MARK - My Words (16)

 

In the presence of these people, Jesus told this story. 

“A man had a great estate.  He cared for it and protected it with fences.  He then leased it to tenant farmers who needed land.   At the appointed time the owner sent his agent to go and collect the rent that was due.  The tenants met the agent with derision and violence, sending him back empty handed.  Again the owner sent another representative to collect what was legally his by right.  But once more the envoy was insulted and beaten over the head and sent packing. 

Finally the man asked his only son to go to plead reason with these tenants.  Surely his own son would be treated with respect.  But the tenant farmers saw an opportunity.  “If we kill the son there will be no one to inherit the estate, and most likely it will be left to us”.  When the son arrived, they murdered him, and threw his body into a ditch.

So tell me, if you were the estate owner, what would you now do?  Naturally, you would seek revenge and destroy those wicked tenants. 

Look - the foundation stone that the builders thought was substandard has now become the cornerstone of the world.  This is how the Creator operates, and it’s extraordinary.”

The temple authorities understood exactly what Jesus mean by this story; that Jesus was condemning them for their actions.  They wanted to kill him instantly, but were scared of the crowd’s reaction, so let him go.

Cleaver wicked minds worked quickly together to create a trap. 

“Teacher”, said one, “I know you always speak the truth in fear the Creator.  Tell us, is it right that we must pay taxes to the invader?”

Jesus knew where this was going with this straightaway.  He called out “have you got one of those Roman coins with you?  Show it to me.  Whose picture and title do you find stamped there?”

“Why, that’s Caesar”, the man replied.  “So this coin belongs to Caesar”, said Jesus. “Pay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and pay the Creator what is due to the Creator.”

The answer stunned them all into silence.

'If the cap fits, then wear it'.  I too can see this stuff about me as mine, when I am but a tenant.  Who is my inheritance for?  Who does it belong to?  It's not the stuff that Jesus is talking about.  It's the meaning and purpose of my life that's key.  Everything flows from that.  So we do have to live with the Invader (Mammon).  It's name is on everything, and we service it's selfish motivations.  But our heart belongs to our  Creator.  Our inheritance comes from a loving parent.