Word@Work 137 - Mark 12:6-8
Published: Wed, 06/04/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 12:6-8 "He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, 'They will respect my son.' "But the tenants said to one another, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' So they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. (NIV)
The story of arrogant and abusive tenant farmers comes to its next twist. The centrepiece of the owner's policy, to recover his assets, was to send his son; the personal family representative with all the authority of the owner. The son is described as the heir - the person who will benefit from the prosperity of the business. The farm labourers saw their opportunity to eliminate the inheritor and leave them with the owner's legacy. So, the plan was to kill the son, which they did, even throwing his remains off the property.
As Jesus told that story, its meaning should have bitten into the religious opposition. He knew their plans, and that He would be killed (outside the city wall too!), Jesus had seen right into their hearts and into the future. Such revelation should have called their consciences to pause for breath: but they were fixed on eliminating the Son of God.
Who wants Jesus today? Very few who have power or ambition or wealth: they have no interest in Him. But if He should come close enough to upset their ego-system, most want Him out of the picture ... either dead or trapped within archaic religious traditions where He can not interfere with real life. But real life is exactly what Jesus came to give, and for which He was willing to die. Real life is Jesus' business - indeed without Jesus, we can never experience what life is about. However this story does help to explain why Jesus (as opposed to religion) is the point of division, between those who love God and those who hate Him. Jesus encouraged His disciples who would face opposition, that really the attack was against Himself: "The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil" (John 7:7 NIV).
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus. Help me to understand that when people have a go at me because I love You - that they are really attacking You and not me personally. Please help me to be courageous at such times, and to pray for those people whose opposition to You and Your Word is so dangerously futile. In Your Name, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
The story of arrogant and abusive tenant farmers comes to its next twist. The centrepiece of the owner's policy, to recover his assets, was to send his son; the personal family representative with all the authority of the owner. The son is described as the heir - the person who will benefit from the prosperity of the business. The farm labourers saw their opportunity to eliminate the inheritor and leave them with the owner's legacy. So, the plan was to kill the son, which they did, even throwing his remains off the property.
As Jesus told that story, its meaning should have bitten into the religious opposition. He knew their plans, and that He would be killed (outside the city wall too!), Jesus had seen right into their hearts and into the future. Such revelation should have called their consciences to pause for breath: but they were fixed on eliminating the Son of God.
Who wants Jesus today? Very few who have power or ambition or wealth: they have no interest in Him. But if He should come close enough to upset their ego-system, most want Him out of the picture ... either dead or trapped within archaic religious traditions where He can not interfere with real life. But real life is exactly what Jesus came to give, and for which He was willing to die. Real life is Jesus' business - indeed without Jesus, we can never experience what life is about. However this story does help to explain why Jesus (as opposed to religion) is the point of division, between those who love God and those who hate Him. Jesus encouraged His disciples who would face opposition, that really the attack was against Himself: "The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil" (John 7:7 NIV).
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus. Help me to understand that when people have a go at me because I love You - that they are really attacking You and not me personally. Please help me to be courageous at such times, and to pray for those people whose opposition to You and Your Word is so dangerously futile. In Your Name, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
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