GRACE REJECTEDMark 12:1-12

(p. 935-6)

March 17, 2013

INTRODUCTION Last week:

Jesus entered Jerusalem “Cleansed” a portion of the temple courts Cursed a fig tree Metaphor for Israel not

producing fruit Jewish authorities question Jesus:

• “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you authority to do this?” (Mark 11:28)

Today: Indirect answer using Parable of the Tenants

INTRODUCTION Hearing the parable without any background info...

Why was the owner so naïve? Why are the tenants so bad? Why did the tenants think they could get away

with their crimes? Conclude: Silly story. The owner shouldn’t have

been so nice. No relevance to my faith and life

INTRODUCTION Hearing the parable as Jesus’ audience…

Great knowledge of Old Testament & Jewish thought and culture

Meaning of parable is very different Important for Christians to study the Bible so we can

understand the deeper meanings. Today:

Hearing as Jesus’ audience did Implications for our faith & life

1. WHO IS THE OWNER? Owner of a vineyard built a watchtower, winepress

(Mk 12:1) Reminiscent of Isaiah’s “Song of the Vineyard:”

My loved one had a vineyard… He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well. (Isa 5:1-2)

Symbolic language explained in Isa 5:7:The vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the nation of Israel.

God is the owner

1. WHO ARE THE TENANTS? Owner rented the land to tenant farmers Different from Isa 5 vineyard, which had no tenants But vineyard in Isa 5 and tenants in Mk 12 function in

the same way:The vineyard & the tenants are fruitless

The tenants are fruitless Israel!

1. WHO ARE THE TENANTS? Jesus’ audience were the leaders of Israel, therefore

this story is condemning them – and they know it! Isa 3:14

“The LORD enters into judgment with the elders and princes of his people: It is you who have devoured the vineyard, the spoil of the poor is in your houses”

Jer 12:10 “Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard, they have trampled down my portion, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.”

1. WHO ARE THE SERVANTS? Servant sent to collect owner’s share of the fruit, but

he is beaten and sent away empty-handed Second servant – “struck on the head and treated shamefully” v4

Third servant – killed! Owner continues to act with goodwill towards

tenants…“He sent many others; some of them they beat, others they killed” v5

The servants are God’s prophets!

1. WHO ARE THE SERVANTS? 2 Chronicles 36:15-16

“The Lord, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people... But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against his people...”

Matthew 23:37“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you!”

1. WHO IS THE BELOVED SON? The owner has one more to send: his beloved son Why??

The servants appealed to the integrity of the tenants

The son appeals to the owner’s legal right over the vineyard

The son represents the father’s authority Given wickedness of the tenants, the son also

expresses the owner’s compassion

1. WHO IS THE BELOVED SON? Tenants could have responded righteously But they do not; selfishness & greed rule…

“They took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.” v8The beloved son is Jesus!

Jesus is called “beloved” (TNIV: “son whom I love”) at his baptism and at the Transfiguration (Mk 1:11, 9:7)

Death of the son in the parable points to Jesus impending betrayal and death

2. GRACE REJECTED“What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those

tenants and vie the vineyard to others.” v9 The chief priests, elders, teachers of the law will be

unseated from their places of leadership, power & authorityThe consequences of rejecting the owner’s final

act of compassion & grace Supported by Psalm 118:22-23

“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this…”

2. GRACE REJECTED Psalm 118:22-23

To us: allusion to Jesus’ resurrection To Jesus’ audience: the tenants evil actions will be

overcome by God’s sovereignty• They didn’t apply it to their own lives… they “looked for a

way to arrest [Jesus] because they knew he had spoken the parable against them” v12

2. GRACE REJECTED The Parable of the Tenants indirectly but clearly

answered their questions from Mk 11:28“By what authority are you doing these things?”

The answer: God’s authority!“And who gave you the authority to do this?”

The answer: God did! Even though Jesus was rejected by the religious

establishment, he would ultimately become the cornerstone

3. WHO ARE WE? How am I treating Jesus and the grace He offers?

Rejecting grace: when we live without reference to God & when our actions do not bring Him glory

The wicked tenants: Selfish & Greedy What parts of the vineyard do I want to keep? Am I greedy? Stingy? Am I generous? Giving sacrificially? Example: having kids

4. CONCLUSION

How do we escape the fate of the tenants and leaders of Israel?

BE THANKFUL!

Notice the world around you, be thankful for every small and great thing!