FBCWest 675 | Authority Rejected
Recorded On: 08/31/2025
Bulletin
Hymn # 462 “Love Lifted Me”
SCRIPTURE READING – John 3:16 - 18
Giving of Selves and Our Offerings
OFFERTORY PRAYER
OFFERTORY MUSIC – Pru Hungate
Praise and Worship
“What an Awesome God”
“Your Promises”
“Endless Light”
Proclamation of the Word
Message by Pastor Joe
“Authority Rejected”
PRAYER TIME / Time of Reflection
“Egypt”
Sermon Notes
Mark 11:27 & 28 Religious leaders ask Jesus what authority and who gave Him that authority to do what He is doing
Mark 11:29 & 30 Jesus says first they must answer His question before He answers and that question is was the Baptism by John from heaven or men
Mark 11:31 – 33 They consider their answer and refuse to give an answer, so Jesus refuse3s to answer their question
Mark 12:1 – 9 Jesus teaches the Parable of the Tenants
Mark 12:10 & 11 Jesus quotes an appropriate Scripture
Mark 12:12 Religious leaders wanted to seize Jesus because they understood that the parable was about them, but because they feared the people, they left
Scritpures
Transcript of Service
When the religious leaders accused Jesus's power from coming from Satan, he started to teach in parables. When they started to question him about his authority. He taught a particular parable. That they then understood. And wanted to destroy him. We're going to take a look at that parable today and see what it meant. If you're going to write a book or those who have written books. Usually what they do is they include the chapters. And we've kind of kind of adopted that kind of thought in our process because you'll hear people say, well, that's the end of that chapter in my life. And I'm starting a new chapter. We kind of look at that part of the story is over and now a new part of the story is going and we. Divided these books up into various chapters, the writers of the Scriptures did not do that. They didn't insert chapters nor verses that was done later by others, and it's in its reasonable to do so because, for instance, if we didn't have chapters and verses. When I were and as I'm going to tell you, to turn in the Gospel of Mark in your Bibles, if and you ought to have them to Chapter 11, starting with verse. Uh. 27. If I we didn't have those chapters and verses then. We wouldn't know. How to get there or as quickly to get there? Now? Unfortunately they weren't perfect at it.
A good example is if you take a look at Ephesians. The. The people who wrote decided to put in various verses, but verses in the middle of sentences. The beginning of sentences and end of sentences and they don't really match. They didn't do a really good job. Now, in my humble opinion, which is not so humble. I think the people who decided in this particular time to set chapters that they made a mistake. I would have either started chapter 12 here. Or waited till the end of. Mark 12:12 to start a new chapter and the reason why I think it's mistake is Jesus in this particular ending of Chapter 11 and the beginning of Chapter 12, it's kind of talking about the same thing and the problem with chapters is a lot of times, especially when we're reading the Bible through, we get. The Chapter 11 and we stop and then we say, OK, well, I read enough for today and then tomorrow or three months from now, whenever we pick up. 12 we tend to think, OK, this is now a new chapter. Therefore a new thing. And I think the the. Concept and the teaching are related. Having said that, so if you have your Bibles and you should turn to the Gospel Mark, Chapter 11, verse 27, and we're to start with this. And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him. And began. Saying to him, by what authority are you doing these things or who have you this authority to do these things? So before when Jesus had performed miracles and those teachings they had? Alleged and accused Jesus of power through Satan. And so after that, Jesus started to started to teach in parables.
So hearing they would not understand. And he did it. Such a good job in the parables that even his own disciples had difficulty understanding the parables and would frequently say, well, what did you mean by that? And sometimes they say, well, if you don't understand this one, you're not going to understand the others. And so the teaching in parables is is very important. So Jesus is going to continue to do this. But there are. Not only now saying well, now your power came from saying we want to know what authority you have to do the things and say the things that that you've been speaking because you've been speaking as one who has been given authority as many people recognized he didn't teach as describes in the charities. Verses he taught as one having authority because he wrote it. And Jesus said to them. I will ask you one question and if you answer me then I will tell you by what authority. I do these things. So Jesus.
