As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 1 Peter 2:4 ESV
Peter was the most outspoken of Jesus’s followers. He was a blue-collar guy. Hard working, but rough-hewn. So when a guy like that tells you something is precious, it’s worth stopping and considering his words. In his first letter, Peter quickly mentions several things that precious. (Or of great value or great worth, depending on your translation.)
We have looked at the genuineness of your faith which is even more precious than gold. Last week, we considered the precious blood of Christ.
This week we find what is precious to God Himself – Jesus Christ, the living stone.
In this context, the Greek word for precious means highly valued or esteemed. Why?
First is because of His relationship. The is the beloved Son. God affirms this at Jesus’s baptism. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17
Second is because of His position. Christ is the head of all things, and especially the Church.
And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, Ephesians 1:22
The third is because of His function. He is our great high priest and intercessor.
Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, Hebrews 3:1
Most importantly, it is because of His work. Christ left glory. Lived as a man. Took our sins upon Him and died a horrible death on the cross. Because He loved US too much to abandon us to the consequences of our sin.
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:8-11
Because He accomplished the work the Father gave Him to do, He is the living stone, elect and precious.
But it is even more amazing. In the next verse, Peter says, “You also as living stones.” He made us able to be like Him.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: John 1:12
That makes Him precious to the Father. And because of Jesus Christ, so are we.
