Mark 13

 

There have been many who have said that a generation after Israel was born as a nation was the fig tree budding that Jesus is talking about. The problem with this is Jesus right after giving the illustration about the tree says no one knows. This means no one knows. We don’t know. The timeline people have created is only good, if and that is a real if, the fig tree represents Israel becoming a nation, and not something else: Israel taking all of their lands?, an event in spiritual Israel?, a revival among Jews?. The idea of a timeline that we can know completely breaks down if Jesus is just using the fig tree in an illustration and the fig tree not being an image, type, or figure of a Jewish nation. At the end of the day, what matters is that we are faithful no matter what is happening around us be it noon, night, morning, or when the rooster crows, which if you have been around roosters is anytime they feel like it. Whichever, WATCH! 

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Psalm 49

 

It doesn't matter who you are we are all alike and need to listen to God. In this world there is often a caste system even among those who claim they don't believe in one but that isn't how the Bible teaches it. We have different strengths and gifting but we are at the end of the day all the same. Paul echos this in Galatians 3:28-29: "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise." What makes the difference is if we listen to wisdom, or as Paul would say if we are in Christ.

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Numbers 26

If we look only at Numbers 16, it would seem that Korah and his entire family were destroyed. Yet it is clearly pointed out in Numbers 26:11 that the family line of Korah wasn't wiped out. We aren't given a reason for what happened that though the tents of his family fell into a pit some survived. It causes me to think that perhaps some of the complete brutality some claim God showed isn't what they say it is. Whatever did ultimately happen we will see the sons of Korah later. The sons of Korah are credited with writing eleven different Psalms: Psalms 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 84, 85, 87, 88. Whatever the father of this line was like it seems to me that the apple clearly did not fall close to the tree (they weren't like him).

Another note in this chapter made at the very end is that other than Joshua and Caleb, no one numbered at the beginning of the book is alive when this numbering took place. As God had said they would all die. One bad choice can change your destiny forever. One bad choice can remove you from the promised land God had in mind for you. Yes, Jesus forgives but actions still have consequences. 

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Numbers 25

 The actions of Phinehas are to some considered drastic. However, Moses had just ordered the death of those who had committed this sin. So Phinehas is doing not what he thinks is right on his own but in obedience to what God had commanded. Phinehas' action brought an end to the plague going through Israel, which makes me wonder if this wasn't an STD of some sort. Whatever the plague was, it stopped and God blessed Phinehas that his descendants would always have someone in the priesthood. A reminder that our actions can have a lasting impact on our family.

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Isaiah 63

isn't afraid to admit that he is, as I have heard said, getting his hands dirty. People often are uncomfortable with the image of God who delivers vengeance or tramples his enemies. But as I have noted other places, God wouldn't be a God of love if he didn't bring judgement on those who do evil. For the ones who are abused, the thought that God will bring equity is calming. We don't have to get even, God will do it and will do it rightly. As is said in Romans 12:19, (Deuteronomy 32:35) God will repay. 

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Numbers 24

Balaam, it says, didn't try using his normal magical tricks to get a different answer because he knew God had made up His mind. If Balaam had kept with trusting God, he would have been better off. However, this shows wisdom in Balaam at least here to just go with God's plan even when it wasn't what those who were hiring him wanted. In fact, we will see that Balak tells Balaam, basically, you can blame God you're not getting paid. Disobeying man rather than God is worth not getting paid. 

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Mark 12

As I have pointed out, these are the rough notes for my messages. If you come hear the message, you may be surprised how different it is preached. 

MARK 12: 1-12

 

1And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. 2And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. 3And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. 4And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled. 5And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some. 6Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son. 7But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours. 8And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. 9What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.

 

10And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:

 

11This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

 

12And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.

 

The Unfaithful Tenants

 

Trashing the place- $30,000 damage in 3 months,

 

We  often look at those that abuse what is not theirs with disgust and think that is horrible and maybe even pat ourselves on the back because we are not like that.  

 

However as is often the case of the Bible, what we see as the issues of others are often things in ourselves that we need to deal with.

 

This is where we come to this parable.

 

A man created a vineyard.

1.    Plant a vineyard (Prepare the land)

2.    Put up a wall (Protect from pest, animals, and trespassers, direct water)

3.    Dug a pit for the juice (way to prepare the juice for wine)

4.    Watchtower (ALL THIS IS HARD!)

5.    Hired workers (Do the easier work, but there is still work)

6.    Moved (often to do marketing, get buyers for the wine)

 

The owner sends to get proceeds of the crop. Perhaps to give samples to possible customers so even this action is an act of kindness.

 

A greater market could mean more income for the owner and the tenants.

 

However, the tenants treat the servants that are sent like trespassers.

 

These tenants get worse.

 

Finally the owner sends his son.

