The Rejected Cornerstone

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.