Jesus is Our Cornerstone

Why is Jesus called The Cornerstone?

Often today a when a new business begins building, the community celebrates with a groundbreaking ceremony. Local dignitaries turn over a shovel of dirt to signify the process has begun.

Historically, monumental building projects began with a cornerstone.

A cornerstone is a large block of stone that is the starting point for the entire building. It is the visible corner of the foundation of what is being built. It is placed in the corner to establish the meeting of two walls. The cornerstone establishes the rest of the angles of construction. The whole building rests on the cornerstone.

What has that got to do with Jesus? Because Jesus is the cornerstone of faith.

Jesus Himself quoted often from the Psalms, including this one:

“The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief stone. This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” Psalm 118:22.

I’ve never really understood the part where the builders rejected the stone before. While researching this post I kept seeing references to a story that makes sense, though I can’t find any definitive proof for it. The story goes that when the first temple was being built, each stone from the quarry was numbered so they could be placed correctly in the building. A stone arrived from the quarry without a number and didn’t seem to fit anywhere. So, the builders rejected it and rolled it away. They stumbled over the large stone they rejected because it was constantly in the way. Finally, they realized the stone they had rejected was THE cornerstone for the entire building project.

So how does Jesus fit in to Psalm 118:22?

In Matthew 21, and in Mark 12 and Luke 20, we are told that Jesus was in the temple teaching. The chief priests, and elders came and questioned Him: “By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?” Matthew 21:23b.

Jesus answered them with a couple of parables. First the parable of the two sons. Second the parable of the landowner. At the end of the second parable, Jesus asks them what the owner of the vineyard would do to the wicked vine-growers.

They answered Jesus that the owner would bring the evil ones to a wretched end.

“Jesus said to them, ‘Did you never read in the Scriptures, that Stone which the builders rejected, this became the chief corner stone; this came about from the LORD, and it is marvelous in our eyes?’” Matthew 22:42.

Jesus continued:

“Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and be given to a nation producing the fruit of it. And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.” Matthew 21:43-44.

When Jesus said “this stone”, He meant Himself. He is the cornerstone. He is the starting point. He is the foundation on which faith is built. He is the cornerstone on which everything rests.

In Acts, Peter makes it clear this is what Jesus meant when he and John were arrested. When questioned by the priests, Peter said:

“Let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health. He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the very corner stone.” Acts 4:10.

In I Peter 2:4-8, Peter writes about Jesus as the corner stone again. He again uses Psalm 118:22. But he also connects Jesus as the corner stone from Isaiah 28:16 and Isaiah 8:14.

Paul taught that believers were part of God’s household.

“Having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone.” Ephesians 2:20.

Paul taught:

“For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 3:11.

Jesus is the foundation of our faith. Everything rests on Him, our cornerstone.