July 22, 2024: Monday Bible Study on the Gospel of Mark 12:1-12
Blessings and Peace be with you on this Monday morning in the desert.
Saturday, members of our church lost their much-loved dog after she escaped through her security gate. We prayed for them, and their pet was found not too far from their home yesterday afternoon. We must always remember that there is no prayer which is too small, or too great, as we go through our lives. Isn't today a good day to include the LORD in your entire day, having conversation and prayer with the LORD? Please keep Kelly's parents in your prayers, they both have covid. They live in Minnesota. Pray also for Kandice K and Lisa in Hawaii. Kandice is working to get ready to get back to teaching, even with her cancer. Pray that she will find the strength and peace in her life to continue her teaching career while battling such a virulent disease. Please pray too for our son and his wife as they travel cross country to the Carolinas to celebrate his wife's grandfather's birthday.
Today we move into chapter 12 of the Gospel of Mark. This chapter begins with a "parable"/"wisdom" teaching of Jesus. We all, including me, have a tendency in our approach to the Bible, to want to pick apart every word and phrase believing that we will in some way come to a fuller understanding of the entirety of the text. Remember that parables were meant to be heard, not written down to be studied in detail. It is in the telling of a parable that the listener works their way to what is most important in the story. Today's story could be reminiscent of the story of Ahab and Jezebel who stole a vineyard, or of the wine vat that was used for hiding as the enemy approached, but this story is easily approached to know that an owner has certain rights with regards to his own land and its use, including the right to expect appropriate respect and profit from those who are in charge of the land. In the case of this vineyard, the owner has made it secure from animals and thieves, safe for the cultivators who work the vineyard. This vineyard contained everything that the workers needed, including a share of the income from the great producing land and its harvest. After sending servants and representatives to collect the owner's due, all of whom are mistreated or murdered, the owner sends his son, hoping that the response of the people will be more open to the owner's own child. The end of this parable is a truth-telling about the workers trying to set their own path, taking all of the profit and driving off any representative! the owner, and the owner’s response will be to send a force to kill and/or drive out those who think that this land they have worked must now be their own! Both the judgement and the wrath of the owner will rain down on them for their failure to fully participate in the contract between themselves and the owner.
Of course, the owner represents God, and the servants sent to the vineyard after the 5 years for the vineyard to become productive were prophets and judges, all of whom were ultimately rejected as the people moved on their own pathway away from God in the promised land. Most importantly the owner’s son is Jesus Christ, the Messiah, sent to turn the hearts and minds of the people back to God. For you and me this all seems pretty obvious. However, there are truths in this text that must be acknowledged.
1. This text tells us about the patience and generosity of God. the LORD has tried numerous times to draw the Hebrews (Jews) back to a right relationship with Him, even to the point of sending His Son to bring back the community of the elect, but even the Son is rejected and killed. The LORD made every possible attempt to restore the elect in this relationship and agreement.
2. The listener learns of God's trust. The gift of the promised land, and of abundance and peace were handed to the Hebrews as they entered into the promised land.
3. The listener comes to understand that the owner, God, will triumph ultimately. People may take advantage of God's patience, but at the end of all things it will be God's triumph which is in place.
In this parable Jesus shows that he regards Himself not as a servant, but as the Son. It also tells us that Jesus knew He would die, and through that death He would reach his vindication and triumph. The vineyard workers must have felt that the owner was too far away to be effective in his management of his land. Today, too many people feel the same way about God's distance, feeling that He is so far away that they don't need to worry about the judgement He will bring upon them. In this parable we discover that is simply not true. If people refuse to participate in, or to meet their responsibilities in their relationship with God, then God will set about the process of bringing His blessings to others. As we close out this parable in Mark 12, we find Jesus offering an O.T. quote from the Psalms. (Ps. 118:22-23) The stone which the builders rejected has become the corner stone, the most important of all. The Psalmist sees that one day, the nation of Israel will become the greatest of all. You and I could have long conversation about whether or not Israel has moved at all in that direction. I will be back with you tomorrow.
In the love of Christ, Pastor Kim
Comments