1716. The Living Stone

The Living Stone

1Pe_2:1-10

The Smitten Stone (Exo_17:6).

The Set Stone (Psa_118:22).

The Stone of Stumbling (Isa_8:14).

The Stone Smiting (Dan_2:34).

The Sure Stone (Isa_28:16).

The Shoutings to the Stone (Zec_4:7).

The Spiritual Stone (1Pe_2:4-5).

When we come to the study of Christ, the Living Stone, we enter a realm of beautiful and solemn symbolism, which graciously sets forth the whole story of our Lord Jesus Christ, from His Cross to His Crown.

Perhaps the children of Israel but feebly realized the far-reaching significance of the smitten Stone; perhaps they but little understood the sense of the Stone, set as head of the corner, of the Stone of stumbling, of the sure Stone, of the Stone smiting the image, or of the Head Stone brought forth with cryings of "Grace unto it" (Zec_4:7). No matter what they may have understood, the New Testament makes very clear to us the meanings of these various symbolisms.

On one occasion, Christ spoke to the rulers of Israel about the Stone of stumbling, and they understood that He applied the message to them, because they had stumbled at Him, at His wonderful claims, and at His marvelous work. The Lord Jesus in His application of the Stone of stumbling cut into their hearts so keenly, that they set about how they might slay Him.

We trust that the hearts of all will become more and more stirred, not alone at the sure statements in which the Stone symbolizes Christ, but also at the scintillating glory of the Divine Word, which, in its inspired vision, sets forth the significations of the Living Stone.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR