Promoted to Living Stone

1 Peter 2: 4-5

Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built^* into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

A spiritual house built of living stones, I could think of worse ways to describe the church. 

There is a progression in the New Testament of our relationship with Jesus.  We are, in the beginning, servants, created by God, coming back into his service.  But through Jesus, we are no longer called servants, but we are called friends.  But we move even closer, not friends, but actually brothers and sisters of Jesus, adopted by our Father who art in heaven.  He is the firstborn, who has redeemed us all.

But here is yet another step.  We are promoted to “living stone”.  Yes, at first glance, that may not seem like a promotion.  Brother of Jesus to living stone, human being to geological entity…  But the living stone that is Jesus was the stone rejected by mortals, but set up by God as the cornerstone to his new temple, his spiritual house.

Jesus was in the unique position of Lord and Savior.  It was through Jesus’ death on the cross, on his resurrection, that grace has come upon us.  He is our Mediator.  He was unique as the living stone, until now. 

In this verse, a measure of Jesus’ divine power is extended to us.  He is the cornerstone, but we are the walls and floor and roof of the spiritual house.  Instead of being those who are welcomed INTO the house, we are the house, built for the benefit of others.  It would seem that the house will continue to be built as more come to Christ. 

Promoted to a point of carrying, at least in some measure, that which Jesus has brought from the Father.  That is pretty awesome, and a little frightening.