“Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,’ and ‘A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense’…” (1 Peter 2:6-8).
It should hardly come as a surprise to find that Peter turned to the idea of “Christ as a cornerstone” here within this passage. After all, this is not the first time Peter has used this imagery.
For instance, Acts chapter three relates the account of a disabled man who looked to Peter and the Apostle John for a charitable offering. In response. 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). Following that miraculous healing, the local religious authorities took Peter and John into custody. When those authorities questioned the Apostles over what had taken place, Peter responded in the following manner…
“If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:9-12).
If Peter thought enough of this word-picture to use it in his sermons and writings, then we should take the time to study and apply it as well. For example, a cornerstone serves many functions. Just as the name implies, the work of a cornerstone often involves joining two walls together. In this respect, Jesus is the cornerstone of all who place their faith in Him. He is the one who joins us all together, no matter where we come from.
On the other hand, Jesus had also became “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense” for the religious authorities who arrested Peter and John in Acts chapter three. The same holds true for many today. This stands in stark contrast to those who accept Christ in faith, for they “…are no longer foreigners and outsiders but citizens together with God’s people and members of God’s family. You are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Christ Jesus himself is the cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:19-20 GW).