Finding the Cornerstone: Peter’s Testimony
“Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel and has rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting [to do to me]” (Ac 12:11)
Simon Peter is a man of a long history with Jesus Christ. As early as their first meetings around the Sea of Galilee, Simon found in Jesus a firm business ‘cornerstone’ when they had a miraculous catch of fish during daylight! He would later confess (when others were defecting due to Jesus’ hard teachings): “to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Peter was among the early witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection; those who saw the Lord Jesus Christ alive spoke to others with a renewed hope and excitement that would not die down in ages. Jesus appeared to his disciples at various occasions, and these appearances gave rise to reviving testimonies to a crest-fallen generation at the time when they needed salvation most. Paul summarizes these appearances in part (1Co 15:5-8):
‘and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time… Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.’
Simon Peter spoke boldly from the day of Pentecost and kept on preaching and teaching both Jews and Gentiles. In Acts 12 we find a record of his miraculous deliverance from a high-security prison: “the Lord has sent His angel and has rescued me from the hand of Herod…” In his first letter Peter later exalts Jesus Christ as the living Stone, the precious stone in Zion chosen and laid by God, the chief Cornerstone. It has a dual effect depending on how one responds to this revelation: to those who do not believe and reject Jesus Christ, the Stone causes them to stumble and fall; but those who believe and trust in Him will never be put to shame – they become living stones and together form a spiritual House founded on Christ, and God dwells in them – what a fellowship, what a joy divine!
A cornerstone is like an anchor for a ship – without it the ship will wander and get lost in the storm. A cornerstone is like the handle that one holds and is saved from a disastrous fall. A cornerstone is like a foundation of a house that will hold it intact in a violent earthquake. Simon Peter found in Jesus a cornerstone for business, for faith, for sure deliverance, and for life eternal. His testimony draws us to investigate if any better cornerstone could be found, and the answer is ‘No’. Jesus indeed is the Cornerstone upon whom we should build our lives. We cannot grow in salvation or offer acceptable spiritual sacrifices or shine reviving light unless we are founded and rooted in the chief Cornerstone. Build on Him as your eternal strength and hope.
God bless you all.