OK, you're asking me a question, I will answer it so long as you answer my question, because you're always asking me questions. So now it's my turn to ask you a question. And so this is going to be his question. What was the? Baptism of John from Heaven or from men? Answer me. So he gives them a very simple question. When John came and was baptizing people and was preaching and teaching about the Kingdom and about God coming and being the forerunner of the Messiah, was he doing that because he had an essence authority for men? Or did it come from heaven? Did he make it up or was it God in action? Notice what they do. They began reasoning among themselves, saying if we say from heaven, he will say what? Then why did you not believe him? But if we say for men they were afraid of the people, for everyone considered John to have been a real prophet. So they're now reasoning and discussing well, if we say this, this is a problem and if we say this, that's a problem. Notice in their reasoning. They don't consider what's the right answer. They only consider what the answer should be and what the result of that answer is, and that has been the problem with them the entire time. Is they don't care what the right answer. They don't, they don't care. Even we will see.
Few days later, when Jesus rises from the dead, they will pay the guards to say that people stole the body. They refuse to accept the truth. They always consider what is in their best interest. If they say in this instance, well, his preaching was from heaven, then they said then you should have been following him. You should have been baptized as well. But if we say, oh, it was from men, then he goes, the people will get after us because they consider him an actual prophet, which he was a matter of fact. Jesus said he was the greatest. Prophet and the greatest born of women. Except those of us in the Kingdom are greater than he. And so Jesus even himself said how great. A minister. John was. So they reason. And they are stuck as we would call it on the horns of a dilemma. Why didn't you? Or the reaction of people. It isn't that. A lot of times what happens? In churches, when they hear the gospel. Well, if I respond, why didn't I do it sooner? But what will my friends think? Because they're not Christians. Will they outcast me? Will they think I'm a Goody 2 shoots and they're more concerned about what people think than what the truth is? Answering Jesus. They said to him, we do not know. And Jesus said to them, no, will I tell you by what authority I do these things? She said you didn't answer my question. So I'm not going to answer yours, and the reason Jesus is going to answer their question now and they didn't follow the rules, but also because it doesn't matter what the answer is. Is that the answer is God himself has given me the authority because I am the son of God. I and the Lord are one. They would have rejected it because they didn't care about the truth. So it's kind of like sometimes you just you can you can wash a pig, you can put a bow on it and you can even name it Rover. It's still a pick. Now we turn to a new chapter, Chapter 12, which I say is following up on Jesus's teaching or basically his.
So he's going to give them an answer. They just. Not quite, it's not. The yes or no answer they're expecting. So he began to speak to them in parables, which he continues to do. But this parable will be unique. They will see it in in a moment. And man planted a vineyard and put a wall around it. And Doug? A VAT under the wine press and built a tower and rented it out to buying growers, and they went on a journey. Now again, most of you, if you have your Bibles, whatever you will see a little inscription that isn't. Written by. Mark isn't written by the Holy Spirit, it is written to tell us what the parable is about. I humbly say they mess it up. See I'm I'm criticizing a lot of people here. I think the proper title of this parable. Is not the title of the vineyard. It's the parable of the tenants. It's about the people who rented the vineyard. You see it, we're told in the beginning that there was a man God. Who planted a vineyard? Israel. Because in Isaiah, Israel is used as a vineyard. And he put a wall around it. He protected it. And he talked about he he was going to produce fruit grapes and he was going to produce wine. And he built those things. And then he built a tower to protect it. But then instead of operating the vineyard himself. He rented it out. He gave tenants in charge of the operation. Much like if you will, they he leased it out and he goes. This is the terms of those things. It's mine. You don't own it. You're a tenant. And he goes on a journey. And at the harvest time, he sent a slave to the vine growers in order to receive some of the produce of the vineyard from the vine growers.
So he goes now is the time for you to pay rent. So he sent a slave to do so. And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty handed. So the tenants go, we're not going to honor the contract. We understand where the tenants, but we're going to treat not only it that we own it. But we're going to abuse the people who are sent in representative of the true owner. So they have no. Impression other than to just do what it is they want to do. And again, he being the. The owner of the vineyard scented them another slave and they wounded him in the head and treated him shamefully. They didn't they now they had a second opportunity to do what's right and they refused. To do what's right. And he sent another. And that one they killed and so many others being some and killing others. They simply refused to pay what was owed the owner of the vineyard. And not only did they refuse to, they abused the representatives of the owner.
