Don't Kill the Prophets - Mark 11:1-9 Exegesis
“A man planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a pit for the wine press, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. And they took him and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent to them another servant, and they wounded him in the head, and treated him shamefully. And he sent another, and him they killed; and so with many others, some they beat and some they killed. He had still one other, a beloved son; finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.' But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ And they took him and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants, and give the vineyard to others (Mark 11:1-9).
I hope everyone is delighting in this current Fast of the Prophets that precedes the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus of Nazareth. The Fast of the Prophets is a time for prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It is welcome to do these three acts of goodness with your family and friends, but above all, you must do them when no one but your heavenly Father is watching. Eat the word of God daily for nourishment during the Fast.
“A man planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a pit for the wine press, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. And they took him and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent to them another servant, and they wounded him in the head, and treated him shamefully. And he sent another, and him they killed; and so with many others, some they beat and some they killed. He had still one other, a beloved son; finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.' But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ And they took him and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants, and give the vineyard to others.
Ironically, Jerusalem means the city of peace. God's peace is beyond the peace of men. If we had God's peace, we would love the Lord God with all of our effort, and our neighbor's life more than our own. This parable that Jesus tells is the history of God's relationship with us. The prophets are the mouthes of God. What did we do to the mouthes that sprouted the very words of God? We ridiculed them, spit on them, beat them and killed them. What did we do to His Almighty Son, who is the word of God made flesh? We put a crown of thorns on Him, called Him a heretic, spit on Him, whipped Him, crucified Him and buried Him. Our boldness against God is not favored. We are favored when we are bold for God. Boldness for God is not shouting Jesus' name on social media or holding John 3:16 signs at Dodger stadium.
Boldness for God is worshipping Him and praying to Him in silence for your neighbor. Boldness for God is visiting the sick and the incarcerated. Boldness for God is providing shelter, food, drink and clothing for those who struggle with affording them. Boldness for God is forgiving your wife when she cheats on you. Boldness for God is forgiving your neighbor when she steps on your fresh pair of Jordan's shoes. Boldness for God is committing time with your neighbors to study the word of God, and consistently showing up and doing so on time. Boldness for God is hearing your neighbors' stories with patience. Boldness for God is admonishing your misstepping neighbor with gentleness. Boldness for God is asking for forgiveness from your neighbor even when you believe that you were in the right and she was in the wrong. Boldness for God is letting arguments with the blatantly illiterate go by without engaging them. Boldness for God is desiring only food, clothing and shelter in this world. Boldness for God is reading, hearing and memorizing the Bible to hear His lifegiving words.
Boldness for God is about putting Him first, your neighbor second and you last. Don't kill the Prophets, and don't kill Jesus (the chief prophet, king of kings and chief priest). There are still people killing the prophets. Lord Jesus Christ Son of God have mercy on us sinners, grant us the power to put you first, our neighbor second and then finally consider ourselves, unto the ages of ages amayn.
Furthermore, we must love each other.