“Christ Alone, Cornerstone”

My wife and I have done a lot of work on our house. One of the most beneficial — and also most stressful — projects we took on was removing a load-bearing wall between our kitchen and dining room. The wall served no real purpose (other than carrying some of the weight of the house!) and made two already small rooms feel even smaller.

I was extremely stressed and nervous about the project. While I’m not a contractor in any way, shape, or form, I understood one thing: if I didn’t do the job right, the second floor would eventually become the first floor!

Strong foundations are key to a healthy structure.

In Luke 20:17, Jesus says:

“But he looked directly at them and said, ‘What then is this that is written:
“‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone’?”

The Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament explains:
“Jesus’ rejection by the leaders of Israel, who will coerce the Roman governor to execute him, will ensure the temple’s destruction and their demise. They do not take into account the possibility of a resurrection that allows him to become ‘the cornerstone for a renewed “temple,” a renewed center and focus for the people of God as they will be in the future.’”

Jesus is quoting Psalm 118:22, informing the religious leaders that while they will reject Him, He will become the focal point (cornerstone) for the people of God.

A quick Google search for the definition of a cornerstone gives this:

“A cornerstone is the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, acting as a reference point for the entire structure. It determines the building’s orientation and alignment, ensuring the proper position and angle of all other stones. Historically, it was a crucial structural element, bearing significant weight and ensuring the building’s stability.”

While I’m not usually one to draw theological conclusions from Google definitions, I think there are two very helpful statements here:

First: “Acting as a reference point for the entire structure”

Jesus is the foundation of our relationship with God. He came so that we could receive forgiveness for our sins. He was the perfect sacrifice who took upon Himself the punishment that was due to us (2 Corinthians 5:21), so that we may be forgiven and have a restored relationship with the Father.

Second: “A crucial structural element”

Without Christ as the focal point, the Christian faith falls apart.

In 1 Corinthians 15:12–19, Paul writes:

“Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say, ‘There is no resurrection of the dead’? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is in vain, and so is your faith… And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins… If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone.”

Finally: It determines the building’s orientation and alignment, ensuring the proper position and angle of all other stones.

This Sunday, we’re going to sing a song called Cornerstone.

Its lyrics reflect what we’ve been considering today — that Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith, and our lives should be built upon Him:

“My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”

“Christ alone, Cornerstone…”

— Matthew 7:24–27

As we go through the rest of our week — and as we meet, sing, pray, and learn this Sunday — may we take time to examine what it really means for Christ to be our Cornerstone. How does that impact the proper position and alignment of everything else in our lives?

How does building everything around Him change our actions and reshape our lives?

Adam