Why is Jesus called “the Stone”?

St. Cyprian of Carthage says, “In Isaiah: ‘Thus says the Lord, Behold, I place on the foundations of Zion a precious stone, elect, chief, a corner stone, honourable; and he who trusts in Him shall not be confounded’ (Isa. 28:16). Also in the 118[th] Psalm: ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Save now, I pray, O Lord; O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ (Ps. 118:22–26). Also in Zechariah: ‘Behold, I bring forth my servant. The Dayspring is his name, because the stone which I have placed before the face of Joshua; upon that one stone are seven eyes’ (Zech. 3:8–9). Also in Deuteronomy: ‘And you shall write upon the stone all this law, very plainly’ (Deut. 17:8). Also in Joshua the son of Nun: ‘And he took a great stone, and placed it there before the Lord; and Joshua said unto the people, Behold, this stone shall be to you for a testimony, because it has heard all the things which were spoken by the Lord, which He has spoken to you today; and it shall be for a testimony to you in the last of the days, when you shall have departed from your God’ (Josh. 24:26–27) … This is the stone in Exodus upon which Moses sat on the top of a hill when Joshua the son of Nun fought against Amalek [Ex. 17:12–13]; and by the sacrament of the stone, and the steadfastness of his sitting, Amalek was overcome by Jesus, that is, the devil was overcome by Christ. This is the great stone in the first book of Samuel, upon which was placed the ark of the covenant when the oxen brought it back in the cart, sent back and returned by the strangers [1 Sam. 6:15]. Also, this is the stone in the first book of Samuel, with which David smote the forehead of Goliath and slew him [1 Sam. 17:49–51]; signifying that the devil and his servants are thereby thrown down—that part of the head, namely, being conquered which they have not had sealed. And by this seal we also are always safe and live. This is the stone which, when Israel had conquered the foreigners, Samuel set up and called its name Ebenezer; that is, the stone that helps [1 Sam. 7:12].”⁷⁸⁸