“ The Lord of the Harvest” Mk.12:1-11
Introduction
As a child I grew up in a rural area and we lived in a rented house. I had friends who lived as tenants on farms. There were some things that were expected from the landlord from the tenant. These included: 1. Pay the rent 2.)Raise a crop 3.) Maintain the property of the landlord. In this parable of wicked tenants we see many similarities.
We are in the “vineyard” called life. Maybe we didn’t ask to be here but we’re here none the less and God has expectations of us.
God is:
I. LORD v.1
We see many qualities of the Lord. He is:
a. Loving – John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
If you had been the only person on earth Jesus would have given His life for you. In the “landlord / tenant” analogy He is a good landlord.
b. Patient
In this parable He sent several servants to receive fruit
c. Watching ….not only watching but all knowing “omniscient”
d. Expectant – God expects a crop. He waits for a great harvest.
So life (the vineyard) is where we are to produce fruit. To produce fruit we must:
II. LABOR
Our purpose in life is to bring people to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. The vineyard can be a tough place to handle. The most important thing anyone can do in life is to accept Jesus as personal Savior. Then after that God wants us to live the abundant life.
John 10:10 “…I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. “
So it is that we see in this parable man as a 1.) Farmer or a )Servant. Which are you?
A.) Farmer
a. This represents the nation of Israel and in today’s context represents RELIGION. People don’t need religion today, they need a relationship with Christ!
Malachi 3:8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, in what ways have we robbed you? In tithes and offerings.”
There are many fine church buildings in the world with fine facilities who are robbing God in that they are more concerned with buildings and programs than in producing fruit….new Christians.
b. Ignoring the plight of downtrodden, hurting people. They are whitewashed “mausoleums” with people who are hurting laying on their steps.
Matthew 7:21 “ Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”
c. Many churches and Christians lazy, and self serving.
There are many preachers, elders, deacons, Sunday School teachers, pastors, leaders who are lost as a “turkey in a snowstorm”. They need to have their names written in the lamb’s book of life.
What we need are the ones who were persecuted in the parable by the tenant farmers…………
B. Servants – These were represented in the parable by the prophets, and priests who were doing the work of the Lord in a non-self serving way. They were willing to work that the Lord would be lifted up.
Faithful and true to Christ.
They may not worship in a “megachurch” but they do a “megawork” for the Lord. They are selfless workers.
Subsequently they know the “abundant life” of victory in Jesus.
Some of the most unhappy people I know in my ministry are “religious people” who are more interested in just serving the Lord than in their “church plant “.
III. LANDSCAPE
So what about our beautiful church buildings and fountains? I think Jesus wants us to be producers of “wine” and show the beauty and effervescence of Him in our lives. If we live as servants the world will see and want to know Him as their Lord.
A. We have an awesome responsibility. As believers we face the judgment of Christ concerning what we have done for Him since He came into our heart. V.9
Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.”
B. Jesus is to be the CORNERSTONE or standard of the church. The “landscape” of churches, family life centers, cathedrals, fountains, is to be tempered by a vision of the risen savior and His name is Jesus. (“God with us”)
Church is made up of PEOPLE
Conclusion
v.11 “…..and it is marvelous in our eyes.”
Lord give us the heart and the work ethic of a servant.
