The Stone They Threw Away ....
In first century construction, before a wall went up, a mason would inspect each stone for the job it needed to do. Most stones cut for the wall were uniform, predictable and easy to stack. But the cornerstone was different. Often, it was oddly shaped and oddly sized because it had a unique function; to bear the entire weight and set the alignment for every other stone that followed. Because of that, building inspectors would often set a proposed cornerstone aside because it was insufficient or did not fit what was being built. In this parable from Mark 12:1-12, that is the image that Jesus presents. More specifically, that is the image of what humanity did with God's own Son (Matthew 21:42).
In this passage, it is significant that Jesus began with details about the landowner's involvement in the vineyard. The owner planted the vineyard, built a fence, dug a pit for the winepress and built a tower (Mark 12:1). By doing all of that, this owner provided care, protection, provision and production. However, after the preparation was complete, he left for another country (Mark 12:1). Later, when the season came to harvest grapes, the landowner sent a servant to collect some of the fruit from the tenants overseeing the vineyard. However, instead of being welcomed, the servant was beaten and sent away empty-handed (Mark 12:3). Following this, the landowner sent a second servant to collect. He was nervous and apprehensive yet convinced that he had the people skills to deal with the tenants. But, upon arrival, the tenants struck him on the head and treated him shamefully (Mark 12:4). The third servant, along with those sent after him was also beaten and/or killed by the tenants (Mark 12:5). Lastly, the owner sent his own son; he, too, was beaten, killed and thrown out of the vineyard (Mark 12:6-8).
Now, because this is a parable and written symbolically, we must find it's true meaning by how it relates with other scripture and real world events. In this case, the prepration mirrors that of another carefully prepared vineyard described in Isaiah 5:1-4, 7 - that is the land that God prepared for His chosen people (the Israelites). The servants who were sent to collect the harvest mirror the Old Testament prophets whom God's chosen people (Israel) rejected. One such prophet was slapped in the face (1 Kings 22:24), while another was beaten and placed in stocks (Jeremiah 20:1-3). Additionally, another prophet was imprisoned (Jeremiah 37:15), another had his life threatened (1 Kings 19:1-4), one was stoned (1 Chronicles 24:20-22) and finally one beheaded (Matthew 14:1-12). What a brutal fate each of these prophets met! However, that is not all. By reading Mark 14 and 15 , we see the fate of the owner’s son, symbolizing the Lord Himself, who was beaten, rejected and crucified on a Roman cross just as Isaiah prophesied (Isaiah 53). Finally, we see that the tenants represent God's chosen people (Israel) who rejected His gifts (the prophets and Christ Himself).
At this point, you may be asking how this parable and it's meaning apply to us today. After all, we did not reject the prophets as Israel did. However, when diving deeper into this passage and it's meaning, we see that their are four messages that are provided for born again believers living today. The first message is....
Instead of welcoming the gifts of God, we reject the ones sent by God
As Christ followers, we easily recognize God's supernatural gift of salvation and rightfully praise Him for that. However, like Israel did with the Old Testament prophets (God's gift to them) we often reject the ordinary means of grace that God has gifted us with today. Specifically, we often minimize or ignore the gifts of His Word (preaching and teaching), baptism and the Lord's Supper. Perhaps you allow cellphone alerts to distract you from God’s message during the Sunday morning sermon or during your personal bible study time. Maybe you are guilty of carefully listening to God's word but purposely do not apply it to your life. Some of you may have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior but are delaying the step of baptism until a more convenient time. Finally, others of you may be emphasizing the remembrance portion of the Lord’s Table so much that you overlook the continual sustaining grace imparted to believers. Christian, the clear truth is this: When we do not fully welcome these gifts as we should, we are stunting our beautiful relationship with Christ and not glorifying Him to our full potential. Brothers and sisters, if you are not fully and properly embracing the ordinary means of grace that Christ offers you, will you begin doing so today?....
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