~ 9 Stones in the Bible ~
Stone (Christ our foundation) ~ “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:19-22).
Stones (living) ~ “Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:4-5).
Stones (precious) ~ “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire” (1 Corinthians 3:9-15).
Stone (Christ our basis) ~ “Jesus said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven’ And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:15-18). Some interesting facts relating to this passage:
- Simon contains the meaning of one who hears and obeys. Interesting to consider how Simon denied his Lord three times after this point in time. However, his subsequent life was one of obedience. God can turn one of the weakest into one of His strongest!
- It is interesting to note that Peter means rock or stone. Peter became a rock solid leader of the early Church!
- Bar-Jonah simply means son of Jonah or son of a dove. Peter was certainly dove such as in his denials but later was transformed becoming more like a hawk!
- The most significant item in this verse is the basis that Christ will build His Church upon the rock of “Christ, the Son of the living God” (the foundation cornerstone noted previously).
As we have seen stones are used in a positive way.
However, stones are also used in a negative way.
Stones (to stone others) ~ Jesus said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Matthew 23:37, also Luke 13:34). “Again he sent them another servant, and at him they threw stones, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated” (Mark 12:4).
Stones (to stone Jesus) ~ “Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by” (John 8:59). “Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, ‘Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?’” (John 10:31-32).
Stones (for sealing burial tombs) ~ “Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?’ Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, ‘Father, I thank You that You have heard Me’” (John 11:40-41).
Stones are a part of our life on earth.
Stones will also be a part of our life on the new earth.
Stones (in heaven) ~ “Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass” (Revelation 21:14-21).
Stone (Christ our Light) ~ “And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal” (Revelation 21:10-11).
Comment ~ This is a special post for me. It was inspired by a pencil notation in my deceased brother’s study Bible which listed four kinds of stones.
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.
