Stumbling block

The Authenticity of Christ

Have you ever been walking and all of a sudden you hit something with your foot and off you went step after step, tumbling down to the floor? With a stumbling block anyone how comes across with it will stumble. It is the same in the spiritual concept, if we do not watch our steps we can stumble and fall. But, do we really have to watch our steps if we are in Christ? Aren’t everyone who believes in Jesus Christ a Christian and in the correct path? It seems not, because in a parable Jesus speaks about certain individuals who came to the Lord mentioning all the things they did in his name, and yet he did not know them (Mt7:21-23). He also spoke of certain people who honor him with their lips but their hearts are from Christ (Mt15:8). So, this thing about saying something that you are not becomes a stumbling block by which others will stumble.

Matthew 11:4-6

⁴ Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: ⁵ The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy^a] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. ⁶ Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

John’s disciples were sent to confirm the authenticity of Christ, and when they came to Jesus they witnessed first hand; the dead rising, the sick healed, the lame walking and the gospel being preached to the poor. They witnessed the word of God being confirmed of which the Prophet Isaiah spoke about in Isaiah 42:7. Jesus’ life authenticity is also certified by two well known Pharisee Joseph from Arimathea and Nicodemus. Joseph was an undercover follower of Christ whom after he died requested from Pilate the body of the Lord, and buried him in his own personal tomb (Jh19:40-42). Because of these two social status’ and position, Christ’s authenticity is certify. Finally, Christ’s authenticity is affirmed by 500 people whom witnessed him sharing and performing miracles for forty days after his death (Acts1:3). 

So, after John’s disciples witnessed first hand Christ’s authenticity, Jesus warns them of the possibility for finding a stumbling block on his account. Is is possible to find a stumbling block in Christ? Not in Christ himself, but because he lives in us, it is very possible. People are looking at our faith attributes to find flaws and have a reason to stumble. Each time we do not measure up to the expectation people see as a stumbling block. In the law of Moses it reads that we should not put a stumbling block before a blind or deaf person lest he stumble (Lev19:14). When we do the things that stumble from believing we become a stumbling block and we can suffer spiritual loses. The scriptures say that it is better to tie a rope with a rock around our necks and cast it to the see then to become a stumbling block (Mt18:6).