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He [Jesus of Nazareth, Jerusalem, c. AD 30] began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went into another country for a long while. When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. And he sent another servant. But they also beat and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. And he sent yet a third. This one also they wounded and cast out. Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’ And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” Luke 20: 9-16 |
It’s the last few days before Jesus is crucified on the first Good Friday. He is a great healer and a wonderful teacher. He is bringing the good news to the people of Israel (especially) that, no matter how sinful, if they turn they will be welcomed back by His Father, forgiven by Him and brought into close friendship with Him forever.
He is also bringing that same good news to all the people in the world at that time. In fact, this day, this hour is a mega turning point in world history.
Why do I write that? Please look at Jesus’ parable in bold above. He is absolutely committed to disclosing the truth – the truth about everything that matters - to the Israelites and to all human beings.
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‘There are none so bitter against the truth as those who have departed from it.’ (James Philip, Scottish minister, 1922-2009)
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The Israelites had been God’s chosen people for perhaps 2000 years. The LORD God gave them the Mosaic Law, including those wonderful Ten Commandments. He entrusted them with the knowledge of God. But they turned away in favour of self-interest. Oh yes, they kept up their outward display of being God’s people – they pursued what became their “religion” – a husk without the grain.
The final throw of the dice in God’s face – by the religious, political, legal and moneyed authorities in Jerusalem – was to arrange the murder of God’s son. Exactly what the parable forecast was carried out by them. "When the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’ And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him." The crucifixion – a few days later.
But what about Jesus’ clear statement in the parable? “What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” We looked at this – from the point of view of the tenant Israelites - in last week’s Info for Islanders (Truth and the Offer of Mercy). A few days after Jesus’ resurrection all Israel was given the offer of promised mercy through Jesus. Peter told them: “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” In AD 70, Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans.
But what about the remainder of Jesus’ parable? In particular who are the “others” to whom the vineyard would be given? In fact what (or who) is “the vineyard”? |
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MARY'S DREAMI had a dream Joseph. I don't understand it, but l think it was about a birthday for our son./ The people in my dream had been preparing for about six weeks. They had decorated their houses and bought new clothes./ They'd gone shopping many times and bought elaborate gifts. lt was peculiar though, because the presents weren't for our son./ They wrapped them in beautiful paper and stacked them under a tree. Yes a tree. Joseph, right inside their homes./ They'd decorated the tree with sparkling ornaments. There was a figure like an angel on the top of the tree./ Everyone was laughing and happy. They gave the gifts to each other, Joseph, not to our son. I don't think they even knew him. They never mentioned his name./ I had the strange feeling that, if our son Jesus had gone to this celebration, he would have been intruding. How sad for someone not to be wanted at his own birthday party! l'm glad it was only a dream. How terrible, Joseph, if it had been real. (Anon.)
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Could these others be everybody alive since then no matter what race or nationality? It certainly seems so because Jesus Christ has become the saviour and friend of thousands of millions of people who have found in him what Peter proclaimed “the forgiveness of your sins, and … the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
But is what happened to God’s ancient people being repeated today? Even this Christmas? |
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