The Gospel According to Mark (Part 37)

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The Gospel According to Mark

(Part 37)

Good morning and welcome to Jesus Church

In January we started a deep dive into life of Jesus, who we call Messiah

• And we’re following the record of his life according to Mark
  • Mark we know is a phenomenal writer
  • Mark not a disciple… so more than likely is telling Peter’s story
• Last week Jesus was flipping tables/making weapons/cursing tree
  • Heart of what Jesus was saying was the temple lost its purpose
  • So it had to be replaced
  • And the new temple wouldn’t be physical but spiritual
    • Location would be in the hearts/minds of Jesus followers

Also remember this is passion week… last 7 days of Jesus life

• So we are now on Tuesday – And Jesus has been very busy
  • Saturday was Shabbat
  • Sunday they travelled to Jerusalem for Passover celebration
    • Everyone singing Ps. 118 about Jesus as the Messiah
    • Hosannah… Blessed is he who comes in the name of
  • Monday Jesus destroys the temple courts
    • Makes a ton of enemies
    • Walking around the temple like he owns the place
• And the Pharisees want nothing more than to kill Jesus
  • But Jesus not done… things aren’t gonna get any better Tuesday

Mk 11:27-12:12

They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. By what authority are you doing these things? They asked. “And who gave you authority to do this.” Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John’s baptism – was it from heaven or of human origin? Tell me! They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ But fi we say, ‘Of human origin’?” (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.) So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

Jesus then began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vinery to some farmers and moved to another place. At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. But they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. They he sent another servant to them; they struck this man on the head and treated him shamefully. He sent still another, and that one they killed. He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all saying, they will respect my son.

But the tenants said to one another, “This is the heir. Come lets kill him and the inheritance will be ours.” So they took him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard.” What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others. Haven’t you read the passage of scripture: The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, the Lord has done this and it is marvelous in our eyes” Then the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders looked for a way to arrest him because they knew he has spoken the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd, so they left him and went away. [PRAY]

Story

Growing up I lived in a neighborhood with tons of kids

• Nothing like today… we stayed out play until way after dark
  • We had different groups of kids on different blocks
  • But we would all make forts
  • We broke of sticks as weapons… made shields… bow & arrows
• And we would always talk about taking over other kids forts
  • And there was the vacant lot where they never built a house
  • It was the neutral ground of the neighborhood
  • Until one day my clan claimed it as our territory
• Naturally the other kids heard… we found out they weren’t happy
  • This 1 group (Raiders) had a 6^th grader (we were mostly 4^th/5^th)
  • And they also had a pet snake in their fort

One day we were playing football in “the lot”

• They decided the come over and take the lot from us
  • Came up and said – You need to leave or we’ll make you leave
  • And I went up to their 6^th grader and quoted “The Tick”
  • I said: YOU AND WHAT ARMY!!!
• And then we all grabbed out sticks and pretend to fight
  • Until we got bored and then decided to play football for it
  • We destroyed them and won the lot
  • Also had an Olympics for it once (lot is still there btw)
• In saying something like that… accusation is they can’t back it up
  • And you are calling their bluff

As today’s story starts – Pharisees ask same question

Mk 11:28 (Oh ya Jesus… you and what army)

By what authority are you doing these things… who gave you authority to do this?

Now remember this is less than 24 hours after he destroyed the temple

• And they Pharisees rightfully want to know what gave him the right
  • Now we hear this & think they’re talking about God’s authority
  • Actually in Jesus time if u were asked where authority was from
• It was by what Rabbi were you speaking based on… what source
  • So what Rabbi did Jesus learn under… none (and they know it)
  • Their question is charged by Jewish Mishna – OT commentary
  • Said “If a prophet appeals to a false authority… u stone them”
• So they’re asking him about authority but its not a simple question
  • Because they are looking for legal justification to kill Jesus
  • And Jesus knows it… so how does he respond

Mk 11:29

Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John’s baptism – was it from heaven or of human origin? Tell me!

• So Jesus in true Jesus form answers the question with a question
  • I wonder if that would work now…
  • And no one could get made b/c you’re just being like Jesus
  • Just I don’t endorse trying it with your wife…
• But he brings his cousin into the conversation b/c he was a prophet
  • And he was prophesied about coming 400 years before this
  • In the book of Malachi this is what was said

Mal. 3:1&3

I will send my messenger who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple, the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire will come… He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver.

