MARK 12 Stop! Let us labor together that we all might enjoy the fruits of our labor together. I have planted a vineyard – I have built protection – I have prepared everything!
Your labor is needed – your participation is all I ask to give you abundant blessing. We will share in these blessings – we will enjoy them – we all will be benefited. What have you done? He was my servant. I sent him to bring to Me My portion. Do you not understand what I expect from My vineyard? I expect profit – benefits. The servants I sent, provided you an opportunity to repent – and you abused them. Again, and again My servants came and you killed some – My expectations are dashed. This is My Son – My well -Beloved Son – I am well pleased with Him! Show Him reverence – show Him honor – let Him bring Me what is due Me. “I called and you refused.” You killed Him! This charge is laid against you. There are consequences. Your fear will come. Recompense is sure. Justice will prevail!
Look! This Stone here – among the other stones; it is the right size and shape. Its texture is solid. It can stand the weight and start the walls of the house properly. Why look anywhere else? Can you not see this One stands out among the whole pile? This Stone will not need the work of hammer and chisel. It is perfect in itself. You other builders – come here and see! Scrutinize, examine, test it for soundness. The very fact that you can do nothing to make it better speaks for itself. It is perfect. What is wrong with you “expert builders?” Why would you ignore this Stone? Why would you pass this One by and reject it? Would you cast off what God made? You want your own handy-work to be seen by men – your own fleshly imprint That mars a stone and makes a work of your own sin-polluted hands – man’s work. Your cheap stone-work will fail and fall when the pressure comes on your works. The Stone which you rejected is the Corner-Stone of a massive work of God.
Listen! The murmurs of the hypocrites speaking behind their hands to each other – Something sinister is going on there when their backs are toward the Lord. They are voting – picking out certain ones they think are the “best,” They are sending unscrupulous men to deceive and catch the Lord in a bind. Interesting isn’t it? Those who hate the government and those who love the government, Have united together against the One whose words are always true and right. Their sly and simpering words belie their intent – they want to put Him in a box. How wise is the Lord when calling their bluff, He asks them for a penny! Pharisees, you hate the government but use its money – you give Caesar his tax. Herodians, you love the Romans and drink at its trough. Put your money there. Jesus is from a Higher Government – and gives God what God has a right to expect. Now you two – do the same – it is time for you to give God what you owe Him.
Think! Can it be the Sadducees are so uninformed that they ask stupid questions? They are so tripped up and blinded by their own philosophy they don’t reason right. Foolish questions usually get foolish answers or sarcasm but not this time. They know how to read but don’t read – they know how to reason but don’t reason. Their illustration to support their belief is so off the wall, most would walk away. The Lord’s quiet reply as a question, indicates their dilemma may have been genuine. The scriptures are plain – there is life after death, but not the same as life is here. The power of God is not limited – He who creates life at the beginning of life, Is fully able to restore that life back into a new, incorruptible body like that of angels. The God of the Jews is the God of the Gentiles – the God of the Bible has not died. The brief glimpse of our future state indicates personality is there – a place is there. The answer to the dilemma of the ignorant is in the scriptures of truth – unchanging!
Come! There are those who really want to know: intellectuals, common people, poor. To the intellectual: the law of God is plain – forms do not fulfill the demands of the law. Love for God must come from the very essence of a man’s being – complete – real! To the common people: God is supreme – no king can compare with Him – No throne or dominion can share in the glory that belongs to God’s kingdom alone. No enemy can put down nor usurp God’s place – enemies will be the place for His feet. To the lovers of preeminence: their love for publicity will be their down fall. The adulation they long for will ultimately be a cause for their dire condemnation. Their demand for the possessions of others and prayers of pretence will damn them. To the poor: look at the widow with her love for God’s house and love for God. Learn from her – she has little and gives it all – her living is not important to her. God is the object of her love; her simple giving makes her the object of God’s love.
“I learn from the example of others Father God, what is important and what is not. All that I call my own is not my own. All that the flesh thinks is important is not important. Love for Thee is of supreme importance. Common sense and a desire to give Thee my best is important. Please never let me lose sight of what is important to Thee. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”