What Jesus Did! 'Killing the Son' — Mark 12:7-8

Saturday, August 24, 2024

[Jesus continued the story:] "But the tenant farmers said to one another, 'Here comes the heir to this estate. Let's kill him and get the estate for ourselves!' So they grabbed him and murdered him and threw his body out of the vineyard."
— Mark 12:7-8 NLT

Key Thought

"We want it for ourselves!" In essence, that's what the farmers in the vineyard were saying. It's also what so many others - including most of us at one time or another - have said. We don't want to have to live by God's standards, God's plans, and God's values. We want the blessings of God for ourselves while doing things the way we want to do them. But, God sent his Son, and our place in God's family depends on what we do with the Son.

Today's Prayer

Father, thank you for sending your Son. It gives me great pain to see how he was treated. I pray that the way I live shows that he is welcome in my life as the Lord of my heart. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

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Illustration

Illustration of Mark 12:7-8 NLT — "But the tenant farmers said to one another, 'Here comes the heir to this estate."

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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.

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