Here is Jesus standing in the temple just like Malachi predicted

• John the Baptist had already come in Mark 1 preparing the way
  • As Jesus is asked about where his authority is from
  • Jesus says: You want to talk authority… lets talk about Johnny B
• Basically Jesus is saying – John had authority from God
  • And if you attack me… not only are you attacking John
  • But you are also attacking God Himself
  • Jesus is doing verbal roundhouse kicks to the face combining
    • History… prophecy… scripture… culture… crowd sourcing
• And the Pharisees have absolutely no answer

Mk 11:31-33 (their response is…)

If we say, ‘from heaven, he will ask “then why didn’t you believe him?” (that Jesus is the Messiah) But if we say “Of human origin? (They feared the people for everyone held that John really was a prophet.) So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

• • Now that’s not true… they did know
  • They just would rather stick with their narrative than the truth

So things definitely aren’t going their way

And Jesus isn’t about to let them off the hook

• Because now Jesus is going to expose what’s in their hearts
  • And he does it through story
  • Just like Malachi said… in the temple… refining the teachers

Mk 12:1

A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower…

• Now as soon as Jesus says this… Pharisees know they’re in trouble
  • Because they would have immediately identified this story
  • One of the most embarrassing inditements by God in all OT
  • Jesus (who quoted Is. 24 hrs earlier to condemn the temple)
    • Is dropping another quote from Isaiah on them.
• Its actually a poem Isaiah writes prophetically to Israel
  • All about how far God has gone to take care of his people
  • To allow them to produce good fruit – Remember the fig tree
  • And how Israel (the vineyard) had failed to do so

Is. 5:1-5

I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. He dug it up. And cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines. He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well (any of this sound familiar… pharisees thought so too)

Then he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit. Now you dwellers in Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad? Now I will tell you what I am going to do to my vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be destroyed, I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled. (Says YOU Jerusalem are that vineyard)

• So Jesus is using this as the context for the story he is telling…
  • He is saying that although he loves his vineyard… its useless
  • Because it produces nothing even though the soil is good
  • And the owner has tried everything to help

…Then he rented the vineyard to some farmer and moved to another place. And at harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. But they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Then he sent another servant to them, they struck this man on the head and treated him shamefully. He sent still another, and that one they killed. He sent many others, some of them they beat, others they killed. He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all saying, They will respect my son. But the tenants said to one another. This is the heir. Come let’s kill him and the inheritance will be ours. So they took him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard.

And again they try and find a way to kill Jesus

• Because this parable (with all that it was) cut deep to their hearts
  • And it showed again – What was in their hearts
  • And through that Mark asks us to see humanity in all its flaws
  • And what can grow in us as well if we don’t stay close to Jesus

3 things Jesus exposes through this story

1: He exposes their deep hatred toward Him

You get a feel that these leaders didn’t just dislike Jesus – Hated him

• Something about Jesus surfaced the darkest parts of their hearts
  • B/C the owner blesses the tenants with a beautiful vineyard
  • And it was typical that the owner to take a cut of the harvest
  • It would have been already agreed upon… but they change
• So first they beat up a messenger… then start killing messengers
  • Then finally he sends his son (Hebrew – Ben)
  • Jesus is gonna do a word play on this in a minute
  • But they take the Ben and they kill him

Mk 12:10 (And Jesus says)

The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone

• Which was a continuation of Psalm 118
  • Remember they sang “Hosannah… blessed is he who comes…”
  • Goes on to say in same song… stone that builders rejected…
    • These same people who worshiped Jesus Monday
    • Will crucify him Friday
• And he uses this word stone in connection to the word son
  • Stone is Eben… So SON = BEN / STONE = EBEN
  • The rejected stone/son is the new foundation for everything
  • Which is why he destroyed the temple sacrifices

And the contract b/w the owner and the tenant becomes very clear

• The owner that is filled with nothing but love for the tenants
  • And tenants that have nothing but hatred for the owner
  • And we all know people like this
• People who no matter what God does for them…
  • They are angry/bitter/hostile towards Jesus

You maybe heard of a man named Richard Dawkins (leading atheist)

• Was doing a seminar on his research and on one of his books
  • After they opened it up for questions… one person asked
    • “Is there anything God could do to make u believe in Him”
    • “If God just showed up… would you believe then?”
  • Answer really showed the heart of where so many people are
    • Said: No… if God showed up 1^st thing I’d do is dissect him
    • B/C there had to be a phycological/naturalist explanation
• Shows us he crossed a line between Atheism to Anti-Theism
  • From I don’t believe… to an active hostility towards God
  • Its the mentality where no matter what God does – Fight back

Like this story I heard about a girl in school

• It was Easter weekend and as the class was ending
  • Teacher asked what everyone was doing for the weekend
  • Some said they were doing easter egg hunts/family stuff
• One girl said “I’m going 2 church to learn about Jesus resurrection”
  • Teacher: That’s a great story but you know its not true
  • Little girl: No Its true and she showed her the story in the Bible
    • Said: Here in the Gospel of Mark the whole story is here
    • Said: When I get to heaven I’ll ask Mark all about it
  • Teacher: Come on… what if Mark isn’t in heaven but in Hell
  • Little Girl: Well then I guess you can ask him

Do u know anyone like that… mind isn’t even open to possibility of God

• Jesus describes people who moved from doubt/struggle/questions
  • (Which all of us deal with… work through so we can grow)
  • To something much more than doubt… it’s unbelief… hostility
• So why did they hate Jesus so much… what was it
  • Leads me to point 2

