What Jesus Did! 'Beating the Servant' — Mark 12:1-3

Thursday, August 22, 2024

Then Jesus began teaching them with stories: "A man planted a vineyard. He built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country. At the time of the grape harvest, he sent one of his servants to collect his share of the crop. But the farmers grabbed the servant, beat him up, and sent him back empty-handed."
— Mark 12:1-3 NLT

Key Thought

The symbols in this story were familiar for Jesus' audience. The vineyard would instantly be recognized as the nation of Israel, also known as God's chosen people. The tenants would be recognized as the leaders of the Israelites. They were given a beautiful and good vineyard in which to work. But, these leaders began to feel the vineyard was their own. They forgot it belonged to someone else and so they abused the vineyard owner's servants. These servants would be recognized from the Old Testament as God's messengers, the prophets. There were bad times in Israel's past when the prophets came with God's message, and they were abused, mistreated, and even killed. Jesus' message in today's verses had a clear historical connection, but we can carry away a powerful reminder for ourselves from the implications of the first part of the story. So often, we begin to view God's Kingdom, God's people, God's gifts, as our own. We forget that all we have is "on loan" from God and is to be used for him and his purposes. What we are and what we have are not ours by right, but by grace. We must never forget it.

Today's Prayer

O Father, you have blessed me so incredibly. My physical blessings are wonderful. My spiritual blessings in Christ are beyond description. Thank you. Please help me always to remember that my blessings — my finances, my opportunities, my abilities — are from you and help me to use them to your glory. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • 2 Kings 9:7
  • Jeremiah 35:15
  • 1 Corinthians 4:7

Comments

Archived Facebook Comments

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Thursday, August 22, 2024

A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
"One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit that enabled her to tell the future. She earned a lot of....."
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
"And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with..."
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
"[God promised,] "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.""
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
"I will sing to the Lord as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath! May all my thoughts be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the..."

Illustration

Illustration of Mark 12:1-3 NLT —  But the farmers grabbed the servant, beat him up, and sent him back empty-handed.

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.