Is the Owner stupid? No he is showing love, he is trying to make a connection to the people he believes should recognize him.

 

There were times in the ancient world when a ruler had an area in rebellion that they would send a family member to the area to try and rebuild the relationship. The idea was that others could be doubted (someone just claiming to speak for the master/king) however a relative they couldn’t doubt. The would see the family likeness. If however, they would not accept the family member the king would know that these aren’t as it were wayward children but enemies of the king/owner.

 

The act of sending his son wasn’t an act of ignorance or stupidity, it was an act of love.

 

Jesus is saying that God values the tenants so much he is willing to sacrifice his servants to save them and eventually his son.

 

Side note: To take a step away from this parable, God hasn’t changed. God is still willing to sacrifice his servants to save the wayward. God can ask that of us because he also did it. God isn’t up in heaven calling us to suffer for him while he has it easy. God has suffered for us.

 

Sometimes the suffering in this world is a result of sin, ours or others but other times God allows us to suffer so that other tenants in this world can be saved, just like he allowed others to suffer so that we might be saved.

 

The tenants have faulty logic, they believe that killing the son will mean that they will get the inheritance. (What???)

 

Nowhere in the world does murder mean you get an inheritance. It’s always the way to lose it. Even Klingons wouldn’t go for that. An honorable fight to the death yes, murder never.

 

Jesus asks what will that owner do?

 

This question is like what Nathan did when he confronted David.

 

(This answer is obvious and no one would have argued it.) Tenants will need to be killed (face judgement) and new tenants found.

 

Then Jesus gives a quote from Psalm 118:22,23. The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’ The chief priest and the scribes see this as an accusation against them.

 

Jesus as Paul will say is Ephesians 2:20 and Peter sill say in 1 Peter 2:6 Jesus is this cornerstone and his rejection is a marvelous thing.

 

This is the truth: The rejection and crusifition of Jesus which we will soon celebrate is a victory, not just because he dies for our sins but he is risen and is in victory. He has become the chief cornerstone. Without Jesus nothing holds together.

 

The Chief priest and the scribes know this is directed at them but they see it as against them.

 

This is NOT against them it is a warning to them.

 

The story isn’t a condemnation it is like the story of Hosea a love story a story which is trying to call them back. Yes it carries a warning a dire warning but they need it. These both show God is slow to anger and full of mercy. But eventually if God is going to be just he has to punish.

 

It is like a doctor warning a person who has kidney disease to watch out for the amounts of fluids they drink. He isn’t being mean. He is trying to warn them.

 

Often in the Bible we receive warnings and condemnations about sin. Often people don’t like it but the truth is that if life run on our own principles falls apart.

 

Before people point at the church (as an organization through history) and say they didn’t do well. I would say yes but that is because they may have been saying they were serving God and following Jesus but they weren’t. They were like the chief priest and scribes that we read about here and God will bring judgment on them.

 

The owner has been doing what is right, in a real way he is working for the tenants but the tenants don’t see it. They see a threat to what is THEIRS (even if it isn’t)

 

Unlike David, the Chief Priests and scribes though seeing this was about them, didn’t repent. They wanted to kill and destroy.

 

This is true. Even today if we don’t like what someone says what often takes place is we try to destroy the messenger.

 

We see this but as I mentioned earlier We  often look at these people and think that is horrible and maybe even pat ourselves on the back because we are not like that.  

However as is often the case of the Bible, what we see as the issues of others are often things in ourselves that we need to deal with.

 

Leviticus 25:23 The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you reside in my land as foreigners and strangers.

Psalm 24:1 The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it

 

1 Corinthians 10:26

“The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”

 

Revelation 4:11

“Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; by Your will they exist and were created.”

 

Everything in this world is Gods.

 

God is trying to work for your best and the best for all. Are you willing to trust him?

 

Or do you attack and dismiss the truth or maybe even the messengers he sends?

 

Today I’m like Nathan, I have shared a parable where you may have said those chief priest and scribes are horrible they deserve to die.

 

I’m here to tell you, if you haven’t surrendered everything to Jesus  (not just saying Jesus I want to go to heaven but really given him everything) then you’re the man.

 

You are refusing to give the God, the owner of your life, what is right.

 

And judgement will fall.

The good news is God is working for you good. He wants to save you and guess what he sent his son to save you. Though our sins put him on the cross, so in a real way we killed Jesus. God wants to save us.

 

God wants you to be in right relationship with him. The true Lord of Life. So will you surrender to him.

 

Dear God,

 Forgive me for I have not let you have all of my life. I have sinned against you and not been obedient. Have mercy on me. I thank you that you sent Jesus to die for my sins and that he was resurrected so I have hope for life everlasting. Jesus be the Lord of my life and help me to serve you faithfully.

I ask in Jesus name, Amen

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