The Living Cornerstone
PSALM 118:1-2,19-29
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures
forever. 2 Let
Israel say: "His love endures forever." . . . 19 Open for me the
gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD. 20 This is
the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter. 21 I will give you
thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. 22 The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;
23 the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and
be glad in it. 25 O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success. 26 Blessed
is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless
you. 27 The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs
in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. 28 You are
my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you. 29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love
endures forever.
Hallel (comprised
of Psalms 113-118) Jewish prayer for praise and thanksgiving and recited during
Passover. Very likely sung by Jesus and the disciples in the Upper Room during
the Last Supper. This Psalm was quoted numerous times by Jesus and by writers
of the New Testament.
'The stone the
builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is
marvelous in our eyes” (Matthew
21, Mark 12, Luke 20 This follows the Parable of the Tenants)
Cornerstone: A stone that forms the base of a corner of a building, joining two
walls. An important quality or feature on which a particular thing depends or
is based.
Synonyms: foundation,
basis, keystone, mainspring, mainstay, base, backbone, key, centerpiece, core,
heart, center, crux (e.g. "trust is a cornerstone
of human relations")
“Then Peter, filled with the
Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being
called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and
are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of
Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but
whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become
the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no
other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4)
“As you come to him, the living Stone - rejected by humans
but chosen by God and precious to him, you
also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a
holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus
Christ. For in Scripture it says: “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.” Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not
believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become
the cornerstone,” and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock
that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message which is
also what they were destined for. But
you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special
possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness
into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2)
Christ is the
cornerstone of our Christian beliefs and He is the cornerstone of our church. Without Jesus our church and our belief system would
crumble and fall to the ground. It could never stand up to the attacks of this
world and of the enemy. We are appointed ministers and ambassadors of Christ to
announce the ‘Good News’, i.e. because of Christ’s death and resurrection, the
Kingdom of God is here now. The massive temple curtain that once separated
everyone from the “Holy of Holies” has been torn apart (when Christ died on the
cross). Once we accept Christ as our Savior, we are righteous and as priests,
we come into God’s presence for forgiveness and to receive His love and His blessings.
We can also approach God on behalf of our family and our friends.