Jesus our Cornerstone
As you come to him – the living Stone… you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house… through Jesus Christ.
“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” (1Peter 2:4-6)
The most thrilling news after the resurrection came from those who saw the Lord Jesus Christ alive; they 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. They are summarized in part by Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians (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, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.’
It is now Peter’s turn to testify: he spoke boldly from the day of Pentecost and kept on preaching and teaching both Jews and Gentiles. In today’s focus passage 1Peter 2:1-12, he 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 stone and together form a spiritual House founded on Christ, and God dwells in them – what a fellowship, what a joy divine!
There are questions you should ask yourself: Are you excited about the resurrection – about Jesus Christ the living Stone? Do you believe and trust in Him? Do you know who you are in Christ and why? There are some three actions Peter emphasizes for those who believe: You need to ‘grow up in your salvation’ (v.2), and that is why we should continually feed on the bread of His Word; secondly, we are to keep ‘offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God’ (v.5), and that is why we must remain connected to and founded in Jesus Christ the chief High Priest; thirdly, you are to ‘declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light’ (v.9), and that is why you were chosen and set apart. This declaring is by word of testimony like the apostles did, and deed; the call to holiness is not just a call to justice and being good, rather it is a call to shine the attractive and reviving light of Christ so that people ‘may see your good deeds and glorify God’ (v.12).
We cannot grow in salvation or offer acceptable spiritual sacrifices or shine reviving light unless we are rooted in the chief Cornerstone. In this Easter season, remember that the great hope restored is too exciting to keep to yourself; share it widely and joyfully.
God bless you all.