Today, the lesson is in Mark 12:1-12. I’ve been blogging about the lessons Jesus taught between his entry in Jerusalem and the Last Supper with his disciples.  These teachings still have some relevancy today.  Yesterday we saw how the leaders in the temple claimed ignorance to a question Jesus asked them.  Because they claimed ignorance Jesus wouldn’t answer their question and then he continued on with a story, which are called parables.  In this one Jesus tells a story about someone who planted a vineyard and rented it to some other farmers.  The owner sent a servant at harvest time to collect some of the fruit.  But the tenant farmers beat the servant and sent him away.  The owner, persistent in his desire to collect some of the fruit, sent another servant and again the tenant farmers mistreated this servant.  The owner, still persistent, sent a third and the tenants killed that one.  He sent more and they were also mistreated severely.

I don’t know about you but I am amazed at the tenant owners ability to maintain his own sense of peace and not kicking the tenant farmers off the land.  I wonder how it is no charges have been made against the tenant farmers yet?  They are  robbing him and killing people in the process.  The story continues and eventually Jesus tells them the owner had one more servant to send – the last one – his own son, one whom the owner loved.  The owner was certain the tenant farmers would respect his son.  Remember, the people listening to this story were the people in authority over temple life.  They had all heard by now that Jesus was the Son of God, they had also recognized many people in the city and temple courts respected Jesus and that some believed he was God’s Son.  So they probably are beginning to understand a little bit about what Jesus is saying about their lack of respect for him.  No doubt Jesus was aware of their own desire to kill him and he speaks to them about it in a subtle way.  Jesus continues the story and finally he asks them if they haven’t read this Scripture?

“The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone, the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.”

(Mark 12:12)

That Scripture is found in Psalm 118:22-23.   Since the leaders were accountable for temple life and activities, and the Psalms were read in the temple, they would or should have already read that Scripture.  But reading and understanding, listening and understanding are different, aren’t they?  We can read just read to get it done, or we can read for comprehension.  It seems to me that the question Jesus is really asking is this: Do you comprehend, have you paid attention to this Scripture?

When we read or listen to the bible how well do we comprehend the Scriptures?  Remember, Jesus taught in the temple as a young boy and even the Rabbi’s were impressed with his knowledge and understanding of them.  Now, twenty plus years later, those in charge of the temple are jealous because Jesus is collecting some of the fruit of God’s vine and they don’t want him to do that.  They have an attitude of selfishness rather than selflessness.

What are our attitudes today?  In our communities and in our churches.  Do we get jealous about which church has more members?  Do we get upset if someone chooses to join a small group led by someone other than you or the one you are attending? Do we get upset if people want to follow someone who is preaching and teaching the things that Jesus taught?  Could it be possible that when we reject them, we are acting more like the farmer tenants and the leaders in temple than we care to admit?  The people in authority all walked away from Jesus.

What about us?  Are we going to walk away from his teachings instead of learning from him and choosing true repentance from our wrong attitudes and actions?

Lord, please give us discerning hearts and minds willing to yield to your authority, willing to study and apply the lessons we learn from the Holy Scriptures.  Please forgive us for rejecting your truth and your authority. Please help us to accept you into our hearts and minds, our homes, our churches.  Give us discerning hearts and minds to know and respect those whom you have equipped in our generation to lead, nurture and protect your church.  Keep them steadfast in the knowledge of your will and love for all that you have created and protect them from evil.  We ask this for the building up of your church on earth and to the glory of your name.  AMEN