THE LIVING STONE

Power of Jesus Christ

Stones Don’t Live But This One Does

In nature, stones are inanimate. They do not grow, reproduce, or respond to their surroundings. These are essential characteristics of life, as God designed it. Stones are static, cold, and lifeless they do not change or develop over time. This is why, biblically and biologically, stones are not considered living things.

However, the Bible introduces a profound paradox: there is a Stone that lives.

This is not metaphorical in the shallow sense it is deeply theological. The Living Stone is not merely a poetic image, but a divine Person: Jesus Christ, who is alive forevermore, full of power, growth, and spiritual fruitfulness.

“As you come to Him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious…”
1 Peter 2:4, ESV

The Prophetic Stone 

This concept of the Living Stone is rooted in Old Testament prophecy and fulfilled in Christ. In Daniel 2, the prophet interprets King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream about a statue representing earthly kingdoms. The vision climaxes with a stone cut without human hands that destroys the statue and grows into a mountain symbolizing an everlasting kingdom.

“While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them.”
Daniel 2:34, NIV

“In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed… It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.”
Daniel 2:44, NIV

This stone represents Jesus Christ, the Messiah, who came not by human origin (not born through natural conception but of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 1:18). He destroys all human systems of power and sets up God’s unshakable kingdom (Hebrews 12:28).

From Rejection to Cornerstone

Jesus was rejected by men He was not the Messiah the world expected. But in God’s eyes, He was chosen and precious, the foundation of salvation and the cornerstone of the Church.

“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;”
Psalm 118:22, ESV (quoted in Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10, and Luke 20:17)

Peter, writing under the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, connects this directly to Jesus:

“Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,’ and, ‘A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.’”
1 Peter 2:7–8, NIV

For believers, Christ is the firm foundation. For unbelievers, He is the stumbling stone the very truth they trip over because of their refusal to believe (cf. Romans 9:32–33).

The Living Stone That Grows and Multiplies

Christ is not just a static foundation He is living. He rose from the dead (Matthew 28:6; Revelation 1:18), ascended to the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 1:3), and is actively building His Church.

“You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 2:5, NIV

We, as believers, are joined to Christ and share in His life. We are “living stones,” formed and fashioned into a spiritual temple a place of worship, indwelt by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16–17; Ephesians 2:19–22).

The Kingdom That Crushes All Others

Just as Daniel foresaw a rock shattering earthly kingdoms, Revelation confirms Christ will return to establish His eternal reign:

“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.”
Revelation 11:15, ESV

Those who oppose Him will be broken. Jesus Himself warned of this:

“Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”
Matthew 21:44, NIV

This is a call to humble ourselves before Christ now, rather than be judged by Him later. Receive Him as Savior or face Him as Judge.

The Living Stone That Gives Life

Diamonds, though incredibly valuable, are lifeless. Kings, politicians, and powerful people may appear strong, but their influence fades. They are, spiritually speaking, like dead stones. Only Jesus Christ the Living Stone can give true, eternal life.

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live…'”
John 11:25, ESV

To believe in Jesus is to be made alive (Ephesians 2:4–5). As a Living Stone, He enables His followers to also grow, bear fruit, and participate in His mission on Earth.

Our Identity in the Living Stone

When we are joined to Christ, we take on His nature. In the Spirit, we become part of the same divine building project, able to tear down the works of darkness and multiply others into the faith through discipleship and evangelism.

“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”
1 John 3:8, NIV

“Go and make disciples of all nations…”
Matthew 28:19, NIV

We are not just passive believers we are living agents of God’s Kingdom, empowered by the same resurrection life that raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11).

Trust the Living Stone

All other sources of security wealth, power, influence are like dead stones. They may appear valuable, but they cannot save. Only Jesus Christ, the Living Stone, is worthy of our full trust.

To believe in Him is to be made alive. To reject Him is to stumble and fall.

Will you build your life on the Living Stone?

Maranatha! (Come, Lord Jesus!)

Print this post