The Rejected Cornerstone
“This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.” Acts 4:11
Is there anything harder on the soul than being rejected? It hurts too much when someone rejects you. “What’s wrong with me? Am I not enough?” are the questions which we always ask. You must have thick skin to handle rejection. It can be a cruel thing to happen to anyone, and yet it happens to all of us sooner or later.
Maybe you have applied for a job. You believe it is the perfect fit for you. But your prospective employer has other ideas; Rejection. Maybe you have worked hard on a proposal or an idea at work. You know your boss will be delighted. Instead, they are more impressed by a co-worker’s idea; Rejection. And it happens to everybody.
Ken Taylor’s paraphrased version of the Bible, which he called The Living Bible was rejected by 63 publishers. He finally self-published it. Quite unexpectedly, The Living Bible became one of the biggest bestsellers of all time. The Diary of Anne Frank, a book that has inspired millions, was rejected 15 times, and called “very dull” by one publisher. Now it has become one of literature's legendary classics.
So take heart, dear brothers, and sisters. Rejection happens to everyone. But if you are unable to handle this fact of life, you will end up in trouble. Do not lose your strength and will. For the greatest story of rejection became the foundation of our Christian faith.
Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, was rejected. We read in today’s lesson from Acts 4:11 “This is the stone, which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief (head) cornerstone.” Luke, the writer of Acts, was quoting this scripture from Psalm 118:22, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone”. Luke was saying that Jesus is the fulfillment of that prophecy. The powerful name of Jesus Christ, the cornerstone of Jesus Christ, the foundation of Christ was rejected by the world.
I. Jesus, the name of Power, was rejected:
Let’s look into the book of Acts chapter 3. There is a much beloved story about a lame man. “And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple, which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple;” (Acts 3:2) This was the first century equivalent of a welfare program. When this poor man saw Peter and John about to enter the gate, he asked them for money. “Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” (Acts 3:6) Then, taking the lame man by the right hand, Peter helped him up. Instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong, and he began walking and jumping, and praising God.
People who recognized this man were filled with wonder and amazement when they saw him. A huge crowd gathered, and Peter began preaching to the crowd about the resurrected Jesus and His power to heal. This disturbed the priests and the captain of the temple guard, for many who heard the message believed the two Apostles. In fact, that day the number of believers grew to about five thousand believers.
The Sadducees were disturbed by the Apostles’ claim that Jesus was resurrected from the dead. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And so they seized Peter and John and had them put in jail. The following morning, those who were disturbed by the Apostles’ teachings, questioned Peter. “By what power or what name did you do this?” they asked. Instead of answering their question, Peter took the opportunity to do a little teaching.
Peter explained that everything they saw the disciples doing was not accomplished by their own power or strength, but by the power of the risen Christ. Peter confirms that this lame man was healed through the name of Jesus. This was the same Jesus whom the religious leaders had crucified but, in fulfillment of the scriptures, God had raised from the dead.
Peter further elaborates by repeating the beautiful verse already expressed in Psalm 118: “The stone you builders rejected . . . has become the cornerstone.” Jesus is now the Redeemer, and no one can go before the Father unless they come through Him.
II. Jesus, our cornerstone, was rejected:
Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:4-5
This is an important part we need to see. There is a beautiful contemporary hymn by Larnelle Harris: “Jesus is the Cornerstone, came for sinners to atone; Though rejected by His own, He became the Cornerstone . . . Jesus is the Cornerstone.” It is on this cornerstone that our faith is built.
Let me elaborate on the significance of the cornerstone or capstone. The cornerstone or capstone is not simply a decorative stone used to finish off the corners of a building with a bit of architectural style. Rather, it is a fundamental stone that structurally holds an entire building together.
Let’s visualize an old Roman archway. It is built from two columns of carefully carved stones. The place where the two arches meet in the center, there is a triangular shaped stone that sits in the middle and balances the two arches against each other. This is called the capstone. If you removed that stone, the whole structure would fall to pieces. Make no mistake about it, Jesus is the capstone or cornerstone for all who follow Him. And yet, He too faced rejection.
German theologian Johann David Michaelis taught this passage from the Psalms about the rejected cornerstone. He taught about a specific event that reportedly took place during the time Solomon’s temple was being built. This massive temple was built in relative silence. There were no pounding hammers. And the reason for this was because the plans were so exact that each stone was perfectly shaped at the quarry. When the stones arrived at the building site, each one fit perfectly into place.
However, there was one huge stone that did not fit anywhere, and the builders placed it to the side. Eventually it got in the way, and workmen pushed it over the bank, and it rolled down into the Kidron Valley below. After the foundation had been laid, the time came to raise up the cornerstone into place. But the cornerstone could not be found. A message was sent to the quarry, but the masons replied that it had already been delivered. Finally they realized that it had been the stone that was rejected and rolled into the valley. When it was retrieved, it moved smoothly into place, serving as the stone that held all the others in position.
“The stone you builders rejected . . . has become the cornerstone,” wrote the Psalmist. Luke knew this was the perfect description of Jesus. He was rejected by the religious leaders of His day, but He was the only foundation upon which people could build their lives.
III. Jesus is our only reliable foundation:
According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed of how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:10-11
Is your life built on this foundation? Or do you rely on worldly support from worldly people? Here, Paul says, we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. And Jesus Christ is the foundation of the building.
In Matthew 7 we find Jesus is finishing His Sermon on the Mount. Jesus gives a word of warning and a word of affirmation and hope to all who are listening. A warning to those who might ignore Jesus’ teaching and a word of affirmation, hope and encouragement to those who put His teaching into practice. Just because we hear Jesus’ teaching and respond in a somewhat positive way, doesn’t mean we’ll put Jesus’ teaching into practice and build a sure foundation.
The devil, the enemy of God and the enemy of your soul, will do all he can to trick you into thinking you are OK and how you are living is OK; even as things are crashing down around you. The devil wants you to think that there are shortcuts to obedience; shortcuts regarding faithfulness. Shortcuts dealing with truth, and that there are many ways to heaven. Do you think God will look the other way if you ignore Godly instruction?
24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall. - Matthew 7:24-27
Jesus is relating a physical foundation for the purpose of teaching about a spiritual truth. Something extreme often has to happen for us to see that our spiritual foundation is broken because of a shortcut we took. Everything collapses under the stress caused by the winds and storms of life. When we build on a firm foundation of Christ, we can withstand whatever comes our way. When a foundation is based on the true meaning and spirit of the word of God it produces steadfast faith and life.
Jesus gives us a clear picture of two very different people and what they built their lives upon in Matthew 7. The first is someone who hears the teaching of Jesus and applies the teaching to how they live. The second is someone who also hears the teaching of Jesus but only appears to follow Jesus’ teaching.
Jesus, the stone the builders rejected, is the cornerstone of our faith. Jesus is the only reliable foundation on which we can build our lives.
Conclusion:
As humans, we do not know what tomorrow will hold for us. Either it’s our job, or family life, or friends, there are many different experiences of rejection which we will all face. But the main question is: where is your cornerstone? Where is your foundation? During a period of rejections, as people, we try to hold onto something to support us; something to stabilize ourselves. But you must be careful on what you depend on. Do not depend on and create a foundation on people in this world. Let the Lord be your cornerstone and capstone. For the world rejected Him, and at times the world will reject us too. But when God is in your life, you will have a firm spiritual foundation. Do not worry and stand firm in the Lord. Take courage, dear brothers and sisters. Will you welcome Him into your life today? Amen.
