The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 94

seen in vision the head-stone of the completed and transformed theocracy brought fort.h with triumphant acclaim, Daniel had prophesied of a Stone cut out without hands, which should crash among the kingdoms of the earth like a boulder hurled by an a.alauche among peasants' cottages and gardens. .And all these streams of pre- diction had been gathered into one, in the words which Peter so well remembered, with which, in those last days of hand-to-hand conflict, his Master had silenced his antagonists, and claimed to be at once the tried Foundation, and the ponderous Rock which, when it was set in motion, would grind opposition and opposers to powder, The echoes of these mighty words sound here, as they have been interpreted to the apostle by all that has passed since he :first heard them. He understands now better than he did, even when he fronted the Sanhedrin with the bold proclamation, "This is the Stone which is set at nought of you builders." He has learned that his Lord is not merely meant to be the Foundation on which Israel may build, but that on which "strangers scattered abroad may be gathered into one." In all aspects and relations Jesus Christ is the Foundation-stone. The whole universe rests on him. He is " the Firstborn of every creature," the .Agent of creation, the Mediator through whom all things came to be, and based upon whom the mighty whole of the material creation continues to e:i.:ist. He is the Foundation of humanity, the Root from whom it springs, the Head in which it is gathered into one. He is the Foundation on which the individual son! must build all hope, joy, and goodness. He is the Foundation of the highest and purest form of social life, in which ultimately all others shall merge, and men be one in him. He is the Basis of a.11 true thoughts of God, man, immortality, and duty. He is the Motive and Inspiration of the purest life. His Person, work, and teaching underlie all being, all peace, and all nobleness. He is the "livinja!; Stone," inasmuch as in him is essential life, and he ever lives to be the Source of life to all who build on him. II. CHRIST'S GREAT GIFT, THAT OF ASSIMILATION TO mMSELF. Coming to him, we become living stones. One can scarcely avoid seeing here some allusion to the apostle's own name, as if he would share whatever honour there waa., with all his brethren, and disown any special prerogative. "' Thou art Peter• was, indeed, said to me; but you are all living stones. • On this rock' was, indeed, said to me; but Christ is the only Foundation." Peter's own understanding of these much-controve1ted words is no bad guide to their meaning. The image here but puts under one aspect the wide general principle that transformation into Christ's likeness is the great end of his work on us. Is he a Son? Through him we become sons. Is he " the Light of the world"? illumined by him, we too become lights. Is he anointed with the Spirit? Through him we too receive that unction which invests us with his three- fold office of prophet, priest, and king. We are one with him, and participate in hia relation to God; we are one with him, and receive of his fulness, are clothed with his righteousness, and growingly conformed to his image. We are one with him, and shall be one in destiny. ".As he is, so are we in this world." "We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." And the deep truth which uuderlies all these representations is the actual communication of the life of Christ to us. That life rises up from the foundation through a.11 the courses of the building. This truth is more obviously suggested by the kindred metaphors of the vine and the branches, and the head and members; but it is clearly intended here also, and is conveyed, though with some incongruity, by the expression, "living stones." The life which is in us is Christ's life. Therefore it unfolds itself in us in a form like his, and the vital contact with the living Stone makes us, too, living stones. III. THE CONDITION OF ASSIMILATION. It is expressed in grand simplicity by that cne pregnant phrase, "to whom coming." The original word implies, by the force of a compound, a very close approach. We must be so near him as to touch him, if his transforming power is to flow into our hearts. A hair's breadth of separation is enough to stop the passage of the electric current. 'l'he thinnest :film of distance between the soul and Christ is thick enough to be an impenetrable barrier. '!'here must be a real living contact if his life is to pour into my veins. .And if we ask how this close approach is to be effected, our Lord's own words are the simplest answer," He that cometh unto me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." We come in the act of faith, To trust him iB to draw near to him. Faith is the Oll, It, 1-25.J THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER. 80