“having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord” (Ephesians 2:20-21).
The cornerstone is the boulder placed at the angle where two walls of a building meet. It serves as the standard by which all the other walls of the building are measured and is the chief determining factor in a structure’s foundation, stability, and longevity.
Consider three ways in which Jesus serves as the chief cornerstone of God’s holy temple.
Jesus is the connecting link between the Old and New Testaments. The purpose of the old covenant was to serve as a tutor to bring us to Christ (Galatians 3:24). Once Jesus came and fulfilled all things which were written in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms concerning Him (Luke 24:44), he was qualified to establish the new covenant prophesied by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:8-12). The blood He shed to fulfill the old covenant’s types and shadows of the Lamb of God is the same blood which establishes the new covenant (Hebrews 10:1-10). Jesus is the chief cornerstone because His cross cements the intimate connection between the Old and New Testaments.
Jesus is the connecting link between Jews and Gentiles. Because He fulfilled every jot and tittle of the Law, Jesus was able to break down and remove the wall which separated Jews and Gentiles religiously. With this barrier removed, there is one new man—Christians, and no longer two. Jesus is the chief cornerstone because His cross reconciles Jews and Gentiles.
Jesus is the connecting link between God and humanity. Only the Son of God who is also the Son of Man is perfectly qualified to be the mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5). No angelic being and no offspring of two human parents is innately capable of being our merciful, faithful, and great high priest. No one comes to the Father but by Christ (John 14:6). Without Jesus we have no way to be reconciled to God. Jesus is the chief cornerstone because His cross cements the possibility of reconciliation between deity and humanity.
“The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.” What a blessing is God’s promise and Christ’s fulfillment of Psalm 118:22!
This is the Lord’s doing. How marvelous it is in our eyes!
Great! Thanks for your insight