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.   

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

Philippians 4

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. Philippians 4:11-12

I continue to lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today looks at Philippians 4 and how Paul's God-divined words help us battle unbelief which we are likely to experience when we focus on love of money or other earthly matters that are not eternal.  Looking specifically at verses 11-12, Piper kicks off today's devotion by sharing that "God’s provision of day-by-day future grace enables Paul to be filled or to be hungry, to prosper or suffer, to have abundance or go wanting."  He then points to verse 13 where Paul describes how "[he] can do all things through him who strengthens [him]."  Piper writes that when Paul says that he can do all things - this includes not just easy things, but difficult ones also.  He then points to verse 19 and describes the promise made there as "stunning" as he shares how Paul claims that "God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."  This is emphasized as the power of future grace - that faith in God's promises enables future grace as the power behind both good times and challenging ones. As a corollary, Piper then points us to Hebrews 13:5 where the author encourages us to avoid the love of money - as such covetousness is emblematic of unbelief.  Seek God, understand and appreciate how much God loves us, and how as Hebrews 13:5 also says how God will never leave or forsake us - also an incredible promise - which will also press us into God knowing that He is faithful.

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My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are SO good as You DO supply for every need - in all times good and bad!  Thank You Jesus - I also know You will never leave or forsake me - thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of such blessings and love.  My sin is great and it continues...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 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.