Messiah's place - a stone laid in Zion (1 Peter 2:4-9)

It is my belief that all Christians should be new Zionists, in that the Messiah has become central to the life of Zion - the new Zion - in which He is the cornerstone, and we are being built up into a temple of praise, with Him. He was a rejected stone, and yet the chief rock in Zion, that causes some men to stumble, and to others he is a living stone and our hope for life.

The question this passage asks of us is; how can we support a Zionism that does not see the Messiah as being central to the life of Zion, but seeks instead the establishment of Zion apart from Jesus Christ. That is surely to stumble and is to turn away from the living stone. As Peter says (1 Peter 2:4-9), writing to the Jews and Israelites of the diaspora who have come to faith in Jesus.

"Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,  5 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.  6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,

“Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”

 

7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,

“The stone which the builders rejected, Has become the chief cornerstone,”

8 and “A stone of stumbling, And a rock of offense.”

 

They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;  10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy."