Mark 10-13: Rejecting the Chief Corner Stone

Jesus told a parable (Mark 12:1-12) about some vine-growers a master left in charge of his vineyard. He was gone for a long time. Then he sent a slave at harvest time to collect what was his. But the vine-growers decided to steal what was their master's. They killed, beat, and wounded many of his slaves (the prophets). Finally the master sent his son thinking they would surely listen to him, a man of real authority over the property. But the demented vine-growers killed the son thinking they would gain his inheritance.

Jesus' punch line is a summary statement and a quotation from Psalm 118:22-23:

"What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vine-growers, and will give the vineyard to others. Have you not even read this Scripture: 'THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone; THIS CAME ABOUT FROM THE LORD, AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES'?" (Mark 12:9-11)

Jesus spoke of Himself as the chief corner stone.

Those who rejected Him were the very ones to whom He spoke: the chief priests, scribes, and elders (11:27). "They understood that He spoke the parable against them" (12:12).

The "others" who would receive the vineyard are commonly thought to be the Gentiles. I have taught this many times. But today I was thinking: could this also include the "common" people among the Jews? The leaders constantly rejected Christ, but the sinners, tax collectors, and the poor were those who listened to Him. Is this a case where the religious elite, swollen with pride, are rejected while the poor and downtrodden are accepted because of their faith?

Jew or Gentile, we can accept Christ and be accepted BY Christ into His marvelous kingdom! Let us not reject the chief corner stone. It matters not that the rich and powerful run farther and farther from God and His Son. We can still draw near.

God bless,
Nathan

Tomorrow's Reading: Mark 14-16