THE STONE THE BUILDERS REJECTED

Text: Mark 12:1-12
[This message was part of a Holy Week Communion service at Grace Fellowship of Greensboro]

Jesus tells a story about a VINEYARD—carefully planted, protected, and provided for. Everything was in place for it to flourish.

This is a picture of GOD’S CARE.
He is not distant or uninvolved—He is faithful, intentional, and generous.

But the TENANTS in the story do not respond with GRATITUDE—they respond with heartless REJECTION.

The owner of the land sends servant after servant is sent… and each one is mistreated.
Beaten. Shamed. Killed.

These servants who were abused represent the PROPHETS—God’s repeated call to His people.
Then comes the turning point in the story.
Jesus says, “He had still one other, a BELOVED SON.”

Not another servant.
Not another messenger.
His beloved Son.

And the expectation is simple – “They will RESPECT my son.”
But instead, these wicked tenants say, “This is the heir… come, let us KILL him.”

And they do.
They kill him.
They cast him out of the vineyard.

Jesus is telling the chief priests, the Pharisees, the experts in the law  exactly what they were PLANNING to do to Him! Their internal SCHEMING was no mystery to Him.

So when we come to the Lord’s table, we are not just REMEMBERING Jesus’ DEATH—we are remembering His REJECTION.

The parable Jesus told here is fitting for what was about to happen – to what was happening –
The BELOVED SON was SENT but He was not RECEIVED.
He was LOVED by the FATHER yet KILLED by SINFUL MEN.

The BREAD reminds us—His BODY was GIVEN but REJECTED.

The CUP reminds us—His BLOOD was SHED but not UNDERSTOOD.

But that is NOT the END of the STORY.

Jesus says, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”

What MAN REJECTED GOD EXALTED.

As we come to this TABLE this evening,
let us leave behind pride and the desire to be lord of our own lives,
and come instead with both HUMILITY and GRATITUDE..

Because the ONE who was REJECTED
He has BECOME our SALVATION.