He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ And they took him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard.

Mark 12:1-12

He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ And they took him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard. Mark 12:6-8

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 12:1-12.  Excerpts from the commentary's second (of three) division (vv6-8):

• The title of the second division per the commentary is "The Father Sent the One He Loves and We Should Honor."
• "The parable takes a remarkable turn. It continues the theme of the amazing patience of God with humanity. It also testifies to the amazing grace of a God who would send His only Son to reconcile rebellious sinners who commit horrible crimes, do not seek God, and have no fear of God."
• While the commentary emphasizes how the text is focused on Israel's religious leaders, we are encouraged to see ourselves in the text.
• The text, referring to a beloved son - of course we know this son as Jesus - is similar to text from Genesis 22:2 when God calls Abraham to sacrifice his son, "whom you love."  It is also similar to text from Isaiah 9:6-7 where we see a prophecy of Jesus - a son "given to us". 
• RE: the parable, the commentary compares the first servants of the vineyard master to the beloved son.  The first servants were many yet the beloved son was unique.  The servants were hired but the beloved son was the heir.  The servants were forerunners of the son, and the son was to be the last sent by the vineyard master.  
• "If verses 1-5 convey the hope of God for His people, verse 6 conveys the faithful love of God for His people. The Father sent His Son as an act of grace."  
• The following quote from David Garland's commentary on Mark highlights the fool hearty nature covetousness: "Covetousness makes humans want what they should not have. It makes them think that this desire should be fulfilled at all cost. Other persons become things to exploit, and our desires become our gods. . . . Do humans think that by erasing God from their lives they can take control of their earthly and eternal destinies? Apparently so . . . [Here] is the utter foolishness of sinful rebellion against God."  
• The sending of the son should remind us of Christmas which is upon us with the start of Advent tomorrow.

I share the sentiment of my commentary's author - that we should see ourselves in today's text.  Yes, Israel's religious leaders were the object of Jesus' words from the parable, yet all of us act in ways similar to these religious leaders.    

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My Prayer: Father God, thank You for sending Your Son Jesus that I can have life to the full now and for eternity.  Of course, I am not deserving of what Jesus did on the cross.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please help me turn from and overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.