CHRIST, THE LIVING STONE

As we celebrate the Easter, we must understand that Christ Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords who was rejected by men. In John's witness, He wrote that Christ was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him (John 1:10-11).

Reference: 1 Peter 2:4 New Living Translation (NLT) "You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God's temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor."

As God's own, we've all come to the living Stone - rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him. His rejection was terrible because it was by His own people. Notwithstanding the rejection, He was God's choice for great honour.

While on earth, as perfect as He was, the world hated Him, yet He laid down His life for the world (John 10:11). Beloved, greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends (John 15:13). However His love went beyond the limit of friends; He died for the whole world.

Peter identified Christ as the living Hope in 1 Peter 1:3 (NIV) which says, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

Peter also mentioned in 1 Peter 1:23 that Christ is the living Word. It reads, "For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God" (NLT).

Peter now identifies Christ as the "living Stone." God is building a spiritual house and has chosen Jesus Christ to be the living Cornerstone of that building made up of all those who are in Christ Jesus. For in Scripture it says: See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame (1 Peter 2:5-6).

Indeed Jesus was resurrected by the power of God after His death on the cross and He is alive forevermore, as the Living Hope, the Living Word and the Living Stone. He was crucified by those who rejected Him, but He is now living as the chief Cornerstone. Beloved, the stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone, because death could not hold Him and the grave could not keep Him.

Easter is the celebration of the living Hope, the living Word and the living Stone, which is the Good News of the glorious Gospel. Share the Good News with others and have a wonderful celebration. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Acts 2:23; 1 Corinthians 15:4; Acts 5:30; Romans 6:10; 2 Corinthians 5:15; Romans 14:9.

Guided Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, I thank you so much for sending your only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for me on the cross. Through His death, burial and resurrection, you have made a way for eternal hope. Thank you for my triumphant life in Christ as I celebrate His victory over the power of sin and death, in Jesus' Name, Amen!