The Rock & Cornerstone

Introduction

We saw as we studied Ephesians 4:11-16 that Jesus is found to be the Rock on which the Cornerstone and Foundation are laid. Jesus is also the cornerstone, the chief cornerstone, and there is no other foundation that can be laid other than the one already laid and that is Jesus Christ.

Earlier today we looked at the unity of the faith in verse 13. Tonight I’d like to mention some things about the 2nd part there, reading:

Ephesians 4:12-13 (ESV)

to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

We saw how important it is for us to attain to unity of the faith, that union between Jesus Christ and man.

Now let’s think about "the knowledge of the Son of God." And using the bibles building metaphor let’s see where it leads us in the knowledge of the Son of God

The Rock

Jesus identifies Peter’s confession as "the rock" and "on this rock I will build my church." (Matt 16:16,18)

When Paul tells us that Jesus himself made the good confession he refers us to the account of Jesus before Pontius Pilate.

1 Timothy 6:13 (ESV)

…​ Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession,

John 18:33-37 (NKJV)

Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” 37 Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

The confession that Jesus makes before Pilate is not specifically talking about him being the Christ or the Son of God, but whether or not he was a king. If he were a king then of course he would have been anointed which is what Messiah & Christ refer to…​ the anointed one. So in that respect he is confessing to be the Christ.

However, Pilate continues to try to persuade the crowd to free Jesus and in the process makes an astounding (to him) discovery.

John 19:4-14 (NKJV)

Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.” 5 Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!” 6 Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.” 7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.” 8 Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, 9 and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?” 11 Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” 12 From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.” 13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”

So, the bedrock on which the foundation of Christianity rests is that Jesus is both the Christ, that is, a King and He is the Son of God.

As we are studying this part of the building construction we need to look at how Jesus was the Christ, the anointed (Messiah) and how he was the Son of God. My go-to reference for Jesus as the Son of God is Hebrews chapter 1. Hebrews will refer us to many old testament passages that inform us about the Son.

The Cornerstone

OLD TESTAMENT REFERENCES

Job 38:1-7 (NKJV)

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:
2 “Who is this who darkens counsel
By words without knowledge?
3 Now prepare yourself like a man;
I will question you, and you shall answer Me.
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements?
Surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 To what were its foundations fastened?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
7 When the morning stars sang together,
And all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Psalms 118:22-24 (NKJV)

The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This was the LORD’s doing;
It is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day the LORD has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Isaiah 28:16 (NKJV)

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:
“Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation,
A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;
Whoever believes will not act hastily.

NEW TESTAMENT

Matthew 21:42-46 (NKJV)

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
This was the LORD’S DOING,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’?
43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 44 And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” 45 Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet.

Mark 12:10-12 (NKJV)

Have you not even read this Scripture:
The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
11 This was the LORD‘s doing,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’?”
12 And they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and went away.

Luke 20:17-19 (NKJV)

Then He looked at them and said, “What then is this that is written:
The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone’?
18 Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” 19 And the chief priests and the scribes that very hour sought to lay hands on Him, but they feared the people—for they knew He had spoken this parable against them.

Acts 4:8-12 (NKJV)

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 9 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

1 Corinthians 3:11 (NKJV)

For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:20 (NKJV)

having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,

1 Peter 2:6-10 (NKJV)

Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,
“Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”
7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,
“The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,”
8 and
“A stone of stumbling
And a rock of offense.”
They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.