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Today as one of our readings, we look at Acts 4: 8-12: 

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. 11 This Jesus is ‘the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.’12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.”

Today we see something happen in the text that happens all throughout Acts.  A miracle happens, a crowd gathers, and the disciples begin to preach about Jesus.  This gives us a real clarity about the purpose of miracles within Acts, the miracle happens, the crowd comes, and the Gospel is preached.  Everything that happens within Acts happens so that the Good News of Jesus can be spread.  

Today, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit (post-Pentecost) tells them that Jesus, who they rejected, is the way for salvation, through no other name, person, or belief, can salvation come.  He is the cornerstone.  

That quote, “‘the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone” is a quote from Psalm 118: 22.  Jesus, is that cornerstone referenced here.  The builders, i.e. the religious leaders, rejected Him.  They did not accept Him or His teaching.  Yet, He was the very cornerstone upon which faith is built upon.  You put the wrong cornerstone into the building, the building crumbles.  Without Jesus as the cornerstone, our faith crumbles, our lives crumble 

He is the foundation.  So many things will vie for attention to be our cornerstone – success, power, money, popularity, family.  Many of these things are good things.  Things that we need and we desire.  But they can’t take the place of Jesus.  They can’t be the true cornerstone.  If they are the foundation, nothing will work as it should. 

But if Jesus is our cornerstone, everything falls into place and is exactly as it should be.  When Jesus is in His proper place as the foundation of our lives, everything else makes sense.  There was a modern praise song of the last ten years that said: 

Christ alone
Cornerstone
Weak made strong
In the Saviour’s love
Through the storm
He is Lord
Lord of all

Lord of all. That is who He is and who He must be.  He is the cornerstone of our lives.  

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