Andy Bruins preaching from Mark on Sunday 3rd May 2020.

Mark 12:1-12 Great Expectations

After the first attack from the Sanhedrin delegation who refuse to recognise the authority of Jesus, He tells this parable.

It is a parable that tells the history of Israel and the failure of its leaders to produce the fruit of covenant faithfulness in the nation. Instead, they have always failed to recognise the authority of God, they have always abused God’s messengers and they have always ruled the nation to satisfy their own selfish ends.

This current generation of leaders have added to this the sin of rejecting the Son! And for this sin there will be a most severe judgement.

Summary: Jesus has the absolute right to require fruit from His people and from the world that He owns.

We are all merely tenants, and yet the inclination of the human heart is always to reject God and please ourselves… bringing His judgement.

Q Remind yourself of the plot of this parable. What do each of the elements represent? (The Man, The Vineyard, The Farmers, The Servants, The Son)

Q How would you explain the meaning of the story? And why do you think Jesus’ audience don’t really understand it until right at the end?

Q This is clearly a story about judgement on the leaders of Israel. But it what ways might it apply in principle to us all, even today?

Q How does the Landlord feel about the actual vineyard itself? If this is a picture of God’s people, what do you think it says to us today?