TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Jesus began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place.” Mark 12:1
Read: Mark 12:1-5
Listen: Mark 12
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Jesus tells a parable about renting a vineyard, and the listeners would have thought the owner set up the renters really well. The renters were in a prime position to make good money off the vineyard. With the walls, winepress and tower, the owner provided the renters everything to succeed. But the story turns. The renters don’t want to pay what is owed to the owner. They want control, so they beat and kill all those who come to collect his due on behalf of the vineyard owner.
It might be hard for us to see it at first, but Jesus is talking about God, Israel and the religious leaders. The owner represents God, the vineyard is Israel, and the farmers are the religious leaders. God gives so many blessings, yet the religious leaders reject his authority in their lives. They want it all—to receive the blessings but also call the shots and be in control.
This control problem has been around ever since Adam and Eve rebelled against God in the garden. Watch this video clip as Pastor Aaron Buer talks about how we all struggle to control what is God’s and what is ours. But when we consider all God gives us—we realize we owe him everything. God created us, a world to enjoy, people to relate with and relationship with him. We can learn from the error of the religious leaders and recognize all we are belongs to our good God.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
What gifts, materials and opportunities are you trying to hold onto and not give to God? Determine today what it would look like to recognize they belong to God and how that makes a difference in your life. If you have questions about this, reach out to us at btw@adabible.org.
2022 BIBLE MEMORY PRACTICE
Develop spiritual roots and tap in the power of God’s word by memorizing monthly a Bible verse! View previous verses at beyondtheweekend.org/biblememorypractice.
GALATIANS 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
