Welcome and thank you for taking a bible break to test your knowledge of God's word.
This week's question:

When Jesus was crucified, beginning at the nine o'clock hour (Mark 15:25), the Jewish rulers sneered at Him and said, "He saved others; let His save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One." , and others hurled abuse at Him, "'Ha, You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself , and come down from the cross! In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribe were mocking Him among themselves and saying 'He saved others; He cannot save Himself. Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross so that we may see and believe!'" (Mark 15: 29-32)". Darkness fell over the land from noon until three O'clock (Mark 15:33). When Jesus breathed His last and He said, "It is finished!" (John 19:30), then the earth shook and rocks split and the veil of the temple was torn in two. Tombs were opened as the bodies of the saints were raised and walked into the city of Jerusalem. When the centurion who stood guard saw these events he became frightened and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!" (Matthew 27:50-54). The people went away beating their breasts (Luke 23:48)! Then Joseph of Arimathea, although a prominent member of the council, did not consent to their plan (Mark 15:43 & Luke 23:51). He gathered courage and asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. As it was granted, both he and Nicodemus, both secret disciples of Jesus (until now), prepared Jesus for burial and laid Him in Joseph's own tomb. The tomb was hewned out of rock where no one had laid and rolled a large stone against the entrance (John 19:38-42 & Matthew 27:57-60). The next day, the chief priests and Pharisees came before Pilate and said, "Sir, we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I am to rise again.' Therefore give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day, lest the disciples come and steal Him away and say to the people, 'He has risen from the dead,' and the last deception will be worst than the first." (Matthew 27:62-66). Then Pilate granted guards and they secured the stone with a seal.

That brings us to our question, "Which stone did the builder reject?". On the first day of the week following Jesus' crucifixion, Mary Magdalene and another Mary come to the tomb with spices and perfumes. A great earthquake occurred because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and had rolled away the stone. While the guards became as dead men, and the angel told the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead; and behold, He is going before you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you." (Matthew 28:5-7). And so they did, and after seeing Him, they worshipped Him and He told them "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20).

Jesus had told the chief priests and the elders who confronted Him of a parable of a owner of a vineyard that had hired vine-growers. When the harvest was due, he sent his slaves, three different times, to get his portion of the harvest. They were sent away after being beaten with nothing. Then he sent his own son thinking they would respect him, but they killed him, thinking the inheritance would then be theirs. So then the vineyard owner destroys the vine-growers and gives the vineyard to others. They said to Jesus, "'May it never be! ' But He looked at them and said, 'What then is this that is written, 'The stone which the builders rejected, this became the chief corner stone'? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.' And the scribes and the chief priests tried to lay hands on Him that very hour, and they feared the people; for they understood that He spoke this parable against them. And they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, in order that they might catch Him in some statement, so as to deliver Him up to the rule and authority of the governor " (Luke 20:16-20) .

So then, for the answer to our question we turn and read, "Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in scripture: 'Behold I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, And he who believes in Him shall not be disappointed.' This precious value, then, is for you who believe. But for those who disbelieve, 'The stone which the builders rejected, this became the very corner stone,' and, 'A stone of stumbling and a Rock of offense'; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed." (1 Peter 2:1-8). So there we have the answer to our question as the stone which the builders rejected was Jesus Christ!

May we not let the pure milk of the word become a stone of stumbling for us along this pathway of life to that city set upon the hill for life eternal. Let us become, or continue to be, "But you are a chosen race, royal priesthood, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9).