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?
"Unto you [Christians] therefore which believe he [Jesus] is precious: but unto them [the Jews] which be disobedient, THE STONE which the builders [the Jewish priesthood] disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,"
A question was asked - "What does the scripture refer to as Jesus being THE STONE?"
One prophecy about Jesus being the future Messiah of Israel was recorded approximately 1000 years before Christ was born. In Psalm 118:22, it says:
"THE STONE which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner."
During his ministry in Israel Jesus referred to Himself as THE STONE in this statement:
“And whosoever shall fall on THIS STONE shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.”
So, what does all this mean?
An explanation
Firstly,if a building of any size is to be built, it needs its foundation to be properly laid. As any modern-day builder knows, the site must be cleared, leveled and compacted prior to the foundation being laid.
In ancient times, a large stone foundation was laid on level ground to form the structure upon which the remainder of the building would be constructed. To quote Wikipedia about this:
"The cornerstone (or foundation stone or setting stone) is the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation. All other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure."
Therefore, if Christ is "the head stone of the corner", then what does the building upon which its sits represent? Answer is - the Church:
Ephesians 2:19-24
"Now therefore ye [born again Christians] 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."
So from the above scripture verses, we see:
- Jesus Christ and ALL that He represents is the church's one and solid foundation!
This means that ALL the words of Jesus recorded in the Holy Bible are what the foundation of the church represents. - The church was further established upon this foundation by the Apostles and the Prophets (Eph 2:20).
- ALL Bible-based churches that produce from among their congregation truly born-again believers (John 3:3-8) who grow spiritually to become Disciples of Jesus Christ (Luke 14:33-34), these then become "Living Stones" (1 Peter 2:3-5) in the Temple of Christ on the Earth:
“What? know ye not that your body is THE TEMPLE of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”
"Now I [Paul] beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that ye ALL speak the same thing, and that there be NO DIVISIONS among
you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in THE SAME MIND and in the SAME JUDGMENT."
But are Christians living their lives according to these and other Bible principles?
Find out more at https://mygospel.info
An excellent description of Jesus the Stone! God bless you Alan!
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