Jesus the Rock

Throughout scripture, God repeatedly uses the picture of a rock or stone to describe the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the rock who sustained Israel, the stone Israel stumbled over, the rejected stone who becomes the head of the corner, the stone of coming judgment, and the only foundation upon which God’s work can be built. How a person responds to this rock makes all the difference.

Paul makes Christ’s identity as the Rock unmistakable when describing Israel in the wilderness:

“And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 10:4

Jesus did not begin at Bethlehem. The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, and scripture identifies Him as the Rock who was present with Israel long before He put on humanity.

Yet when that Rock came unto His own nation, Israel stumbled over Him.

The Stumblingstone

Romans 9:30-33 explains where Israel went wrong. The Gentiles, who had not followed after righteousness, attained “the righteousness which is of faith,” while Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, failed to attain it. But why?

“..Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” – Romans 9:32-33

Israel’s problem was not that God had failed to provide righteousness. Their problem was that they were trying to establish their own and in doing so rejected Christ.

“For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” – Romans 10:3

Jesus Christ exposed the insufficiency of their religious works. The self-righteous leaders of Israel did not see themselves as sinful men desperately needing a savior. They trusted their law-keeping, their religious position, and their own righteousness. Consequently, when their Messiah stood before them, they stumbled over the very one God had provided for their salvation.

Isaiah had already prophesied that the Lord would be “for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel” (Isa 8:14). The nation stumbled because of unbelief.

The Rejected Stone, Cornerstone, and Foundation

“The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.” – Psalm 118:22

Jesus applied this prophecy to Himself when confronting Israel’s religious leaders in Matthew 21:42. The builders, those who should have recognized what God was constructing, rejected the most important stone of all.

The Apostle Peter reiterates this after Christ’s resurrection to Israel’s religious leaders:

“This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.” – Acts 4:11

Isaiah had likewise prophesied:

“Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation.” – Isaiah 28:16

A cornerstone establishes and governs the foundation of a structure. Everything must be aligned with it.

Although God’s prophetic purpose for Israel and His mystery purpose for the Body of Christ must be rightly divided, Christ is central to both. When Christ revealed through Paul what God is doing today in the Body of Christ, we find this building imagery again:

“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;” – Ephesians 2:19-20

Paul is building upon the explanation of the “one new man,” the Body of Christ, in which Jew and Gentile are reconciled unto God “in one body by the cross” (Eph 2:15-16). This new work of God was built upon the foundational ministry of the apostles and prophets, yet Jesus Christ Himself is “the chief corner stone.” The whole building finds its position, unity, and purpose in Him.

Paul uses similar language when writing to the Corinthians:

“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 3:10-11

Notice that Paul laid this foundation “according to the grace of God” given unto him. The foundation is Jesus Christ, preached according to the revelation of the mystery of Christ committed to Paul, the current dispensation of the grace of God (Rom 16:25-26, Eph 3:1-11).

Our foundation is not the law, our religious performance, a denomination, a tradition, a pastor, or a theological system. Our foundation is Jesus Christ and His grace.

Israel stumbled because they sought righteousness through their own works. The gospel of the grace of God declares that Christ has already accomplished the work necessary to save us and that our works couldn’t save us even if we wanted them to. Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day (1Co 15:1-4). Salvation today is not obtained by building up enough righteousness of our own. It is received by trusting what Jesus Christ accomplished for us in full.

This centrality of Christ ultimately fits with the mystery of God’s will now made known:

“Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:” – Ephesians 1:9-10

Israel has a promised earthly kingdom. The Body of Christ has a heavenly position and purpose. Yet God’s ultimate purpose for both heaven and earth centers upon Jesus Christ and all things in Him.

The Stone of Judgment

The same stone that provides a sure foundation also becomes an instrument of judgment against those who reject Him.

After speaking of the rejected stone in Matthew 21, Jesus warned:

“And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” – Matthew 21:44

This was a serious prophetic warning to Israel. The Messiah whom the nation rejected would one day return as King and Judge.

Daniel 2 presents similar imagery. A stone “cut out without hands” strikes the kingdoms of this world, breaks them in pieces, and becomes “a great mountain” that fills the whole earth (Dan 2:34-35). Daniel later explains:

“And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.” – Daniel 2:44

The stone rejected at His first coming will return and establish the kingdom promised to Israel. The rock of offence will become the reigning King and judge those who oppose Him.

What’s Your Foundation?

There are ultimately only two places to stand concerning righteousness: your righteousness or Christ’s.

Your righteousness cannot save you. Christ’s righteousness can.

Your works cannot pay for your sins. Christ’s blood did.

Your religious performance cannot provide a foundation strong enough to withstand God’s judgment. Jesus Christ can.

Do not stumble over the rock by insisting upon your own righteousness. Trust the finished crosswork of Jesus Christ and His righteousness alone. Believe that He died for your sins, was buried, and rose again, and receive the righteousness God freely gives by grace through faith alone.

Then, having trusted Christ, build upon that foundation by His grace, not your own strength.

Jesus Christ is the rejected stone, the stumblingstone, the chief cornerstone, the coming stone of judgment, and the foundation upon which God is building today.