Will They Reverence The Son?

A study of the Old Testament will show the reader that God took many opportunities to teach and plead with His people.  Prophet after prophet preached the need for the people to repent and live as God commanded.  At times, the preaching was well received, and for a period of time, the people started living more appropriately.  Unfortunately, it did not take the people long to revert back into a lifestyle of sin.  By choosing unrighteousness over righteousness, the people were showing God that His love, patience, and effort were not appreciated.  It is truly saddening to see that the cycle of sin continued throughout different generations.  Thankfully, God did not quit loving His people.  By sending Jesus into the world, the Father demonstrated that He was willing to do whatever it took to offer salvation (John 3:16; Rom. 5:8).

While on the Earth, Jesus used many different parables to teach the people that He encountered.  One of those parables is found in three different accounts of the Gospel.  Matthew, Mark, and Luke each recorded what has been called “the parable of the vineyard”.  It was this particular parable that Jesus used to teach what was mentioned in the first paragraph of this article.  While all three accounts are important and useful, we will center our study on Mark’s account.  It is written, “And he began to speak unto them by parables.  A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.  And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.  And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.  And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.  And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.  Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.  But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.  And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.  What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do?  he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.  And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:  This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?  And the people sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people:  for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them:  and they left him, and went their way” (Mark 12:1-12).

There is no doubt as to the meaning of the parable.  It was so plain that the hearers recognized it’s meaning and application.  God had given Israel so much over time.  Instead of being thankful and faithful, the people rebelled, rejected, and reveled.  Even at that moment, the listeners were seeking for the opportunity to fulfill the parable’s message.  Instead of appreciating the instruction that Jesus had given, the people allowed their hearts to be hardened.  We who are alive today must not allow the Word of God to be so despised.  When we see that God has revealed sin and it’s consequence, we should demonstrate our gratitude for the Father sending Jesus to die for our sins.  Yet, even as this article is being written, there are multitudes who choose to ignore God and His Word.  It is sad that almost 2,000 years later, people still do not reverence the Son.  We should never stop having an attitude of thankfulness.  Jesus deserves our love and admiration.  As such, we should do what Jesus said He wants us to do to show our appreciation.  “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).  He deserves our reverence, and we must not make the mistakes that people made years ago.
~ Corey Barnette