Message from the Heart---Jesus, Our Cornerstone

Published on 10 August 2026 at 08:17

Shana Miller—Guest Columnist | Somerset-Pulaski Advocate

The Foundation That Cannot Be Shaken

When we think of Psalm 118, many of us immediately recognize verse 24. "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24) While this verse is often quoted, the verses surrounding it reveal a deeper truth. Psalm 118 is filled with praise, thanksgiving, and celebration of God's salvation. Right in the middle of it we find a powerful declaration about the Messiah:

"The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone Cof the corner." (Psalm 118:22)

This isn't merely a statement about construction. It is a prophetic picture of Jesus Christ. The very One who would be rejected by the world would become the foundation upon which salvation rests. Jesus Himself quoted this passage in Matthew 21:42: "Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?"

What seemed insignificant became the most important part of the entire structure.

Why the Cornerstone Matters

In ancient construction, the cornerstone was not merely decorative. It was foundational. It determined the alignment and stability of the entire building. Every stone placed afterward was measured in reference to the cornerstone. Without it, the structure would be weak and unstable. The same is true spiritually.

Jesus is not simply a piece of our faith. He is the foundation of our faith. Everything we believe rests upon who He is and what He accomplished through His death, burial, and resurrection. The gospel is not an addition to our lives. It is the foundation of our lives. Many people place their trust in religion, traditions, accomplishments, or good works. Yet Scripture reminds us that salvation is found in Christ alone.

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

Jesus declared the same truth: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)

There is no other cornerstone.

There is no other foundation.

There is no other path to the Father.

The Load-Bearing Stone

One of the most beautiful realities to why the cornerstone is foundational is because it bears weight the weight of the who structure.

Jesus did exactly that.

When He went to the cross, He carried the weight of the world's sin. He bore every failure, every wound, every rebellion, and every act of disobedience.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

Jesus knew no sin, yet He became sin for us. He endured the rejection, suffering, and shame of the cross so that we could be forgiven and restored to the Father. Through His sacrifice, He became the bridge between a holy God and sinful humanity. What a beautiful picture of the cornerstone.

Just as a cornerstone joins two walls together and supports the structure, Jesus brought reconciliation between God and man. Through Him, we have access to the Father and the promise of eternal life. When Jesus cried, "It is finished," the work of redemption was complete. The debt of sin had been paid. The way had been made. Everything rests upon that truth.

A Merciful and Faithful High Priest

Not only is Jesus our Cornerstone, but He is also our High Priest.

Hebrews reminds us that Jesus understands every struggle we face because He walked among us. For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people." Hebrews 2:17 (NIV) And then Scripture gives us this wonderful promise: "Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted" Hebrews 2:18 (NIV)

Jesus understands rejection. He understands loneliness. He understands grief. He understands temptation. The One who was rejected by His own people is the same One who welcomes us with open arms. John writes: "He came unto his own, and his own received him not." John 1:11

If you've ever felt overlooked, forgotten, abandoned, or rejected, take comfort in knowing that Jesus understands exactly what that feels like.

Yet God took the rejected stone and made Him the Cornerstone. God can do the same with every area of your life that feels broken or forgotten. What others overlook, God can use for His glory.

Building on the Right Foundation

As believers, we must continually ask ourselves, What am I building my life on? Is my security found in Christ, or in my career? Is my identity rooted in Jesus, or in the approval of others? Is my hope anchored in the gospel, or in temporary things that can be taken away? Many people crumble when storms come because they have built their lives on unstable foundations. But when our faith is rooted in Christ, we have something that cannot be shaken.

The foundation of our faith is not our performance.

The foundation of our faith is not our church attendance.

The foundation of our faith is not our ability to be "good enough."

The foundation of our faith is Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross.

Everything else flows from there.

Our relationship with God.
Our families.
Our ministries.
Our careers.
Our friendships.
Our service to others.
Everything should be built upon the Cornerstone.

Called to Go Deeper

There are many believers today who have placed their faith in Christ but have remained spiritually stagnant. The Lord is calling His people to move beyond simply knowing about Him and into a deeper relationship with Him. God desires more than religious activity. He desires fellowship. He desires communion. He desires for us to know Him intimately through His Word and through the leading of the Holy Spirit.

The same Spirit that empowered Peter and John to boldly proclaim Christ in Acts 4 lives within every born-again believer today. Because of the Holy Spirit, we are never alone, we can overcome temptation, and we can walk in victory and freedom. Because of the Holy Spirit, Jesus is truly with us always. He has not abandoned us and is guiding us through every season, every transition, and every challenge.

Even now, He is preparing pathways and making provisions for seasons we have not yet entered.

Rest in the Cornerstone

We strive instead of surrender. We worry instead of worship. We carry the weight when Jesus already carried it for us. Today, the Lord invites us back to the foundation. Back to the gospel and back to the simplicity and beauty of Jesus Christ.

If He never did another thing for us beyond saving our souls, His grace would already be more than enough. Yet He did not stop at the cross. He gave us His presence, His promises, His peace, His Spirit, and the hope of eternity. The Cornerstone is not only the beginning of our faith.

He is the sustaining strength of our faith.

So today, rest in Him.

Trust Him.

Build upon Him.

And because of that truth, "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

Truth to Remember:
Jesus is the Cornerstone. He bore the weight of our sin, reconciled us to the Father, and remains the firm foundation upon which we can confidently build our lives

What foundation am I currently relying upon most in my life?
Are there areas where I have placed my trust in something other than Christ?
What would it look like this week to intentionally build my life more firmly upon Jesus as my Cornerstone?
Am I resting in the finished work of Christ, or am I striving to carry burdens He has already carried for me?

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