Scripture

“I tell you the Kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit. Anyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.”

Observation

Jesus tells a story about a land owner who plants a vineyard, builds a wall and a wine press, and then leases it to share farmers.

When the time comes for harvest, he sends servants to collect his share of the harvest. The share farmers kill them, so the owner of the vineyard sends a bigger group of servants but with the same outcome. Finally he sends his own son. The farmers reason that if they kill the son, they will keep the estate. So they murder the owner’s son.

Jesus asks the Pharisees what happened next. They reply that the owner will kill the farmers and lease the land to some people who will give him his share of the harvest.

Jesus then says that the Kingdom will be taken away from these people and given to a nation that will produce fruit.

The priests and Pharisees then realise that the story was aimed at them.

Application

If we stumble over the stone that the builders rejected and later became the cornerstone, then we will be destroyed by that same stone.

This seems to be a harsh word. Jesus wants us to know that our choice, either for him or against him, carries grave consequences.

Jesus did not only bring salvation into the world, but also judgement for those who reject him (john 3:16-18)

If we are drowning in a river, an approaching rescue boat will bring salvation. We might take offence at the colour of the boat or the person driving it, and choose death rather than life. Them eans of Salvation then becomes the sign of judgement against our own choice.

Our eternal salvation depends on the choice that we make now – to follow Jesus or to follow our own way.

Prayer

Thank you Jesus for saving me even though I did not deserve it. May I produce the fruit worthy of salvation. Amen.