Mark wrote how Jesus, “began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and dug 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 well- beloved, 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 you 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 marvelous in our eyes?”, and in chapter twelve and verse twelve of his book, Mark shared how the “religious leaders”, “sought to lay hold on” Jesus where we read:
And they 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.
The verse reads, “And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people:” Mark began with the words, “and they sought” which means “and the Pharisees and Herodians looked for an opportunity” “to lay hold on him” or “to seize, retain, take power over Jesus”, “but feared” which means “however the leaders were put to flight, afraid and seized with alarm by” “the people” or “the crowd, collection of people, multitude and throng”. Mark shared how the “leaders” looked for an opportunity to “seize” Jesus but they were afraid of how the “people” surrounding Him would respond.
The verse continues, “ for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.” Mark added the words, “for they knew” which means “because, since and on account that the leaders understood and perceived” “that he had spoken the parable” or “that Jesus brought this earthly story with a heavenly meaning” “against them” which means “in opposition to the leaders”: “and they left him” or “and the Pharisees and Herodians departed and went forth from Jesus” “and went their way” which means “and left upon their own path”. Mark shared how the “leaders” knew Jesus “spoke” this “earthly story with a heavenly meaning” against them, so they departed from where Jesus was.
When we think through Mark's words in this verse, we see how the “Pharisees and Herodians” perceived this “parable” was about them, and they were troubled to the point of wanting to capture Jesus. Their only barrier was “the people” highly regarded Jesus and therefore, the “leaders” were “afraid” of them. God the Father's desire is to have every person believe and trust in His Son Jesus to obtain a personal relationship with Him. Those who are wise will align themselves with Jesus and allow all who desire to be the ones in opposition to Him to go away.
Next time Mark shares how the “religious leaders” sent, “unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians to catch him in his words” so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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