He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. Mark 12:9b
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 third (of three) division (vv9-12):
- The title of the third division per the commentary is "God’s Judgment Will Certainly Come."
- "Jesus provides the answer to His parable, one the religious leaders would be forced to concede. In the process they condemned themselves, and they condemn us as well. The owner will destroy those who refuse his son! Historically, God judged Israel for their rejection of His Son. In AD 70 Jerusalem was destroyed, and the nation was brought to ruins."
- "Today that same judgment falls on all who have “trampled on the Son of God, regarded as profane the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and insulted the Spirit of grace” (Hebrews 10:29). It is indeed “a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31)."
- In vv10-11, "Jesus quotes from Psalm 118:22-23, changing the metaphor to a building. It is the same psalm shouted by the people at His triumphal entry. It is clearly messianic. He knows who He is and why He has come!"
- "The stone rejected would become a symbol for the Messiah and an explanation for how the Jewish people rejected Jesus (Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Romans 9:33; 1 Peter 2:6-8).
- "Mark 12:12 is a disappointing summation of their response: “Because they knew He had said this parable against them, they were looking for a way to arrest Him, but they were afraid of the crowd. So they left Him and went away.” As Paul would later explain, all of this is foolishness and a stumbling block to them; for us, however, it is the power of God unto salvation (1 Corinthians 1:18-25)."
Many non-believers can't see how a loving God can judge and condemn people to Hell. Yet within this judgement lies amazing grace of which not a single person in all of redemptive history is deserving. We all sin and the wages of sin is death (Romans 3:23, 6:23; 1 John 1:8). All of humanity is deserving of death on the cross yet Jesus took our place and He will return a 2nd time to judge. He offers a free gift to all - believe and be saved! Indeed the greatest gift of all time!
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My Prayer: Father God You are an awesome God who loves and who is full of amazing grace for those who believe - thank You Jesus for the greatest gift of all time. I am not deserving of such a gift. My sin is great and it continue...daily. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin 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.
