The Rock is our Foundation
Jesus (the Word) is our foundation and rock, providing the base from which we develop our understanding, renew our minds, and shape our lives. Our work, built upon this foundation, will be tested as if by fire. Like gold refined in the flame, what is combustible will perish, but what is impervious will endure. Nevertheless, whether our works endure or perish, we will continue our salvation. This is connected to Jesus being our cornerstone.
1 Corinthians 3:10-15
10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Jesus is our Cornerstone
The cornerstone was the initial stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important for aligning all other stones, and the capstone was the final piece placed atop the structure. This symbolizes Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life, aligning our lives with the Word of God, for Jesus is the Word. Thus, Jesus, as the Word, is the foundation of the church, along with the prophets and apostles, in the spiritual edifice being erected. Believers are likened to stones constructing the remainder of the edifice, each with a distinct purpose for the Kingdom of God and Heaven.
Jesus is also likened to the capstone, which at times is ceremonial and, at other times provides protection from the elements for the structure, or acts as a keystone securing the integrity of the edifice.
Both the capstone and the cornerstone may also represent Jesus as the High Priest in the order of Melchizedek, to whom we are obedient and from whom we seek guidance. He was appointed to this role, and those who trust in Him will never be disgraced. There will never be cause for regret for those who have placed their trust in Christ, for He will faithfully preserve those who have done so.
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
1 Peter 2:6-8
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
The Gentiles were also included in the building of this spiritual edifice when Jesus took away the middle wall of the partition between Jews and Gentiles through His apostles, which was the mystery spoken by Paul when he was appointed to relay the message of salvation to the Gentiles.
Ephesians 2:19-22
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Jesus as the Rejected Stone
Jesus was rejected by the builders, specifically the Pharisees and Sadducees, as depicted in the New Testament parables. The essence of these parables is that the stone the builders rejected becomes the cornerstone of the building. The New Testament passages affirm that Jesus is this cornerstone. According to Ephesians, the edifice being constructed is a holy temple for the Lord, represented by the Church (believers). Without Jesus, the temple would crumble; it cannot stand without him.
Throughout history, numerous religions have been established around different figures and ideas, resulting in invariably flawed structures. It is only when Jesus serves as the cornerstone that the assembly of believers will align correctly and rise as a holy temple to the Lord.
The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
The following parable alludes to the rejection of Jesus by the tenants of a vineyard owned by God the Father. The tenants represent the priests and leaders of Israel who persecuted the prophets sent to deliver God’s prophecies about Israel’s downfall due to their disobedience. When God sent His Son, Jesus, they killed Him to maintain control over Israel. Thus, they rejected the cornerstone, the reference point for our lives, and consequently lost their kingdom.
33 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:
34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.
35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.
36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.
37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.
38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.
39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.
40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?
41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
A Stumbling Stone
Jesus is considered a stumbling stone because when people reject Him they ignore the truth of life and therefore stumble in the darkness, which is why Jesus said that people prefer the darkness to the light. Jesus came to bring us the light (knowledge) of life from the Father and those who believe will not stumble. We are instructed not to become a stumbling stone for anyone else. And Jesus himself, says “Blessed is anyone who is not offended in me.”
Luke 17:1-2
1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!
2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
Luke 7:23
And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me
John 3:19-21
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
In the Old Testament Israel’s, kings that did not put their trust in God stumbled at the hands of their enemies and today we repeat the same mistake by not trusting in Jesus Christ.
Israel rejected the holiness of God and the protection He could provide and lost their land in 70 AD. They stumbled and fell because they refused to trust in God Who left them in the hands of their enemies.
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Jesus became a stumbling block not only to the Greeks, who were in pursuit of wisdom but also to the Jews, who were looking for signs. Frequently, we trust almost anything before we trust in God, leading to Jesus becoming a stumbling block for us as well. The scriptures suggest that God causes people to stumble; however, I believe it is not that He forces them to stumble, but rather they choose to do so due to a lack of trust in God, after which God allows them to follow their own path, having revealed the truth to them.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;