Judging the Cornerstone

The Greek verb, Apodokimazo appears nine times in the new testament, eight times in reference to Christ being rejected by the Jewish leaders in fulfillmet of Old Testament prophecy. Apodokimazo is a compound of apo, a preposition meaning apart (out of, from ,of) and dokimazo, a verb meaning to examine, scrutinize or test, for value. The Jews had examined the words of Jesus and then rejected Him. His words 'found no place in them' because they did not know the Father. (John 8:37, 42-44)

The Greek adjective, Thaumastos,  appears seven times in the new testament, three times to describe the believer's view of Christ the Cornerstone in contrast with the rejection of Christ by the Jewish leaders.  

Old Testament prophecies of the rejection of the marvelous Cornerstone:

The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone. This is the LORD'S doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. Psalm 118:22-23

 

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed. I will make judgment the measuring line and righteousness the level... " Isaiah 28:16-17 [The judgment and righteousness of the Cornerstone are used to line-up the whole building made of living stones. In other words, those who are in Christ see and walk by the word of God]

New Testament fulfillment:

And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And He was stating the matter plainly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but mans" Mark 8:31-33  [Peter was sizing up the words of Jesus from the point of view of darkness and flesh, not with God given spiritual eyes--eyes Peter would receive at the Day of Pentecost]

 

Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures, 'THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone; THIS CAME ABOUT FROM THE LORD, AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES'? Matthew 21:42  [in the judgment of the Jewish leaders, Jesus and his words did not fit with their building of man-made traditions. By contrast, those who see Jesus and His words through God-given eyes, judge the Cornerstone to be "marvelous"]

 

This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, "THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone," and, "A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE"; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed. But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 1Peter 2: 7-9  [Those who judge Jesus as unworthy are really judging themselves as worthy of the doom that awaits all who reject God's salvation in Christ. Those who judge the Corner as marvelous, do so because they see with new eyes---having been translated from darkness into God's kingdom of marvelous light]

 

Those who reject the Cornestone as a dwelling place for their souls, have judged Jesus through the lens of the flesh and the darkness of Satan's lies. Those who repent of their sin and receive the gospel of Jesus by faith, come to rest on the Cornerstone while absorbing the light of God's Kingdom---God's word. Believers judge the Cornerstone as a marvelous dwelling place for their soul---viewing Jesus through the Father's eyes. He is wonderful! He is marvelous!

Feb 2012