Here one more to send. A beloved son. You send him last of all to them saying they will respect my son. OK. I understand the first were slaves and representatives, whatever, and they had no regard for them. But surely? My son, the one I love. They'll least respect him. And pay what's owed. But those buying growers said to one another. This is the air. Come, let us kill him and the inheritance will be ours. He said let's kill the boy. Let's kill the kid. Then we'll no longer be tenants will be the owners. That's going to be ours to do with what we want, which is what they've been doing all along, doing what they want in the vineyard and taking its production. So not only did they discuss it, they decided to do it. They took him and killed him and threw him. Out of the vineyard. They treated him like trash. They didn't even give him a burial. They just threw them away as some unwanted piece of garbage. And Jesus asked the question. What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vine growers and will give the vineyard. To others. Now. I'm not God. And I'm grateful for that. And so should you. Because not only would I destroy them for having done that. I would make their destruction extremely painful. And long. And hard. To get every single ounce of vindication I could from them killing my son. And then would I not only give it to others? I just keep it. But that's not God.
So he will do retribution. He will do justice to those who have been. Conducting themselves this way. And then Jesus quotes scripture. This have you not even read this scripture? The stone which the builder rejected? This became the chief cornerstone. He is now taken the parable and given an understanding of scriptures. This son, whom the buying growers tenants rejected. Becomes the chief. It becomes a building block. The very basic stone that builds all other stones upon it. The basic Foundation and Cornerstone says. But they rejected it. This came about from the Lord. And it is marvelous in our eyes. Because God's plan is not Joe's plan, God's plan is to render justice to those who deserve justice and mercy. And love and forgiveness to the rest of us.
He doesn't burn the whole place down. He simply says I'm going to change the people that I've put in charge and I'm removing you. God's plan? Is marvelous. Because while we so often seek revenge and vengeance. God seeks justice and mercy. And forgiveness. And redemption. And they were seeking to seize him. And yet they feared the people, for they understood what he had spoke the parable against them. Notice up until this point, he spoke in parables so that hearing they would not understand and seeing they would not comprehend. And now he teaches A parable that they get. That they understand that they're the tenants. That they've been put in charge of the religion. Of Israel.
Yeah.
But instead of being concerned about what the owner of Israel God wanted and how he should be honored and the fruits given to him, they sought it for themselves and they understood it. But again. Notice. Seeking to seize him is wrong. But the only reason they don't seize him is because. Of fear of the people. And they left him and went away. But evil doesn't stay far gone for very long. They will do their plans. They will make their. Contracts. With betrayers. Because I don't care what's right. They don't care that Jesus has all authority. Because he is the son of the living God, he is the beloved 1. For God so loved the world. That he gave his only begotten son. So that ever whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. But if you don't? If you reject the chief cornerstone. Then you're left. Was paying for the guilt and sin and shame on your own? But God being God. Is offered up his son. So that he for our sins. He bore our shame. I hear stripes. We were healed. Understanding this parable. They should have said. My Lord and my God. Forgive us. But unfortunately they had the opposite him. Not only wants to or, they lost, they continue to be, and even though they were blind. They still don't see. Because they refused to. But God didn't end it there. He offers. The chief cornerstone. We are. If you will, when it comes to. Sin and spiritual matters. Oftentimes still in Egypt. But God has to demonstrate his power. So that not only do we who believe. Who were rescued and delivered out of the of sin. The whole world will see. His power. In his glory and His Majesty. And while there may be a time. When these people and others?
Will laugh at us and mock us and say there is no God. Or that they speak for him. There will come a time when every knee will bow. And every tongue confess. Jesus. Is Lord. To the glory of God the Father who sent him. Those of us who are believers. Should be seen.
Even so, Lord, come quickly.
And all God's people said.
Jesus, Parables, Authority of Jesus, Parable of the Tenants, Religious Leaders, Disciples, Rejected Cornerstone, Teachings of Jesus, Bible Study, Christian Faith, New Testament, Gospel, Spiritual Insights, Faith Journey, Biblical Truths