TODAY’S INTRO
Tense moments. It seems like the wagons are circling around Jesus. Many are trying to capture him, yet he does not appear to be tense about this. Rather, he tells what I consider a “sticky story”- foreshadowing what will happen in the days to come.
TODAY’S TEXT- Luke 20:1-26
20One day, as he was teaching the people in the temple and telling the good news, the chief priests and the scribes came with the elders 2and said to him, “Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?” 3He answered them, “I will also ask you a question, and you tell me: 4Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” 5They discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ 6But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us; for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” 7So they answered that they did not know where it came from. 8Then Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
9He began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, and leased it to tenants, and went to another country for a long time. 10When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants in order that they might give him his share of the produce of the vineyard; but the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11Next he sent another slave; that one also they beat and insulted and sent away empty-handed. 12And he sent still a third; this one also they wounded and threw out. 13Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ 14But when the tenants saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, ‘This is the heir; let us kill him so that the inheritance may be ours.’ 15So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When they heard this, they said, “Heaven forbid!” 17But he looked at them and said, “What then does this text mean: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’? 18Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.” 19When the scribes and chief priests realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to lay hands on him at that very hour, but they feared the people.
20So they watched him and sent spies who pretended to be honest, in order to trap him by what he said, so as to hand him over to the jurisdiction and authority of the governor. 21So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you are right in what you say and teach, and you show deference to no one, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. 22Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” 23But he perceived their craftiness and said to them, 24“Show me a denarius. Whose head and whose title does it bear?” They said, “The emperor’s.” 25He said to them, “Then give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 26And they were not able in the presence of the people to trap him by what he said; and being amazed by his answer, they became silent.
TODAY’S STATUS UPDATES
I have great respect for authors. They are able to take blank screens or blank paper and bring a story to life. Their words bring us awareness to others or stir imaginations or can challenge people. Great authors have words that matter- words that people want and need to hear.
Such is the case with Jesus. He is the “author of life” who has inspired many along the journey to Jerusalem. He has written new chapters in people’s lives- sinners, tax collectors, the lame, the blind, and people without much hope.. He wrote a new chapter in their lives. New chapters are hard for some people to read or listen to. The Pharisess seemed to have trouble with Jesus’ words, his acceptance of others, and his willingness to tell new stories that were challenging. They remind him that he is out of line. He should sit down and be quiet in their opinion. But. . . .
Jesus is not going to stop. In my mind, he came to write new chapters in our life. If we are stuck, he’s ready to write a new story in our life. If we are in need, he’s ready to tell a story of care. If we are struggling, perhaps his next chapter will about walking right alongside of you. Whatever the next chapters in our lives, Jesus will be the one to write them. He has the authority and no person in power can stop him.
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