Cornerstone

Luke 20:9-19 (The Message)

9-12 Jesus told another story to the people:

"A man planted a vineyard. He handed it over to farmhands and went off on a trip.

He was gone a long time. In time he sent a servant back to the farmhands to collect the profits, but they beat him up and sent him off empty-handed.

He decided to try again and sent another servant. That one they beat black-and-blue, and sent him off empty-handed.

He tried a third time. They worked that servant over from head to foot and dumped him in the street.

13 "Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'I know what I'll do: I'll send my beloved son. They're bound to respect my son.'

14-15 "But when the farmhands saw him coming, they quickly put their heads together.

'This is our chance—this is the heir! Let's kill him and have it all to ourselves.' They killed him and threw him over the fence.

15-16 "What do you think the owner of the vineyard will do? Right. He'll come and clean house. Then he'll assign the care of the vineyard to others."

Those who were listening said, "Oh, no! He'd never do that!"

17-18 But Jesus didn't back down. "Why, then, do you think this was written:

That stone the masons threw out—
It's now the cornerstone!?

"Anyone falling over that stone will break every bone in his body; if the stone falls on anyone, it will be a total smashup."

19 The religion scholars and high priests wanted to lynch him on the spot, but they were intimidated by public opinion. They knew the story was about them.

Who is weak and who is strong in this story?

At first glance, the servants sent by the master look pretty weak. They get beaten black and blue. They not successful in obtaining the money that they're supposed to collect.

Then son, then, must be the weakest of them all. He doesn't just get beaten up. He gets killed and dumped like trash, over the fence.

These farmhands the Master left in control are some big, mean, strong guys. They're not to be messed with or taken lightly.

At least, that's the way it looks at first.

God has a special place in his heart for the "weak." In fact, the Bible teaches us that it's only in our weakness that God's strength can really be seen.

God does not seem to appreciate the proud, the "puffed up," the intimidators...the violent...the "strong."

The real truth is this: "weakness" can be harder than stone.

This is a parable for anyone who's ever been rejected, or hurt, or beaten. This is a story for the underdogs. This is a message of hope for the hopeless and justice for those who have suffered.

This is a story of the messiah...the cornerstone.

Jesus stood in the midst of the religion scholars, and all the people...hard as rock...tough as iron...unbreakable.

But the farmhands weren't finished yet. They would push this man to the limits. They would break him...so they thought. They "knew the story was about them," and they would wait for the opportune time.

Prayer: Teach us the lessons of the suffering servant. Help us, Father, to remember that we don't have to be puffed up before you. We can admit our weakness. We can sustain the punches of the world around us...because your strength will always shine through.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.