- Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
- Matthew 21:1-11
In the past several years, you may have heard someone say that she
or he was working on “a capstone project”. This is a project in which
students put what they have learned in class to practical use.
It might be a doctoral dissertation, a paper, a presentation, a portfolio,
or a hands-on project – such as building something or assembling a
team to work on a task. It could even be finding a new way to do
something.
The idea is to take what may be years of study and turn it into
something useful. Something that will make a difference in someone’s
life – or even the entire world’s life.
The word has its roots in architecture. The capstone was the wedge-
shaped stone that went into the top of an arch – ensuring that the
weight of the arch was evenly distributed. The opposing forces
combined to hold all the stones in place – often for hundreds, if not
thousands, of years.
So the stone for the capstone was very carefully selected. The whole
structure depended up its strength and durability. Even if it – that even
if Jesus – was rejected by the so-called experts.
Psalm 118 is the last of the so-called “Hallel” psalms. Those are seven
songs of praise to God that include the words “hallel” – Hebrew for
“praise” and “jah” – a shortened form of God’s Hebrew name for
Himself. They were given by God to the people of Israel so they could
sing His praises – and they were a must for singing during Passover.
A couple of weeks ago, Diane and I attended a memorial service for
the Rev. Dr. Jerry O’Neil. He was the president of the Reformed
Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh during the five years
I spent studying there in preparation for ordination. After graduation,
I spent five years on his advisory board. He was a dear friend and
brother in Christ.
The RPs don’t believe in using instruments in worship – and they don’t
sing hymns – just Psalms sung acapella. So we sang a number of
them at his service. The sound of all those voices singing in four-part
harmony – with no accompaniment – was stunning.
I can only imagine what it would have sounded like for the people of
Israel to sing the Psalms in Hebrew – to hear only their voices. And it
is not a stretch to suggest that Jesus sang Psalms – and this one in
particular – as He and the disciples were finishing their Passover
celebration and preparing to go out to the Mount of Olives:
“I will not die, but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
The Lord has chastened me severely, but has not given me over
to death.” “Hallelujah!” “Praise God.”
The unidentified author of this psalm wanted to praise God for God’s
love and protection – however, because God was inspiring these
words – the author was able to put words into the mouth of Jesus long
before He was born in Bethlehem. Long before He would become “the
stone that the builders rejected,” “which has become the capstone.”
What Jesus did by entering into Jerusalem – in time for the Passover –
and dying on the cross – made Him the Capstone of God’s Capstone
Project: nothing less than the salvation of all who would trust in Him
and His sacrifice for them.
All of the history of redemption from the fruit incident in the Garden of
Eden to the restoration of God’s perfect creation in eternity pivots on
what happened on Calvary and in the Garden Tomb.
The Crucifixion coupled with the Resurrection that followed were the
defining events in human history. Without Jesus’s death, we would all
be hopelessly stuck in sin – and without His resurrection, we would
also be hopelessly stuck in death.
Jesus knew how that would all play out – so He could sing Psalm 118
on that night in the upper room – shortly before His betrayal and arrest.
The disciples, however, probably didn’t understand that the Psalm they
were singing was going to be lived out over the next few days.
This Psalm is one of the Lectionary readings every year on Palm
Sunday – obviously because it speaks of “boughs in hand” and “joining
in the festal procession” – classic themes for Palm Sunday.
The people who lined the streets and waved palm branches or laid
them in the road ahead of Jesus may or may not have had this Psalm
in mind – but God certainly did.
God knew before the world was created that His Son would enter
Jerusalem – be betrayed – arrested – convicted in a bogus trial – and
condemned to die on a cross. The script was written before the world
was created: what we call Holy Week was already on the calendar
before Jesus was born. Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter
Sunday were already scheduled
Because God had written the script for redeeming humanity – long
before the final act of Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem. Psalm 118 is
God’s Capstone Project in poetic form.
“The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
“The Lord is with me; He is my helper. I will look in triumph on my
enemies.”
“The Lord is my strength and my song. He has become my salvation.”
“O Lord, save us. O Lord, grant us success.”
“Blessed in He who comes in the name of the Lord.”
“From the house of the Lord we bless you.”
“With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of
the altar.”
“You are my God, I will give You thanks.”
“You are my God, I will exalt You.”
But God’s Capstone Project was not finished – even when Jesus said
on the cross, “It is finished.” Jesus still had to rise from the dead and
ascend into Heaven to sit at His Father’s right hand – where He is
even now interceding for us – and is always prepared to come back to
Earth when His Father tells Him it’s time.
The Capstone of all history will be set in place the day that Jesus
comes back to judge the living and the dead – and to take those who
belong to Him to live with Him and worship Him forever. Sin and
death, sickness and suffering will be things of the past.
And God’s Capstone Project – which was planned in eternity past –
will be completed for all eternity.
Amen.