JESUS - Rock of Ages

Jesus remains the same in all ages. He is the One who is constant when everything and everyone else fails. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever; the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He is our Rock [I SAMUEL 2:2].

In the Old Testament, in Exodus 33, Jesus is pictured as the Cleft Rock. In that chapter, verse 18 and following, Moses desired to see the glory of the Lord, but was told, "You cannot see My face; for there shall no man see My face and live.” And the Lord said, “There is a place by Me, and you shalt stand upon a rock: and it shall come to pass, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by."

Notice that as Moses stood upon the rock, the Lord hid him in the cleft. This wonderfully applies to us today! Believers are both standing on and hidden in Christ [COLOSSIANS 3:3]. We are both in and on the Rock.

As life with its many bitter events presses upon us, the Lord hides us in the cleft of the Rock. As the hymn writer said,

"I rest in Christ the Son of God,
Who took the servant's form:
By faith I flee to Jesus' cross,
My shelter from the storm.”

And, in our shelter, in the presence of Christ, bitterness is turned to sweetness and misery is covered by mercy.
When hidden in Christ, the terror of the storm begins to melt. In Christ Jesus, we enjoy a peace which passes all understanding (see Philippians 4:6-7).

In Christ, we are given the hidden riches of secret places (see Isaiah 45:3). Untold treasures are to be found in Him! Sometimes in a rock, there are veins of precious ore. So it is with the Rock of Ages. There are permanent riches in Him and untold stores of wealth in His Word. As we discover these veins of truth in Christ, the more amazing He becomes to us.

Life, Love and Liberty are found in Him.

The source of joy, spiritual food and salvation are found in Him.

All things we need for time and eternity are found in Him.

He is the Rock we need for both life and death for in and on the Rock, we have both safety and security.

We no longer, like Moses, have to ask for a special revelation of God. In the New Covenant, Yahweh has given us the manifestation of Himself in the Person of Christ. His character and magnificence are continuously displayed to us in the gospel.

The good news is that, as the Rock of Ages, Jesus the Christ, is our refuge from the storm. Were it not for Jesus, life and death would shred us to pieces. He is our divine protection.

It is a beautiful thing to know that Jesus is our cleft rock, the wounded rock. He is the Christ who was crucified. Consider Him, Christ wounded by His enemies. Christ, smitten by the law and justice of God. Christ, smitten by the Father. Christ, pierced with the nails and the spear!

Had He not been smitten, pierced, wounded, slain and crucified, there would have been no Cleft Rock in which to shelter. It is wonderful! It is gracious! It is past man's understanding!

“Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save me from its guilt and power.”

And that´s the Gospel Truth!

-Gospel report by preacher D. G. Miles McKee