Week 2: Walk w/ Jesus on Tuesday

Tuesday Scripture: Mark 12:1-12:

Jesus began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a pit for the wine press, and built a watchtower; then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants to collect from them his share of the produce of the vineyard. But they seized him, and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. And again he sent another slave to them; this one they beat over the head and insulted. Then he sent another, and that one they killed. And so it was with many others; some they beat, and others they killed. He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ So they seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. Have you not read this scripture:

     ‘The stone that the builders rejected

    has become the cornerstone;

this was the Lord’s doing,

    and it is amazing in our eyes’?”

When they realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowd.

Mark 12:28-34: 

One of the scribes came near and asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him there is no other’; and ‘to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,’ and ‘to love one’s neighbor as oneself,’—this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” 

Reflection:

Tuesday of Holy Week is filled with interactions. We will look at two—a confrontation and a connection.

Jesus told parables as a way to point people to wisdom, especially about God’s kingdom. These stories reflected everyday life and familiar activities. Planting a vineyard and leasing it to tenants was a common practice. Everyone knew that the vineyard owner was entitled to his share of the produce. After all, it was his vineyard. But this story turns tragic when the greedy tenants refuse to give the owner his fair share. The story becomes even more tragic when Jesus’ listeners make the connection between the parable and their own lives.


A vineyard was a common way of picturing the people of Israel. They were God’s vineyard. The fate of the prophets God had sent to his vineyard would have readily come to mind to his listeners. Jesus, of course, is the son both in the story and in who he is as God’s Son. Like the son in the story, he too will meet a tragic death. However, Jesus assures his listeners that God something marvelous will come from this tragedy which doesn’t sit well with Jesus’ opponents. They can too easily read between the lines and know that Jesus is saying that they are greedy tenants in the story. Only their fear of the crowds keep them from arresting Jesus.


We also have a story of someone who makes a connection between Jesus and the good news he offers. Of all the 613 commandments in the Law, which one was most important? Jesus answers: Love. Love of God first, and then love of neighbor. The man questioning him is a scribe. He is connected with those who oppose Jesus, and he knows the Law inside and out. Jesus is pointing him to the heart of God’s relationship with Israel, a relationship that is beyond temple sacrifices and an overwhelming multitude of rules. This, Jesus says, is what it means to be at the doorway of God’s kingdom.

Invitations:

  • Reflect on this week’s scripture. Are there any words or ideas that especially resonate with you or challenge you?

  • When have you rejected something—a seemingly “insignificant stone”—only to find out that it really was the most important “stone”? Make a list of the values you use to determine the worth of something or, more importantly, someone. Try to make this list as short as possible—like two or three. What might your values say about you and those around you? What might Jesus say about rejecting those who don’t line up with your values?

  • Tuesday is a very long day in Mark’s gospel. If you would like to read about the whole day, read Mark 11:20 to 13:37.


Prayer:
Jesus,

I want to walk with you through this Holy Week.

Open the eyes of my heart to see you more clearly.

Open the ears of my heart to hear more clearly your love for me.

Amen.