When two people decide to have a child produced from their deep love for each other, investments are made for the child even before he/she arrives.  We make a precious space to make room for the little human who will come into our lives and share our home.  We begin to invest in all the things a baby will need so we will be ready for the arrival.  Because of our love, it is easy to invest in their care and provision.

Jesus tells another story within earshot of those who oppose Him as the Son of God. His story clearly tells everyone standing around of the invest God has made in us—all because of His great love for us.  God created the world we live in.  God created each one of us.  God knew us even before we were born.  God invested in us as the world expanded with all kinds of people.  God invested in us when He gave the garden God created to Adam and Eve to manage.  God invests His love in us with every thought, detail, and action from the beginning to eternity!  Yes, God even invested in a plan for our eternity.   Truly, how deep the Father’s love for us…it goes beyond all measure!

Mark 12, The Message

The Story About a Vineyard

 ^1-2 Then Jesus started telling them stories. “A man planted a vineyard. He fenced it, dug a winepress, erected a watchtower, turned it over to the farmhands, and went off on a trip. At the time for harvest, he sent a servant back to the farmhands to collect his profits.

^3-5 “They grabbed him, beat him up, and sent him off empty-handed. So he sent another servant. That one they tarred and feathered. He sent another and that one they killed. And on and on, many others. Some they beat up, some they killed.

⁶ “Finally there was only one left: a beloved son. In a last-ditch effort, he sent him, thinking, ‘Surely they will respect my son.’

^7-8 “But those farmhands saw their chance. They rubbed their hands together in greed and said, ‘This is the heir! Let’s kill him and have it all for ourselves.’ They grabbed him, killed him, and threw him over the fence.

^9-11 “What do you think the owner of the vineyard will do? Right. He’ll come and get rid of everyone. Then he’ll assign the care of the vineyard to others. Read it for yourselves in Scripture:

That stone the masons threw out
    is now the cornerstone!
This is God’s work;
    we rub our eyes—we can hardly believe it!”

¹² They wanted to lynch him then and there but, intimidated by public opinion, held back. They knew the story was about them. They got away from there as fast as they could.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16  This is the investment of His love in us.

God also gave us the freedom to choose to love Him back—or not.  This is God’s wisdom.

“Surely they will respect my son.”  But, do we? 

• Are we so busy trying to manage our lives by ourselves, doing what we want based on feelings and trying to just be happy? 
• Are our minds fixed on getting more and giving less?
• Are we so busy doing church as we do any business in the world, that we have forgotten how to be like Jesus, the Cornerstone of the church, who calls us to go and tell as opposed to sitting and stewing in our pride and arrogance of doing life our way on our terms?
• Do we “beat up” God’s called as pastor leaders of His people with slander, mocking, and disrespect? 
• Do we slander others who come into the life of God’s church who can’t seem to get on board and be “like us” so that traditions can be carried on?
• Do we really believe that Jesus died and rose again all because of His great love for us—all of us? 

Instead of asking who Jesus is, maybe it’s time to ask ourselves, Who are we to Jesus?

Those who opposed Jesus got the message loud and clear.  “They knew the story was about them. They got away from there as fast as they could.”  Later they will turn down the investment of God’s love in them by killing His Son.  But where can they hide?

I’m reminded of Psalm 139 in all of this…

“You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
² You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
³ You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
⁴ Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.
⁵ You hem me in behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too lofty for me to attain.

⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast.
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
    and the light become night around me,”
¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;
    the night will shine like the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts,^[a] God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand—
    when I awake, I am still with you.

¹⁹ If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
    Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
²⁰ They speak of you with evil intent;
    your adversaries misuse your name.
²¹ Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,
    and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
²² I have nothing but hatred for them;
    I count them my enemies.
²³ Search me, God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting.

We can’t really run and hide from God or His investment of His One and Only Son made for our salvation.  We are given a choice.  Choose wisely.  Our choice is a matter of life or death.  Yes, it’s that serious!  Choosing Jesus is the best investment you will ever make!  Jesus changes everything.  Jesus is the best and most important relationship you will ever invest in for your life!

Lord,

Whew, you cut to the chase at times to get our attention and see You for Who you really are!  I’m listening and I believe.  You are God.  I am not.  I repent of haphazard thinking and arrogant actions that offend you, Lord. Cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, refresh our souls with your new mercies, restore the joy of your salvation at work with us.  Then send us out to love like you love us—relentlessly and forever.

In Jesus Name, Amen