
Message
OLH: Come to Him the Living Stone (A chosen people)
1 Peter 2:4-10
Peter, the writer of 1st Peter, is passionate about Jesus. He can’t help himself in telling the church in his letters all about him – who Jesus is, what Jesus has accomplished, what it means for us and a life well lived.
In our text this week, 1 Peter 2:4-10, Peter, whose name means ‘rock’, describes Jesus as the Living Stone, the Cornerstone, of a spiritual building on which we are being built. On Jesus, our lives can be built. Peter even calls us living stones.
A cornerstone is the first stone in a masonry (brick/stone) foundation. All other stones of the structure are built upon it, and are set in reference to this critical foundational stone. In the Greek language, the word holds the meaning of holding the entire structure together. Peter says that in Christ we are ‘living stones’ placed and set in reference to the ‘Living Stone – Cornerstone (Jesus)’ and we are building built into a ‘spiritual house’ so that we ‘be holy’ and ‘offer spiritual sacrifices to God.’
What does this mean and how does this look? Peter gives several outcomes for what this means and what this looks like in our lives. One of interest to me for this Sunday is in reference to shame. Peter quotes a verse from the Old Testament, “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a precious cornerstone (Jesus), and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a precious cornerstone (Jesus), and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
Shame is a reality that exerts significant influence in our lives, whether aware of it or not. We consciously or unconsciously subvert it, suppress it, bury it, ignore or obscure it. Shame infects and affects our lives in deep and significant ways. The reality of shame is as old as the Garden of Eden.
Jesus, by way of the cross and an empty tomb gives us everything we need to overcome shame. Power to wipe away shame – the cross of Jesus Christ. Power to walk in holiness – the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus is to be the cornerstone of our life and upon this foundation, we can build our life. Peter quotes Isaiah 28:16 in his letter in reference to Jesus to bring this truth home to our lives.
Looking to be free of shame? Look no further than Jesus. For in Jesus, we have everything we need, and then some, to not only be completely free of shame, but to live a life of holiness. Can’t wait for Sunday, to see you, to meet with Jesus, to learn together what this all means for a life well lived.
Pastor Mark Quist