Joseph (Son of Jacob)

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The expressions “the stone that causes people to stumble” and “the rock that makes them fall” originate from Isaiah 8. These phrases symbolically refer to God coming in the flesh.[1] They reveal that many would stumble because of Christ, who is represented as the stone. God who appeared in human form—Christ— becomes a stumbling stone and a rock of offense to those who do not believe. However, if we focus on the prophecies of the Bible rather than external, physical appearances, we can rightly recognize and receive Christ, the manifestation of God in the flesh.

Many Jews stumbled because they focused on the physical appearance of Jesus. As prophesied, Christ became “a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.”

Prophecy About a Rock That Stumbles

The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread, and he will be a sanctuary; but for both houses of Israel he will be a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare. Many of them will stumble; they will fall and be broken, they will be snared and captured."

Isaiah 8:13–15


In the book of Isaiah in the Old Testament, it was prophesied that the LORD God would become “a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall” for the two houses of Israel. The two houses—the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah—represent those who profess to believe in God.

If God were to appear in magnificent glory that everyone could immediately recognize, no one would stumble or fall because of Him. This prophecy therefore reveals that when God comes to this earth for the salvation of humanity, He would appear in a form that people would not easily recognize—coming in the flesh, humble and ordinary in appearance.

Fulfillment of Prophecy

The Meaning of Stone in the Bible

In the Bible, stones and rocks are often used as symbols of Christ.[2][3] He is described not only as “a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall,”[1] but also as the precious cornerstone.[4][5]

Stones are common and appear everywhere—along roadsides, on mountains, in rivers, and by the sea—often seeming ordinary and of little value. Yet in construction, stones are indispensable, used to form foundations, pillars, and walls. Likewise, Christ, though regarded as ordinary and easily overlooked by those who do not believe, is the essential foundation for salvation. To believers, He is the precious cornerstone, the treasure that grants salvation and eternal life.

Jesus, the Stone That Causes People to Stumble and the Rock That Makes Them Fall

According to the prophecies of the Old Testament, Jesus is God who came in the flesh. Although He is God Almighty by nature,[6] He appeared in a form no different from that of ordinary people—having nothing outwardly admirable or majestic.[7] Because of this, many Jews 2,000 years ago stumbled in their faith when they saw the physical appearance of Christ, which did not meet their expectations.

To them, Jesus was merely a humble carpenter, the son of Joseph and Mary.[8][9] Despite Isaiah’s prophecy that “Galilee of the Gentiles has seen a great light,”[10] they slandered Him, saying, “Can anything good come from Galilee?”[11] They criticized Him for not following their traditions, such as washing His hands before eating,[12] and mocked Him as a glutton and a drunkard.[13] When He taught in the temple, they scorned Him, saying He was uneducated and unworthy to teach.[14] They condemned Him for showing compassion to tax collectors and prostitutes, derisively calling Him “a friend of sinners.”[13][15] Even the disbelief of influential and educated leaders became, for them, another excuse to reject Him.[16]

Apostle Peter taught that those who focused only on Jesus’ physical appearance were destined to stumble, for this was according to God’s plan. He explained that Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 8—that when God came in the flesh, concealing His divine glory, He would become both the cornerstone for salvation and the stone that causes people to stumble and the rock that makes them fall—a trap and a snare for unbelievers.


As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him . . . For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,” and, “A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.

1 Peter 2:4–8

For details, refer to: Jesus’ Appearance and Living Environment

How to Receive Christ

In the days of Jesus, many people rejected Him because they could not accept Him as the Christ. Even Judas Iscariot, who had followed Jesus as his teacher, ultimately judged Him by outward appearances and betrayed Him for thirty silver coins.[17] Like many others, he stumbled over Christ, who came as “the stone that causes people to stumble and the rock that makes them fall,” because they failed to recognize His true identity. On the other hand, there were those who realized that Jesus is the Christ,[18] the One testified about in the Scriptures. They believed His words of eternal life and recognized that He was the fulfillment of prophecy.[19] As Jesus said, “The Scriptures testify about Me,”[20] those who understood this truth preached Christ based on the testimony of the Bible.[21][22]

Having heard the words of eternal life, the disciples recognized Jesus as the Christ and devoted themselves to following Him.

The Bible prophesies that Jesus Christ will appear a second time in the last days for the salvation of humanity.[23] In prophecy, Jesus is described as a white stone with a new name written on it, symbolizing His appearance in a new form at His second coming.[24] Just as He did 2,000 years ago, He will again become a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall—to those who judge by outward appearances rather than by the word of God. However, just as the saints and apostles of the early Church recognized and followed Christ through the prophecies of Scripture, those who rely on the Bible—not on physical appearances—will recognize the Second Coming Christ as their precious treasure and receive the blessing of salvation.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Isaiah 8:13–15".
  2. ↑ "1 Peter 2:4".
  3. ↑ "1 Corinthians 10:4".
  4. ↑ "Isaiah 28:16".
  5. ↑ "Psalms 118:22–23".
  6. ↑ "Philippians 2:5–8".
  7. ↑ "Isaiah 53:2".
  8. ↑ "John 6:41–42".
  9. ↑ "Mark 6:3".
  10. ↑ "Isaiah 9:1–2".
  11. ↑ "John 7:40–43".
  12. ↑ "Luke 11:37–38".
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Matthew 11:19".
  14. ↑ "John 7:14–15".
  15. ↑ "Luke 7:39".
  16. ↑ "John 7:47–49".
  17. ↑ "Matthew 26:14–16".
  18. ↑ "Matthew 16:13–17".
  19. ↑ "John 6:66–69".
  20. ↑ "John 5:39".
  21. ↑ "Acts 17:2–3".
  22. ↑ "Acts 8:30–35".
  23. ↑ "Hebrews 9:28".
  24. ↑ "Revelation 2:17".
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