Summary
The image of a stone in various forms tells the story of the rejection and calling of JesusJesus is the Messiah whose life, death, and resurrection are God's saving act for humanity. More and his followers in miniature.
Analysis
Here the author of 1 PeterPeter (also known as Cephas, Simon Peter) was the disciple who denied Jesus during his trial but later became a leader in proclaiming Jesus. More weaves together a series of Old Testament quotations centered on the word “stone” to describe the new life found in Jesus. [It is noteworthy that the name “Peter” (petros in Greek) means “rock.” Cf. Matt 16:18] The passage begins with an allusion to Mt. Sinai and Exodus 19:23 in which the mountain was set apart because it was holyHoly is a term that originally meant set apart for the worship or service of God. While the term may refer to people, objects, time, or places, holiness in Judaism and Christianity primarily denotes the realm of the divine More. On account of its holiness, the people were not allowed to approach the mountain. The author of 1 Peter gives this story an ironic twist: the people did not approach the holy mountain, and they did not approach Jesus, the holy, living stone, but instead rejected him. Their rejection, however, did not diminish his holiness and the author calls on Jesus’ followers to draw close to Jesus instead of setting themselves apart.
The Old Testament quotations that follow play on this theme. First, the author shifts from one mountain (Sinai) to another (ZionZion originally referred to a mountain near Jerusalem where David conquered a Jebusite stronghold. Later the term came to mean a number of other things like the Temple, Jerusalem, and even the Promised Land. More) and quotes IsaiahIsaiah, son of Amoz, who prophesied in Jerusalem, is included among the prophets of the eighth century BCE (along with Amos, Hosea, and Micah)--preachers who boldly proclaimed God's word of judgment against the economic, social, and religious disorders of their time. More 28:16 to illustrate Jesus’ role as the cornerstone on which the faith of his followers is built. Building on the idea of a cornerstone, a quotation from PsalmA psalm is a song of praise. In the Old Testament 150 psalms comprise the psalter, although some of the psalms are laments and thanksgivings. In the New Testament early Christians gathered to sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. More 118:22 is used to once again highlight the rejection and acceptance characteristic of the life of both Jesus and his followers. Though Jesus was a stone that the TempleThe Jerusalem temple, unlike the tabernacle, was a permanent structure, although (like the tabernacle) it was a place of worship and religious activity. On one occasion Jesus felt such activity was unacceptable and, as reported in all four Gospels, drove from the temple those engaged... More and its priests rejected, God has set him up as the true cornerstone of a spiritual temple and priesthood. This line from Psalm 118 is blended together with another quotation from Isaiah, in which Jesus transforms from the glorious cornerstone of the Temple to a rock in the road that causes unbelievers to stumble (Isaiah 8:14). In wrapping up his wordplay, the author of 1 Peter reminds his readers that stumbling over the stone of Jesus is a matter of faith; those who do not believe in the Word trip over it.
