The Servant Beaten - Mark 12:3

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 in chapter twelve and verse three of his book, Mark shared how the husbandmen, “caught him and beat him” where we read:

And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.

The verse reads, “And they caught him, and beat him, ...” Mark began with the words, “and they caught him” which means “and the husbandmen lay hold of, captured, arrested and seized the servant”, “and beat him” or “and flayed, thrashed and smote the servant”. Mark shared how the “vine dressers” “captured and beat up” the servant sent by the “lord of the vineyard”.

The verse goes on to say, “... and sent him away empty.” Mark continued with the words, “and sent him away” which means “and dismissed, allowed to depart and appointed” “empty” or “without fruit and destitute of his labor”. Mark shared how the “vine dressers” not only “captured and beat up” the servant but also did not give him with any “fruit”.

When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we discover how wicked these “husbandmen” were. They refused to give the “lord's servant” any “fruit”, and they captured and beat him for asking. Can we imagine the reaction of the “lord of the vineyard” when his servant returned “beaten” and without any “fruit”? God has given provision within the world to every person through His Son Jesus, and they shall give an account for that which He has provided. When He seeks “fruit” in His Kingdom, will there be any who have placed their “faith and trust” in Jesus who have worked accordingly? Let all who read these words carefully consider how they manage that which God has provided to them.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus says “the lord of the vineyard”, “sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head”, 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".