Jesus is the Cornerstone: What does this mean for us?
“Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.” Ephesians 2:20 (NLT)
My church small group is currently reading through and studying the book of Ephesians. When reading over Ephesians 2 recently, a section near the end stood out to me—a part describing Jesus as the cornerstone. I love analogies, so I decided to study this a little more.
The analogy given in the passage describes the followers of Jesus as a house, a temple where God now lives by his Holy Spirit (see also 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6:19, 2 Corinthians 6:16, Romans 8:9). Paul describes us as being built on a foundation of those who went before us, the apostles and prophets, and Jesus is the cornerstone.
I learned that a cornerstone, sometimes called a foundation stone, is the first stone laid for a structure. I read that this was the most important part of this ancient construction method. A cornerstone was generally a very large and solid stone, typically larger and sturdier than all other stones. This stone took the most care and precision to lay because of its importance to all of the other stones and to the structure as a whole.
The cornerstone is put into place with all of the other stones then laid in reference to that stone. It sets the direction and the orientation of the entire structure. The cornerstone ensures proper alignment when all of the other stones line up with it. A cornerstone is a rock upon which the weight of the entire structure rests.
There are so many parallels that can be seen between a cornerstone and Jesus.
Parallels between a cornerstone and Jesus
Cornerstone
- First stone laid
- Most important part in the construction of the structure
- A very large, reliable, and sturdy stone
- Sets the foundation
- Sets the direction and standard of the structure
- Ensures proper alignment
- Provides stability for the structure
- The rock on which the structure and weight rests
- Joins the structure, all the stones, together
Jesus
- Firstborn; first in the family of God; the first of many of God’s children (Romans 8:29)
- Most important part of our faith; Jesus is the only way to God (John 14:6)
- Jesus is also a rock; reliable and trustworthy (1 Corinthians 10:4, John 14:1)
- Set the foundation of salvation and of the church—it is all built on him; laid a foundation for the rest of us to build upon (1 Corinthians 3:11)
- Sets the direction and standard for the church and for us to follow (John 12:26)
- Ensures an aligned life; he straightens up the crooked parts of our lives when we align with him and his ways (Luke 3:5)
- Provides stability for us and for the church; prevents us from being shaken; Jesus makes it possible for us to have a solid structure, a solid church, a solid and stable life (Isaiah 26:16, Isaiah 28:16, Hebrews 12:28)
- We can rest on Jesus; he will carry our weights and our burdens; Jesus takes the weight off if we lean on him; he holds us up; (Matthew 11:28, 1 Peter 5:7)
- Joins and holds his people all together; he unites his church—we are one (Colossians 1:17, John 17:21, 1 Corinthians 12:12)