What Jesus Did! 'Killing the Killers' — Mark 12:9

Sunday, August 25, 2024

"What do you suppose the owner of the vineyard will do [after the tenant farmers killed his son]?" Jesus asked. "I'll tell you — he will come and kill those farmers and lease the vineyard to others."
— Mark 12:9 NLT

Key Thought

There are consequences for rejecting the Son of God. In the case of the Jewish leaders who put the Son to death, they would find themselves - and their positions - absolutely powerless and defeated. When Jesus' prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem came true 40 years later, some of them would die because of their rejection of the Son. We need to know that those who reject the Son of God today also face dire consequences. While God is supremely generous about grace, the consequences of rejecting that grace and having to face the full wrath of God are horrific. [1]

[1] Romans 2:5 NIV.

Today's Prayer

Father, please use me to reach out to those who have rejected your Son. I know that you want all people to come to repentance and to come to you. Use me as an instrument of your grace and help those around me come to know your Son as their Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

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We must always remember that God's love for broken people and our call to his mission must matter most. James Nored and Phil Ware remind us of the deadly consequences of a religion that forgets the love of God for broken people and mission Jesus has for us to the lost world.

Illustration

Illustration of Mark 12:9 NLT — "What do you suppose the owner of the vineyard will do [after the tenant farmers killed his son]?" —— "I'll tell you — he will come and kill those farmers and lease the vineyard to others."

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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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