I titled this article in a way to hopefully force you to do a double take – “A Bloody and Violent Parable!” One of the preachers from the past that I enjoy reading used this title for the story that we are focusing on this week. When I saw it, it certainly captured my attention, and I hope it does the same for you.
Parables are one of the most popular and wonderful tools of teaching that Jesus used during His three years of ministry. We find parables prominently in three of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke), and many people refer to the Gospel of John as having a “parable-like” story or two as well. Some of the same parables are told in two or three of the Gospels. Parables are more prevalent in Matthew and Luke, but Mark has several. Depending on how you count, there are 40+ parables in the Gospels, and they are all of course important.
Most of us when we think of Parables, we likely visualize some of the “Nice Parables” (as I might call them). For example: The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29ff), the Lost sheep – the Lost coin and the Lost Son (Prodigal Son) – (all three in Luke 15). Back in the fall in our study of Mark we spent time in Mark chapter 4 and taught the parables of the “Sower,” the “Lamp,” the “growing seeds,” and the “Mustard seed.” All of Jesus’ parables have a Kingdom point and must read, studied and applied. This coming Sunday we are opening our Bibles in the Gospel of Mark again – chapter 12, and will look carefully at the parable that goes by several titles… “The Tenants;” – “The Vineyard Owners;” – “The Wicked Vinedressers;” to name a few. But the title given by this Bible teacher I read was “The Bloody and Violent Parable.” Very poignant – very striking – it’s a parable/story that doesn’t hold anything back. It tells it like it really is.
This is our story this Sunday March 16. As you come to prepare for worship with your church family, I urge you to read carefully this parable – Mark 12:1-12. The same parable can be found in Matthew 21:33-46 and Luke 20:9-19. You would serve yourself well to read it from all three of these Gospel accounts. It is a pointed story. It is a violent story. It is a bloody story. It has amazing biblical truth with a tremendously gut-wrenching application. It displays a realistic explanation of how God’s amazing Grace works.
Don’t forget, in our study through Mark, Jesus has now entered Jerusalem for His final week on earth. This parable told by Jesus comes just after His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem for Passover/Passion Week when they hailed Him as King! Then He lays on them (and us) this violent parable.
By the way, I hope you are using your “Lent” guidebook that we offered everyone for free that can be a helpful meditation for the weeks leading up to Easter (which is April 20th) and especially Passion Week. If you have not picked this up you can do so this Sunday at the Welcome Table.
See you Sunday as we open God’s Word together.
