After the religious leaders questioned Jesus' authority, Jesus spoke to them about the parable of the vinegrowers. He said a man planted a vineyard, put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress, and built a watchtower. He then rented the vineyards to the vinegrowers and moved to another place. When the harvest time, the man sent his servant to collect some fruit from the vineyard, but they seized him, beat him, and set him away empty-handed. He then sent another one, but they did the same thing as they did to the first servant. He sent many others, and they beat some, and others they killed. He then sent his son, whom he loved thinking they would respect him, but the vinegrowers killed him instead. What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those vinegrowers and give the vineyard to others. Jesus related the owner of the vineyard's son to a stone the builders rejected that became the cornerstone. After Jesus spoke to them about this parable, they tried to arrest Him because they knew that the parable that He spoke was against them. But they left and went away because they feared the people. (Mark 12:1-12).
The story's meaning is that the vineyard is the people of Israel, the vinegrowers are the religious leaders, the servants are the prophets, the vineyard owner is God the Father, and the vineyard owner's son is Jesus. God the Father entrusted the people of Israel to the religious leaders to take care of them, but when God the Father sent His prophets to see the spiritual fruit of His people of Israel, they beat some of them and killed the others. So, God the Father sent His Son, Jesus, whom He loved, but they killed Him also. God the Father will then come and judge them. Jesus was like the cornerstone that they rejected. A cornerstone is a stone that holds everything together in a structure. Without the cornerstone, the entire building will collapse.
The lesson that we can learn from this parable is the rejection of the religious leaders against God the Father and Jesus. It is similar to what is happening today. Many people reject our God the Father and Jesus, but there will be a day when God the Father will judge this world because they rejected Him and Jesus. It seems that the evilness of this world is winning, but the judgment of God is coming, and when it comes, anyone who rejects the Father and His Son, Jesus, will be judged for eternity.
Ask yourself these questions: Do I believe and accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior? What will happen to me if I do not believe and reject Jesus in my heart? What happens if I believe and accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, I believe in You. I believe that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Thank you for saving me. Your judgment on this world will someday come, but while it has not happened yet, please help me to continue to live for you and tell others about my faith that they may be saved before your judgment comes. In Your name Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Comments