Friends, let me begin with one simple question that has echoed through every generation and still stands before us today. What will you do with the stone? Not just any stone, but the one the Scriptures speak about when it says, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone” (Psalm 118:22). Jesus took those words and made them personal. He stood before the leaders of His day and made it clear that He Himself was that stone, and that what they chose to do with Him would decide everything. That same question now comes to each one of us. What will you do with Him?
In the ancient world, a cornerstone was not something decorative. It was the most important part of the building. Everything was measured from it. Every wall lined up with it. If the cornerstone was wrong, the whole structure would be off. If it cracked, the building would weaken. If it was removed, everything would eventually fall. God spoke through the prophet Isaiah long before Jesus came and said, “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation” (Isaiah 28:16). This was not just a promise of something helpful, but of something necessary. Jesus is that stone. He is not one choice among many. He is the foundation itself. Every life is being built on something, and only one foundation will stand when everything is tested.
But Jesus is not only the foundation we build on, He is also the light by which we see. Think back to the first Passover in Egypt. There was darkness over the land and fear in every home, yet where the blood was applied, there was safety. God made a clear difference between life and death, between light and darkness. Many years later, Jesus sat with His disciples and spoke of His own blood, and then He said something even greater. He said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12). He did not say He would point people to the light or teach them about it. He said He is the light. The same light that guided Israel in the wilderness, the same light that revealed the glory of God, now walking among men.
The Gospel tells us, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it” (John 1:5). Darkness has no power to defeat light. It only exists where light is absent. When Jesus came into the world, the darkness did not understand Him, and it tried to stop Him. At the cross, it looked like darkness had won. The tomb was sealed, guarded, and closed. Everything seemed finished. But on the third day, the truth was revealed. The light was never defeated. Jesus rose from the grave, and in that moment everything changed. Death was overcome. The grave was broken. The stone that was rejected was now proven to be the cornerstone of all things. Light cannot be put out by darkness, and life cannot be held by death.
This leads us to a truth that is not always welcomed, but it remains true. There is no other way. The apostles said clearly, “There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). And Jesus Himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). These words are not meant to push people away but to call them in. They are not a barrier but an invitation. The problem every person faces is sin, and the result of sin is death. The answer to death is life, and that life is found only in the One who conquered death. Jesus does not offer one path among many. He is the path. He is the answer to the deepest need of every human heart.
Yet even with this truth, many still reject Him. This did not only happen in the past. It happens now. People examine Him, consider His words, and then set Him aside. They try to build their lives on something else, on success, on knowledge, on comfort, or on their own understanding. But a life built on anything other than the cornerstone will not stand. It may look strong for a time, but when it is tested, the weakness will show. Still, God does not close the door. The invitation remains open. Scripture says, “Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him” (Psalm 2:12). Those who once rejected Him are still invited to come back, to place Him where He belongs, at the center.
For those who already believe, there is another word from Jesus that is just as important. He said, “Abide in Me… for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:4–5). To abide means to remain, to stay connected, to continue with Him day by day. It is possible to know about Him and yet drift away in daily life. It is possible to believe and yet not stay close. But true life comes from staying connected to Him. Just as a branch cannot live without the vine, we cannot live apart from Him. When we remain in Him, something real begins to grow. Not something forced or fake, but true change from within. Love grows. Obedience grows. A new way of living begins to take shape, not by our own strength, but because His life is working in us.
All of this points back to what Passover always meant. Every lamb, every sacrifice, every sign was pointing forward to Jesus. He is the Lamb who gave His life, the One who rose again, and the One who now calls every person to come to Him. He calls us to build on Him, to walk in His light, and to receive the life that cannot be taken away.
So the question remains. What will you do with the stone? Will you set Him aside, or will you build your life on Him? There is no middle ground. He is the cornerstone whether we accept Him or not, but only those who build on Him will stand. He is the light whether we follow Him or not, but only those who follow Him will walk in it. He is the life whether we receive Him or not, but only those who receive Him will live.
This is the message of Easter. The stone that was rejected has become the cornerstone. The light has overcome the darkness. The grave is empty. Jesus is alive. And His words still stand, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die” (John 11:25–26). Do you believe this? That is the question that stands before every heart. It stood on the first Easter morning, it stands today, and it will stand at the end of all things.
He is the cornerstone. He is the light. He is the only life. And He is risen.
