sunday is a call to see the faithfulness of God in action. What He promised, He fulfilled. The long-awaited King came. The cornerstone was set. The sacrifice was made.

And because “He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23), we too can hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering. Even when we feel rejected, overlooked, or uncertain, we can trust that God is building something good and glorious, even when we cannot fully see it yet.

So today, don’t glance at this moment in Jesus’s story – step into it. Cry out to Him with “Hosanna!” knowing full well that He has saved and will save, knowing that He will meet you in your time of need. Lift your voice in praise and cry out “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” knowing that He was promised to come and that He did – and that He will again! And let your heart rest in the Savior who was once rejected but now reigns forevermore!

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Published by justkeithharris

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  1. Pingback: He Who Promised is Faithful — Devotions for Holy Week – Just Keith Harris

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