We do not have a warm and fuzzy feeling text this morning. As we don’t throughout much of Lent. It is a text that reveals the cold and calloused nature of this world, but before we get to that, even the cold and calloused nature of the leadership in Israel. The kind of thing that leads to cold blooded murder. That is what we have in our parable this morning. Cold blooded, calculating murder.
Jesus tells this parable about a vineyard owner. He planted the vineyard and now he has put people over his vineyard to work the ground. But the farmers are want it for himself. And when the Lord sends servants to collect the fruits of the land, they cast him out. Not a warm reception and sharing of the goodness of the crops. They want nothing to do with the vineyard owner who hopes to enjoy some of the fruits of his vineyard. And it just ramps up more and more with each servant.
The thing with these tenants is that they believe that the master is too far away to do anything. They believe that the master of the vineyard won’t do anything about their sin and their dishonoring of his servants. They believe that he will not come back. They believe that the Lord is far away and is incapable of doing anything.
But throughout all of this the lord of the vineyard says to himself, “What should I do with these people. I know, I will send my beloved son.” The most precious thing that He has. He says, “Perhaps they will respect him!” But these farmers see the son and think, “if we just kill the son then this owner won’t be able to do a thing and then the vineyard will be ours.” They Cold blooded murder. The owner’s own son, dead. What will the owner do, he will come back and destroy them.
Not a happy text, right. Well the Jews who heard it, didn’t think so either. They said, “No, let it not be!” The Pharisees and scribes knew that Jesus was talking about them. Israel, killed their prophets, the servants of the Lord. And yet the Lord kept sending servants to preach His Word and reap the harvest of faith among the Old Testament people. But they didn’t want any of it. It all comes to the head, where God sends His only Son, His beloved Son to proclaim the Kingdom. They don’t want to hear it and have him killed. They think that by killing him, they will have it to themselves. On their terms. They don’t think that the Lord will do anything about it. Jesus was killed.
But like Jesus quoted Psalm 118 in our reading a few weeks ago, he does so again in our reading today. God works his garden in and through His Son now. The stone the builders rejected has become the corner stone. God takes his old covenant that the specific people of Israel will be the means of salvation and He makes it all through his Son. Jesus is the corner stone. Through him all will either be saved or perish. He is the stone that, if anyone falls on him, they shall perish, And if he falls on anyone, they shall perish. You see it is all through Jesus. But if anyone repents and believes the Gospel, he shall receive life, forgiveness, the inheritance of the Father’s abundant grace and mercy. Overflowing into life, shining forth to manifest the love and mercy of God. The amazing thing is that the Jews rejection of Jesus has meant inclusion for the whole world. Through Christ, God has made salvation open to all peoples! Now, truly, everything rests on Christ and Christ alone. He is the way and the truth and the life.
Not only were the Jews to blame for his death, but the whole world. The whole world has been cold and calloused to the fruits of faith from the very entrance of sin into this world. Sin is to put yourself in opposition to God. Sin is to think that God is simply some far off deity that isn’t able to do anything. Sin despises the God’s word. For those tenants, they didn’t despise the servants who were sent to collect the fruit. They despised the Master. This is the problem of sin that the whole world is a part of. From the moment that Adam and Eve despised God’s Word and took the fruit of the tree for themselves. They became cold to God’s Word. And we are a part of that sin. That sin starts with despising God Himself and His Word. When people despise preaching, they don’t despise the preacher, they despise God’s Word. Putting oneself in opposition to God’s Word, means choosing death over life. When he comes to receive the fruits of faith. The greatest moment of sin is that we killed God’s own son. So, if we despise God’s Word or the preaching of it, there is only one thing we need to hear… “repent.”
But here is the incredible turn of events, the people who end up killing the son, in repentance, receive the inheritance. Talk about not making sense. We are the sinners and we get God’s grace and mercy, overflowing abundant, gracious, never ending. That is Jesus. He is the way to forgiveness and life. Even though were cold and calloused to God’s own son, He has given us salvation through Him! With warmth and open arms He receives us. The stone the builders rejected has become the corner stone. The Jesus that we killed has become the source of life and Resurrection.
His grace for the repentant, His grace for those who are in Christ. They get all the goods. This is the foolishness of the Gospel, and many stumble over it. If this way of thinking chaffs against your way of thinking, it should. If it makes you think that God, sure isn’t making sense, it should! This is what he has done for you! Our sin put Jesus to death, But God gives us life through Him!
You get all the goods. You have sinned against God. But God forgives you of it all in Jesus. If anything, this text, like what Paul says in Romans 11, displays both the kindness and severity of God. Putting ourselves in opposition to this news means death. But repenting and receiving it means life and salvation. But if you are in Christ, it is all kindness. If you are in Christ, it is all grace. Brothers and sisters in Christ, in Your Baptism, You are in Christ! Grace and mercy everlasting. The warm reception of God’s love. The abundant nature of God’s grace. The overflowing cup of salvation. In Christ, it’s all yours.
