JESUS: THE ROCK

Years ago, we used to sing a chorus that began, "Jesus is the Rock of my salvation; His banner over me is love." I not only have not heard it in years, I could not find it on Google. But with a professional wrestler/actor known as "the Rock," a Muslim Mosque known as the "Dome of the Rock," and music which is hardly suitable for church, is it any wonder that Christians hesitate calling Jesus the "Rock?" And yet, the Bible makes several references to the Son of God being identified as such.

In his letter to the church at Corinth, the Apostle Paul reveals a strange fact about Jesus. He says that the Rock which followed Israel throughout the wilderness, the source of water for both man and beast (Num. 20:8), was actually Jesus. He wrote, "And did all drink the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them; and that Rock was Christ" (1 Cor. 10:4). John's Gospel speaks of Jesus being the source of "living water" (Jn. 4:13-14).

Moses told Israel that the name of the LORD (YHVH) was "the Rock," when he wrote, "Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are judgment; a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He" (Deut. 32:3-4). When the Word speaks of the Rock in this manner, it always has to do with man's accountability to his Creator.

When Jesus came to Israel, who expected their Messiah to come as their Mighty King, they rejected Him. Hence, He is called "a stone of stumbling," and a "rock of offence" (Isa. 8:14; Rom. 9:33; 1 Pet. 2:8). To the Church, Jesus is the "Chief Corner Stone" (Isa. 28:16; Eph. 2:20; 1 Pet. 2:6). He is the "Foundation Stone" (Isa. 28:16; 1 Cor. 3:11-12; Eph. 2:20).

To the lost who reject Him, to those who prefer to belong to the empires of men, He will be the Stone Who will destroy them. Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dream which foretold the great empires that would rule the world, and said the Stone cut out without hands would destroy them all (Dan. 2:34-35, 44-45).

Yes, Jesus is the "Rock of my salvation," and He is also the inspiration for another song. Those of you who understand the dispensational approach to Bible interpretation understand that each dispensation is called an "age." The Creator of the Universe, Jesus Christ (Jn. 1:1-3; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:1-2), has been saving all who would put their trust in Him in every age; Jesus is truly the "Rock of Ages!"