Giving Away His Vineyard

Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others. Mark 12:9

In this story we stand beside the vineyard, watching the events happen as Jesus tells them. After all that, we get this promise from the story in our verse for today. This vineyard owner is a picture of power. He has the power to destroy, but has not done so yet. Some of those standing beside the vineyard with us might deny that the owner even exists in his far country, even as his handiwork stands right there in front of them. The wicked vinedressers, still living the life for the moment, may have started that denial rumor and sold some illegitimate shares in their vineyard venture. A bystander would not want to be holding those shares when the vineyard owner comes at last. But what is this about giving the vineyard away?

The vineyard has not been profitable to the owner. He has lost servants and his son. In his grief, he may just give the thing away. As the owner, it is his right to do so. Would those deniers still deny his existence as he offers them the vineyard?

Believing in someone far away, whom you have never seen or heard, may be difficult, but we have good help in this faith.

Bucky

Cast Him Out

So they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard. Mark 12:8

As the son and heir, the vineyard would have become his, but now he is dead and cast out. Wait, that sounds much like the judgment that comes at the end times. It does, and it fits. Is it any wonder that those who killed and cast out the Son of God would face the same when He returns in His glory? The Pharisees understood that the parable was directed at them, but they could not conceive of their good lives being subject to the judgment. Their solution to the mean ol' parable was to kill and cast out the offending storyteller. Well, just how good is that sort of life?

There will be those who cannot understand that the judgment comes for them,

Bucky

Judging The Master

Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ Mark 12:6

Reading the parable of the wicked vinedressers, we may come to this verse for today and judge the master of the vineyard rather harshly. "No, you fool!" might be the most polite comment when he comes to sending his one beloved son. The scribes and Pharisees got the meaning behind the words right off, and so do we when studying this parable. This parable is pointed - right at the religious leaders of Israel who first killed the Lord's prophets and soon would do the same to His Son, Jesus. So, since we get it, why do we feel the need to judge the Master when He sends His beloved Son in the parable?

Save me from my own nature, dear Lord Jesus!

Bucky

Off To The Far Country

Then He began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. Mark 12:1

Aha! Story time. Jesus spoke in parables, and those familiar with the Bible recognize this one immediately. As we read the story, we also get read by the story. A person who prefers control might exclaim, "You fool! Why do all that work and then leave it in another person's hands?" A business builder might say, "Exactly correct! Who wants to be tied down managing the place. Move on to the next project." You will have your own reaction to what this man did, and what you might do differently. One among you might happily retire there to spend years researching and experimenting in his own vineyard, trying to achieve the perfect bottle of wine. After all, when Jesus provided wine at the wedding in Cana, He provided the best wine the master of the feast had ever tasted. So, enjoy being read by one of our Lord's stories, learn something of yourself.

Love and joy to you in Christ our Lord,

Bucky

In A Corner

But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me.” Mark 11:29-30

Here's a good one for us. When looking at this story in Mark, what is the story? Is it the question Jesus asked, or is it the religious authorities getting together and refusing to answer? Confessing to not knowing is usually a good place to begin learning something. However, in this case the religious authorities used it to avoid answering one way or another. We would say they refused to engage with Jesus.

It began as a familiar exchange: they wanted Jesus to inform them of something, and Jesus countered with a knowledge for knowledge offer. You have this, I have that, let's make a deal. But when it came time for one side to perform, they discussed it and decided that they were afraid to answer His question. Jesus had neatly pinned the religious authorities in a corner, and they decided, in effect, to huddle in that corner until He went away. Oh, but they still wanted Jesus to answer their question. He didn't, and they missed an opportunity to learn and believe.

If you feel sad for these religious authorities, you are quite right!

Bucky

This One Again

(from July 22)

So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.  Mark 11:22-24

Oh, this one again. And the obvious questions that arise from it. Why didn't I get that thing I wanted? Why didn't this other thing happen when I believed? We often feel the temptation to look at this passage as a magical incantation to get whatever riches or fame we want. Some clues for us aspiring magicians: God cannot be forced to do things no matter what we say. God will not go against His own will. God cannot be made to give us something that is bad for us to have, even if we do not doubt. 

But, a protest comes forth, Jesus did not say that! Bible versions often put in headings, and these headings can separate the words of Jesus so that we stop too soon. Jesus after this says, "And whenever you stand praying..." He says to forgive. So, to believe and receive, I had better have my trespassers forgiven? Yes, a heart not aligned with God's will in forgiving will have trouble believing without doubting. And of course the biggest mountain that needs casting into the sea would be our sinful selfishness. Have faith in God and believe that will be accomplished first, and then see how many selfish prayer requests come to mind.  

Have faith in God, and don't try to be that selfish magician.

Bucky

Serving Forgiveness

And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses. Mark 11:25-26

Yow, hold onto that grudge at my peril! This is one of those promises that puts some fear into me. I know that my sins need to be forgiven, and that Jesus died on the cross to pay that judgment the Lord's justice demands. But, here Jesus speaks a promise that no forgiveness from me to others means no forgiveness for me from God. This passage of the scripture is a good reminder for those times when I might feel grumbly-hateful toward someone who I have something against. That lengthy session of imagined thumping of the rascal that I may indulge in carries a real danger for my much needed mercy and grace from God. Better to pray for the strength to forgive quickly and repeatedly than to hold onto that grudge a moment longer.

Quick! To the forgiveness locker, I have some to hand out, even some repeat customers to serve!

Love and grace to you in Christ our Lord,

Bucky

A House Of Prayer

Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’ ? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”
And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching.

Where is the good news in this? In His first question from Isaiah, Jesus reminds us of a prophecy about the temple. That the Israelites in our Lord's day were preventing it with their unlawful commerce does not mean that it will not still happen. A house of prayer in Jerusalem for all nations sounds like a time of peace on Earth. His disappointment was extreme because His people were stealing when they should have been facilitating the prayer place for Gentiles. The good news is that God's promise will come whether His chosen people work with Him or not. And of course seeking to destroy Him is about as uncooperative as it gets. However, God would use that murderous desire to facilitate a death on a cross to save the world!

Have a joyous new week in Christ our Lord,

Bucky