2: Their hatred was rooted in desire for power/control

In the story – Servants were hired by the owner

• Their job was to cultivate the land to be fruitful…
  • And because it’s the owners land – He gets a percentage
  • But instead… they acted as if the vineyard belonged to them

Mk 12:7

Lets kill the son and the inheritance will be ours

• They acted like they should be owners… but called to be stewards
  • What’s Jesus doing… This is most intense indictment by Jesus
  • I think in the entire gospel towards the religious rulers
• Jesus saying: God has blessed you… given you so much
  • The temple/torah/priesthood/festivals… all entrusted to you
  • But instead of cultivating it for the entire world (salt/light)
    • You used what was given to you only for you
    • You suppressed the poor/took advantage of the weak

This is the reason they hated Jesus so much

• He wouldn’t go along with the ownership mentality
  • He showed what stewardship looked like
  • He valued the weak… loved the poor… engaged the gentile
• And this was a huge threat to their power
  • B/C they disregarded the steward role… stole the owner role
  • And will kill the son in order to keep the role they stole

And when it comes to stewardship vs ownership

• With the gifts we have been given… we only get to be stewards
  • Because the vineyard DOES NOT belong to us
    • And yes God has blessed us…
    • Yes God has given us air in our lungs
    • Yes we live in a country where there is food in stores
      • We have been blessed so much
• But with all this – Must realize we’re tenant farmers… not owners
  • And everything that we have is a gift from God (grace of God)
  • How do you use those gifts for advancement of the kingdom
• And we live in a culture that gives the exact opposite message
  • It says act like an owner… be autonomous
  • You just do what is true to you

There is a philosopher Nietzsche – Really see his mindset in this parable

• He was a strong opponent to God and Christianity
  • Had the famous line: God is dead and we killed him
  • Which really lines up with the mentality in this parable
  • Said: b/c we killed God… we now how autonomy and ownership
    • Said that we are (Ubermunch) – Superman
    • We now make the rules and have the authority
• Problem… and at least Nietzsche was honest with the implications
  • If there is no God: There is no transcendent purpose
  • If there is no God: There is no morality
  • If there is no God: There is no right or wrong
  • If there is no God: Everything you work for in the end is nothing
• Where does this lead… Nietzche ends his life in a mental institution
  • Because the moment we make ourselves the owner
  • Everything else falls apart around us

Nietzsche

“If u stare into the abyss long enough… abyss will start staring into you”

• There is a sense of overwhelming nothingness and darkness
  • Because as the story shows… it isn’t a struggle or uncertainty
  • It’s a absolute hatred & desire for ownership of what isn’t theirs

TAG: Now that’s all very heavy… I’m sorry but it isn’t the end of message

3: Jesus not just highlighting darkness

He is showing the radical grace/patience of God

• The amazing thing about the story… they rebel/resist/murder
  • And over and over the owner shows grace and mercy
  • The owner is hopeful that the tenants will do the right thing
• And it shows how much different God is than we are
  • If I was owner and I asked someone to collect what I’m owed
  • And lets say they didn’t kill anyone… just ruffed them up
  • I’d be going in their to take them out
• But Jesus describes a God: patient… kind… hopeful… long suffering
  • He gives these rebellious/violent/evil people so many chances
  • And its only after every possible path of grace is exhausted
  • That judgment comes – And yes there is JUDGEMENT HERE
    • But not until every avenue to reach them is exhausted

And its so crazy to watch this all play out

• Because these people hearing this story
  • In the vineyard… talking to the son… 3 days from now
  • Will fulfill everything that plays out in this story
  • They’ll beat him unrecognizable/tear apart his back/crucify him
• Even though they did that… doesn’t stop Jesus from loving them
  • And Jesus cries out to the Father – FORGIVE THEM
  • Even in the evil of humanity we see the radical love of God
  • And it is the same love the owner had for the tenants
    • That Jesus offers to you and me TODAY

2 types of people I want to talk to

1 – If you have been like the tenant… resisting God/turning away

• And he has reached out faithful – Sent messengers to you
  • But over and over you’ve refused his message
    • Reason he keeps sending…
    • He wants you to accept the next one
  • Its time to realize you aren’t the owner
    • Time/money/relationships/sexuality/future
    • And in giving up what was never yours…you’ll find freedom
  • You’ve stared into the abyss… you know where it leads
    • God has so much more for you
    • And he invites you today to freedom in Him

2 – If you are like the messenger… sharing with people in your life

• Maybe it’s a son/daughter/spouse/mom/dad
  • You keep coming to them… loving them… asking them to church
  • Trying to lead them to the feet of Jesus
  • But they keep resisting… putting up walls… shaking it off
• It is not easy to be the messenger in the story… want to give up
  • But this text shows us that no matter how far someone runs
  • God will not stop running after them
• And we are called to do the same
  • Please don’t give up on that person
  • Even if it seems impossible… beat up and kill the messenger
  • Gods heart is always try again –our hearts must be the same