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Jesus, God's Servant A Survey of the Gospel of Mark CHAPTER SEVEN: THE SERVANT'S REJECTION by Massimo Lorenzini Outline Review I.   The Servant's Preparation (Mark 1:1-13) II.   The Servant Working (Mark 1:14-3:35) III.   The Servant Teaching (Mark 4:1-6:29) IV.   The Servant's Miracles (Mark 6:30-8:26) V.   The Servant's Revelation (Mark 8:27-10:52) VI.   The Servant's Rejection (Mark 11:1-12:44) VII.   The Servant's Prediction (Mark 13:1-37) VIII.   The Servant's Sacrifice (Mark 14:1-15:47) IX.   The Servant's Triumph (Mark 16:1-20) Key Verse Review "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). This Chapter: VI. The Servant's Rejection (11:1-12:44) Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers (12:1-12) 1 Then He began to speak to them in parables: "A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. 2 Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the vinedressers. 3 And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 4 Again he sent them another servant, and at him they threw stones, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated. 5 And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others, beating some and killing some. 6 Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, 'They will respect my son.' 7 But those vinedressers said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' 8 So they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard. 9 Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others. 10 Have you not even read this Scripture: 'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. 11 This was the Lord's doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes'?" 12 And they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and went away. This parable represents God's relationship with Israel and allows us to see the growing rejection of Jesus from God's perspective. It shows us that Jews' rejection of Jesus was based on a long history of rejection of God's messengers which reflected a rejection of God Himself. The vineyard was the place of privilege then occupied by Israel. The hedge (or wall) was the Law of Moses, which separated Israel from the Gentiles (non-Jews) and preserved them as a distinct people for the Lord. The vinedressers were the religious leaders, such as the Pharisees, the scribes, and the elders. v. 2 servant - Jesus draws from imagery from Isaiah 5:2. The word "servant" is a common designation in the OT for prophets who were consistently rejected, persecuted, and often killed by the leaders of Israel (Jer 7:25-26; Neh 9:26; 2 Chr 36:15-16). v. 6 one son, his beloved - (an idiom for an "only son") This recalls the voice from heaven which identified Jesus as "My beloved Son" (1:11; 9:7). v. 7 Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours - Jewish law provided that a piece of property unclaimed by an heir would be declared "ownerless," and could be claimed by anyone. Because Jesus had achieved such a following, the Jewish leaders believed the only way to maintain their position and power over the people was to kill Him. Illustration. One man's hummingbird feeder. One always attempts to take it over as his very own private feeder. Chases others, watches constantly. Only stops when exhausted and rarely takes time to perch and drink at "his" feeder. However, throughout all this flurry of activity, the feeder belongs to the man who bought it, prepared the sugar water, and hung it up on the tree for all the hummingbirds. Application. This shows the foolishness of humans in every age who think they can take control of everything and push God out of the picture. Did these vinedressers really believe that by killing the son they could become owners of the vineyard? Apparently so. Do humans think that by erasing God from their lives they can take control of their destinies? Apparently so. This parable shows the foolishness of sinful rebellion against God. It also reminds us that we are only servants in the vineyard, not the lords or owners. v. 8 killed him and cast him out of the vineyard - To refuse to bury a corpse was an incredible offense in the ancient world. v. 9 He will come and destroy the vinedressers - The coming judgement against Israel in A.D. 70 seen in the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple was from God and was the result of the leaders of Israel rejecting and killing God's Son. And give the vineyard to others - the church (see Acts 13:46; 18:6). v. 10 the chief cornerstone - (literally, "head of a corner") the rejected stone (Christ) became the chief cornerstone. Builders typically rejected stones until they found one perfectly straight in lines that could serve as the cornerstone of a building. This was critical to the symmetry and stability of the building. v. 11 This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes - The destruction of the vinedressers, the giving of the vineyard to others, and the transformation of a rejected stone into the cornerstone are marvelous to the ones who have eyes to see God's plan. v. 12 they . . . feared the multitude - more than they feared God. This parable shows God's relentless pursuit of humans, no matter how often He is rejected. The landlord in the parable is hopeful for a response each time he sends a servant. God continues to show His patience, grace, and undying love for humanity even after His servants are killed, even after His own Son is killed (Isa 65:2-3a; Rom 2:4; 2 Pet 3:9; Hos 11:1-4; 14:1-9). God is determined not to win us by force, but by overcoming us with His grace and love. God's love is truly irresistible to the one who will simply take a moment to notice it. What is the "fruit" (v. 2) that God wants from us? The answer is found in vv. 28-34. God wants us to truly love Him and to love others. Next lesson, Chapter Eight: The Servant's Prediction

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