When arrested by the Chief Priest for healing a man in the temple, Peter said to his accusers at his arraignment:
This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.
He called them "builders". But it was a task that they failed to do. The builder must get the order right. A roofer, a framer, a mason, or a plumber can't start at the top. They must start at the bottom.
Peter got it.
Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
And when Peter recognized Jesus, as who he was something special happened.
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
But as we have seen over the last 10 weeks, there are not just two stones in Christ's church. Peter explains:
. . . you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
We are all to take our place, not simply next to the perfect Cornerstone, but next to the rough and poorly shaped stones around us (like Peter) ever looking to prepare the next generation (Mark and Silas) to take their place.
1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
The word “establish” (themelioĊ) is literally to lay a foundation with you as one of its stones. What is being constructed will be a sight-to-behold (Revelation 21).
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