Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Read Mark 12: 1-17

Some writers interrupted the parable of the tenant farmers this way: the man who planted the vineyard is God, the tenant farmers are Israel’s religious leaders, the servants are the prophets and the priests who remain faithful to God; the son is Jesus.
For me I see God’s people in both the character of the servant and the tenant farmer. The servants are sent out time and time again to collect the fruit of the vineyard. Many are sent. None turned back or go another way. They continue to go to the vineyard. They were beaten, insulted and killed until there was only one left to send – the owner’s beloved son. Surely they will respect my son, thought the owner. But the tenant farmers don’t waver either. They not only do not want to share the fruits of the vineyard time and time again. They want to keep everything for themselves.

This parable teaches us that God gives us many chances to serve him. Often we are not committed to each opportunity given to us and tire easily, lose strength and give up. God has also entrusted you and me as stewards of his vineyard (our church, family and our very life). God Blesses us with many fruits but often like tenant farmers, we want to keep it all. We make excuses for not actively showing more compassion, not helping the needy or sharing our gifts and talents.
In the second parable the religious leaders, who are trying to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested and killed, ask Jesus – is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Jesus avoided the trick question by showing that believers have dual responsibility. Caesar and God. Our nation requires that we pay for the services and benefits we receive. God requires our commitment to serve and stewardship over all He has given us.

Prayer

Dear God we thank you that the stone the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone of our faith. This is the Lord’s doing and it is wonderful to see.

Nancy L. Randall