Daniel and Zechariah Volume 2, week 8

Week 8: Christ as the Stone with the Seven Eyes of Jehovah for God's Building 

In the last lesson, we learned that in order for God to build the temple, He needs a high priest and a king. And Jesus fulfills the roles both as the high Priest and the King for the building of the church. Christ is everything we need. He is the all-inclusive One. 

This week, we are going to see in detail about Christ as Stones. He is foundation stone, cornerstone, living stone, and top stone of the building of the Church. Moreover, the prophet Zechariah also demonstrates Christ as the Stone with seven eyes.  

Christ as foundation stone, cornerstone, living stone, and topstone 

If there is going to be an exam on the topic of "church building" based on the book "Crystallization-Study of the book of Zechariah," I'm more than 100% sure that this will be one big question worth high marks. Brother Lee repeats it so many times that Christ is the foundation stone, cornerstone, living stone, and top stone of the Church building. And this claim is absolutely based on the truth in the bible.  

   

1. Christ as the foundation stone 

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 16:18 NKJV) 

This is one of the greatest prophecies in the New Testament. And it is greatly misunderstood by many believers. Jesus is going to build His church on the rock. This rock is not Peter. This rock refers to Jesus Himself, whom Peter confessed as "the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:16)  

Brothers and sisters, what is the foundation of your life? Christ is the only sure foundation. Do not build your life upon any other foundation!    

Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily. (Isaiah 28:16 NKJV) 

For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:11 NKJV) 

2. Christ as the cornerstone 

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 NKJV) 

Ephesians 2 explains clearly that Jesus as the cornerstone joins together the wall of Jewish believers and the wall of the Gentile believers. Jesus, whom was rejected by His people, has become the chief cornerstone (Psalm 118:22). In this chief cornerstone, we who were strangers and foreigners have now become the citizens and members of the household of God. All the peoples, whether Jews or Gentiles, have been saved and joined together, so that they can become one in the Body of Christ. Christ is the cornerstone of all the nations. 

3. Christ as the living stone 

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 NKJV) 

We also have Christ as the living stone of God's building. This living stone is living in us and transforming us to be the living stones. And a characteristic of a living thing is that it can grow. Therefore we need to experience the stone who is living in us more and more, and allow the stone to grow, so that we may grow in life.  

Brothers and sisters, the church is an organism or organic body, not an organisation. The true growth of the church can happen only when the members grow in life. Eat Christ and drink Christ more and more each day, so that you will gain more life and God's building will grow. Do not let the church become an organisation, because it has no life and can never grow!  

4. Christ as the topstone 

Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” (Zechariah 4:7 NKJV) 

You may have wondered why I have not mentioned about the book of Zechariah at all. Here it is. Zechariah is the only book that tells us about Christ as the topstone or capstone of His building. 

In this vision, the vision of the lampstands and the olive trees, the word of God that comes through the angel mainly encourages the governor Zerubbabel that the rebuilding of the temple will be accomplished. To bring forth the topstone means that the building is complete. And there would be shouts of "Grace, grace to it!" 

Obviously, this topstone represents Christ who is the grace from God to us. Christ is our topstone of grace. He is the completion of the rebuilding of God's temple! 

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 

16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. (John 1:14, 16 NKJV) 

Brothers and sisters, we can see that Christ is everything for God's building. He is truly the all-inclusive One. He starts, executes, and finishes the building project, with He Himself as the building material. All that He has done is just for us. He builds this building and wants us to be a part of it, so that, by dispensing His life into us, we may be one with Him, and may become His corporate expression and His enlargement. 

    

Christ as the stone with seven eyes 

For behold, the stone That I have laid before Joshua: Upon the stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave its inscription,’ Says the Lord of hosts, ‘And I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. (Zechariah 3:9 NKJV) 

For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the Lord, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.” (Zechariah 4:10 NKJV) 

Here we have an imagery of a stone with seven eyes. The stone signifies Christ, and the seven eyes, which are the eyes of the Lord, signify the Holy Spirit, who is one with Christ. I have got 2 points to share here. 

Firstly, the stone was engraved, before the iniquity was removed. To engrave is to cut. This clearly demonstrates that in order to remove our iniquity, the stone, signifying Christ, had to be cut off by being crucified on the cross. Christ whom knew no sin became sin for us, and was punished instead of us, so that God's plan of redemption, salvation and building would be accomplished. May we embrace this truth of grace with the heart of gratitude.  

Secondly, the eyes of the Lord is scanning to and fro throughout the whole earth. God is watching over us. And these eyes can be lovely or fearful, depending on us. If we live properly as the children of God, the eyes will be lovely. But if we disobey God, the eyes should not be really lovely, should they? However, whether with lovely or fearful eyes, God intends to work all things for our eternal good. He needs to teach us and transform us, so that we will be more like Jesus Christ. May we look at His eyes all the time, so that we may know His heart, as the eyes are the windows to the heart. 

Reference 

• The Holy Word for Morning Revival: Crystallisation Study of Daniel and Zechariah Volume 2, week 8. 

Thirayost Nimmanon