Rejection Series

Five Powerful Words from the Last Week of the Life of Jesus

REJECTION

Mark 12:1-12

Introduction

Last week we heard Jesus give the third passion narrative - a clear description of what was to happen when they got to Jerusalem. On the way he stops and heals Blind Bartimaeus. Mark 11 records the Triumphal Entry as he enters Jerusalem as the Messianic King. In the second half of Mark 11 Jesus delivers a message of judgment against the Temple, sparking more outrage and plans to kill him.

Today we begin a new series of messages called FIVE POWERFUL WORDS FROM THE LAST WEEK OF JESUS’ LIFE. Our text takes place about three days from the death of Jesus. In Mark 12 we are allowed to peer into the dark days ahead through the eyes of a parable…more of a preview. This parable is violent, brutal, and covered in blood. It does contain a message of hope, but it is buried in the rubble of Old Testament prophecy and we will have to look for it.

Let’s Begin by Reading and thinking through The Parable of the Tenants.

MARK 12:1-9

1 And he began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a pit for the wine press, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country.

2 When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard.

3 And they took him and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed.

4 Again he sent to them another servant, and they wounded him in the head, and treated him shamefully.

5 And he sent another, and him they killed; and so with many others, some they beat and some they killed.

6 He had still one other, a beloved son; finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’

7 But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’

8 And they took him and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.

9 What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants, and give the vineyard to others.

Identity of some of the allegory meanings:

-Owner of the vineyard - God. Considered to be ‘away’. He has given the care of the vineyard to the tenants.

-Vineyard itself is Israel. God created the vineyard and gave responsibility of care to the religious leaders.

-Tenants are the religious leaders of Israel. They have no doubt that he is talking about them. Vs 12: they perceived that he had told the parable against them

-Servants are the prophets. The prophets are called Servants in the OT. They were sent to bring the message from the owner!

-The Son is Jesus.

This parable is told in some stages that lead to a question (Williamson)

1. Rebellion - (Mark 12:1-5)

God Generously provided a wonderful functioning vineyard! This reminds me of the Garden, we started with everything we could need. This picture is taken from Isaiah 5, a different parable of the vineyard, but there also the vineyard was Israel. God entrusted this beautiful vineyard into the hands of the leaders of Israel.

The tenants rebel against the owner by rejecting, beating, and killing a succession of servants sent to get payment for the use of the vineyard. The faithful servants represent the faithful prophets. Their stories are brutal. Jeremiah was put in stocks. Isaiah was sawed in two. Zechariah was stoned to death in the temple. Nehemiah 9:26 ESV says, “killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you, and they committed great blasphemies.” Mark tells us about John the Baptist being beheaded.

Many times God sent opportunity for the tenants to pay what they owed. But they responded with a rebellious spirit.

2. Response (Mark 12:6)

God’s initiative of Grace in Jesus Christ. It is not the normal response to rebellion, nor the action expected. He sent his son. He is a “beloved” son - called this two other places in Mark’s Gospel - at his baptism, at the Transfiguration. I cannot imagine the grace of God in sending his son….in the face of such rebellion, but this is who He is.

God is patient with us. He gives us many opportunities to live for Him, His grace, his mercy, his forgiveness.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

We spend a lifetime falling short and getting back up, and He never leaves us.

3. Rejection (Mark 12:7-8)