1 Peter 2

“Coming to Him, a living stone – rejected by men but chosen and valuable to God – you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer sacrifices acceptable to God through [Messiah] Jesus Christ. For it is contained in Scripture:  Look! I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and honored cornerstone, and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame!”  1 Peter 2:4-6 (HCSB)

The first thing that happens in home construction is a clearing of the land. Next, a foundation is laid. Then, carpenters raise walls and trussing. After that, electrical is wired, then drywall, flooring and roofing, and paint…

On the day the lot is cleared, nobody but the architect and the contractor know the plans. The workers might get a glimpse of the blueprints, but they could hardly fathom all the details. They simply follow orders, laboring at the direction of the contractor. As the construction progresses, onlookers guess what the structure will be used for. Will it be a home, business, or, perhaps, a church?

Speaking to the Jews in the Diaspora, Peter connects with their longing to be accepted by God and worship Him properly. But Peter distinguishes between the earthly temple in Jerusalem, made of cut stones, and God’s temple of the New Covenant, built with human stones. When Peter wrote this first letter between 60 and 64AD, nobody would have guessed the Romans would destroy the Jerusalem temple in 6 to 10 years. It has never been rebuilt.

In contrast, the Temple of Messiah (The greater community of Messiah) cannot be destroyed. It is not made of earthen stones sitting on a strategic piece of property. It is made of human stones, and it extends beyond the earth into eternity. Speaking of His bodily crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus said,

“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” John 2:19 (NKJV)

Now, there’s a warranty we can count on!  

With Jesus as the cornerstone, this “spiritual house” is unrecognizable to those who are perishing. The architect is God, and its contractor is the Holy Spirit. We are called to be both “stones” and “laborers.”  No man has seen all of God’s plans in full detail. But God has revealed enough of His plan to keep us busy! We know enough to exhort all mankind: believe in Jesus, worship Him, and never be put to shame!