In the ancient world, a cornerstone was not something decorative. It was the most important part of the building. Everything was measured from it. Every wall lined up with it. If the cornerstone was wrong, the whole structure would be off. If it cracked, the building would weaken. If it was removed, everything would eventually fall. God spoke through the prophet Isaiah long before Jesus came and said, “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation” (Isaiah 28:16). This was not just a promise of something helpful, but of something necessary. Jesus is that stone. He is not one choice among many. He is the foundation itself. Every life is being built on something, and only one foundation will stand when everything is tested.
But Jesus is not only the foundation we build on, He is also the light by which we see. Think back to the first Passover in Egypt. There was darkness over the land and fear in every home, yet where the blood was applied, there was safety. God made a clear difference between life and death, between light and darkness. Many years later, Jesus sat with His disciples and spoke of His own blood, and then He said something even greater. He said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12). He did not say He would point people to the light or teach them about it. He said He is the light. The same light that guided Israel in the wilderness, the same light that revealed the glory of God, now walking among men.
The Gospel tells us, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it” (John 1:5). Darkness has no power to defeat light. It only exists where light is absent. When Jesus came into the world, the darkness did not understand Him, and it tried to stop Him. At the cross, it looked like darkness had won. The tomb was sealed, guarded, and closed. Everything seemed finished. But on the third day, the truth was revealed. The light was never defeated. Jesus rose from the grave, and in that moment everything changed. Death was overcome. The grave was broken. The stone that was rejected was now proven to be the cornerstone of all things. Light cannot be put out by darkness, and life cannot be held by death.
This leads us to a truth that is not always welcomed, but it remains true. There is no other way. The apostles said clearly, “There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). And Jesus Himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). These words are not meant to push people away but to call them in. They are not a barrier but an invitation. The problem every person faces is sin, and the result of sin is death. The answer to death is life, and that life is found only in the One who conquered death. Jesus does not offer one path among many. He is the path. He is the answer to the deepest need of every human heart.
Yet even with this truth, many still reject Him. This did not only happen in the past. It happens now. People examine Him, consider His words, and then set Him aside. They try to build their lives on something else, on success, on knowledge, on comfort, or on their own understanding. But a life built on anything other than the cornerstone will not stand. It may look strong for a time, but when it is tested, the weakness will show. Still, God does not close the door. The invitation remains open. Scripture says, “Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him” (Psalm 2:12). Those who once rejected Him are still invited to come back, to place Him where He belongs, at the center.
For those who already believe, there is another word from Jesus that is just as important. He said, “Abide in Me… for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:4–5). To abide means to remain, to stay connected, to continue with Him day by day. It is possible to know about Him and yet drift away in daily life. It is possible to believe and yet not stay close. But true life comes from staying connected to Him. Just as a branch cannot live without the vine, we cannot live apart from Him. When we remain in Him, something real begins to grow. Not something forced or fake, but true change from within. Love grows. Obedience grows. A new way of living begins to take shape, not by our own strength, but because His life is working in us.
All of this points back to what Passover always meant. Every lamb, every sacrifice, every sign was pointing forward to Jesus. He is the Lamb who gave His life, the One who rose again, and the One who now calls every person to come to Him. He calls us to build on Him, to walk in His light, and to receive the life that cannot be taken away.
So the question remains. What will you do with the stone? Will you set Him aside, or will you build your life on Him? There is no middle ground. He is the cornerstone whether we accept Him or not, but only those who build on Him will stand. He is the light whether we follow Him or not, but only those who follow Him will walk in it. He is the life whether we receive Him or not, but only those who receive Him will live.
This is the message of Easter. The stone that was rejected has become the cornerstone. The light has overcome the darkness. The grave is empty. Jesus is alive. And His words still stand, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die” (John 11:25–26). Do you believe this? That is the question that stands before every heart. It stood on the first Easter morning, it stands today, and it will stand at the end of all things.
He is the cornerstone. He is the light. He is the only life. And He is risen.
The stone once set aside,
Now stands at the center strong,
Not shaped by human hands,
But placed by God all along.
On Him we build our lives,
Each step, each choice, each day,
When storms begin to rise,
He will not give way.
The ground may shift and shake,
The world may fall apart,
But those who rest on Him
Stand firm in mind and heart.
He is the rock beneath,
The place where we belong,
Build on this cornerstone,
And you will stand strong.
Now stands at the center strong,
Not shaped by human hands,
But placed by God all along.
On Him we build our lives,
Each step, each choice, each day,
When storms begin to rise,
He will not give way.
The ground may shift and shake,
The world may fall apart,
But those who rest on Him
Stand firm in mind and heart.
He is the rock beneath,
The place where we belong,
Build on this cornerstone,
And you will stand strong.
