What are you leaning on today?
In Acts 4, Peter boldly addresses the rulers and elders, declaring the cornerstone truth of our faith:
“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.” —Acts 4:12
He tells them that Jesus, whom they crucified, is the stone they rejected—yet He has become the Chief Cornerstone. Peter is quoting Psalm 118:22–23, a passage he likely knew well. After all, he had heard Jesus Himself speak these words.
Jesus referenced this same Psalm when addressing the Pharisees after telling the parable of the vineyard owner whose servants were repeatedly mistreated and killed by wicked tenants (see Luke 20 and Mark 12). Not long after the people cried “Hosanna to the Son of David,” Jesus declared that the builders—those in power—would reject the most essential stone, sending Him to the cross.
In ancient architecture, the cornerstone was the first and most crucial stone laid. Every other stone was aligned to it. If the cornerstone was off, the entire structure was at risk of collapse. The placement of that first stone was so significant, it often came with a ceremony to mark its setting.
You couldn’t build without it. And you couldn’t afford to misplace it.
Psalm 118, particularly verses 19–26, is a cry for righteousness and salvation. The psalmist (likely David) proclaims:
“The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This came about from the Lord; it is marvelous in our eyes.” —Psalm 118:22–23
Centuries before Christ, the psalmist looked ahead in faith, trusting that the Lord would bring salvation. And when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the people’s cry of “Hosanna!” echoed that hope. After Jesus’ resurrection, Peter points back and affirms: the psalmist’s words were fulfilled in Christ.
Jesus is the first stone in the foundation of His Church—the one from whom all else is aligned. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. If we build without Him, we build on sand. If we are not aligned with Him, we will eventually fall.
But praise the Lord—we are the ones who cry “Hosanna!” We call out to Him for salvation, and He answers. He becomes our salvation.