A cornerstone is a useful part of a building, especially in ancient times, because it serves as a principal stone placed at a corner of an edifice to guide the workers in their course to complete the masonry.
It serves as a foundation for other masonry layouts and that is why this building block is the most important part of ancient construction methods. It makes all construction areas align and measure correctly.
What is a Cornerstone?
A cornerstone is often used to describe Jesus in the Bible and the reason for that is because Jesus is the foundation and the most important part of building His Church.
Let us discuss the different areas in the Bible where Jesus was referred to as a cornerstone.
In Isaiah 28:16-7, we can read that a Messiah was referred to as a cornerstone,
So this is what the sovereign Lord says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed. I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line”
In context, God was speaking to the people of Judah and He was promising them a foundation for their lives as long as they trusted Him. God, here, is referring to Jesus, His only begotten Son, and His promise to give His Son as the foundation of their lives.
He also emphasized that Jesus would bring justice to the righteous. This means that as long as we follow Jesus, the layout of our lives will be straightened just as how a cornerstone would be significant in straightening the path of a construction masonry.
In the New Testament, we can also read that Jesus was referred to as a cornerstone, specifically in Ephesians 2:19-21, as Paul said,
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
In this passage, Paul says that Christ is the chief cornerstone and the foundation of the members of the Church of Christ. He alone joins the entire building of the Church to become a Holy temple.
He also emphasizes that the people who believe in Christ are now part of Christian citizenship that Christ, as a cornerstone, leads. This is a very powerful statement by Paul to the Ephesians and it also resonates with modern-day Christians, as well.
To be part of the Christian faith means putting our entire lives on Christ and making Him our cornerstone.
In 1 Peter 2:4-6, Christ is referred to as a cornerstone chosen by God to secure a promise and that those who trust Christ will never be put to shame.
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.”
It is also emphasized, in this verse, that Jesus is the living stone, which means that apart from being a cornerstone, He is a living foundation. He understands us, the chosen people because He lives among us.
In these two New Testament verses, we are assured that God gave His Son, Jesus, as a promise that we are guided, and we have a strong foundation as long as we follow Him.
How Is Jesus the Cornerstone?
Just like a literal cornerstone, Christ should be followed in order for us Christians, to live a straight path. If a cornerstone is not followed, the path of construction will end up in demise.
Similarly, if we do not follow Christ, our path will end up in destruction and we will definitely go astray.
However, there are times that we do not follow Christ, yet He is still the cornerstone of our lives. This is written in Psalm 118:22, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;”
What the passage means is that even if we do not constantly acknowledge Him as our cornerstone, Jesus will ultimately light our lives and reveal that He is. This is His love for us. He will always show mercy because He loves us.
People who care for us in this world will be the vessel for us to see Christ as our cornerstone and ultimately, we cannot escape from the fact that Christ is the foundation of our lives.
This is the truth to that matter. And the reason for such truth is again, the promise of God — to give us a foundation of our lives through His Son, Jesus.
What Does Mean?
Jesus Christ as a cornerstone means that He is the foundation, the measuring guide, and the promise of God to His creation. He is the light that guides us to a straight path whenever we are in darkness.
He is the foundation that makes our faith even stronger and will make the Church stronger. He is the stone that enables the Church to go on and do ministry despite circumstances that we are facing. He is the cornerstone, the most important element of our lives.
For further reading:
Does the Church Today Align with Jesus’ Teaching?
What Does it Mean That God Is Just?
What Does it Mean to Trust in Jesus?
Why Was Jesus Not Named Immanuel?
How Is Jesus the Author and Perfecter of Faith?
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Darrin Hughes
Glory Dy has been a content creator for more than 10 years. She lives in a quiet suburb with her family and four cats.
