Luke 20:9-19
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Take a moment to settle into your surroundings and then begin to recognize your breath. As you breathe in, call on the name of Jesus and become aware of his presence with you. As you breathe out, open your mind and heart to receive whatever Jesus has for you today.
As a follow up to the demands of the religious leaders (Luke 20:1-8), Jesus shares a parable. Read Luke 20:9-19 noting anything that stands out to you as you read.
The religious leaders’ thinly veiled accusation of Jesus was made in full view of the people who gathered to hear Jesus’ teaching. So now he turns to his listeners and shares a parable that is basically an overview of the story of Israel’s relationship to God.
The vineyard is a symbol of Israel in the Older Testament (e.g. Isaiah 5:1-7, 27:3-5), and the workers in the vineyard are symbolic of those charged with the care and leadership of Israel. But in spite of the fact that the vineyard is owned by another, the workers in Jesus’ parable begin to think that they have more authority over the vineyard than the owner.
Stop to consider how you view the possessions, privileges, and pleasures in your life. Do you continually recognize them as “on loan” to you from God – the Creator of everything? Talk this over with Jesus.
Read Luke 20:9-19 again.
Jesus’ listeners are shocked by his story of betrayal and murder, but Jesus explains that this parable is unfolding right before their eyes. He is the “stone” the leaders of Israel are rejecting, but through his victory over sin and death, Jesus will become the stone that holds the whole building together.
For the final moments of this time of reflection, meditate on these words from 1 Peter 2:4-10 and see if Jesus has anything to say to you through them:
“As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”
and,
“A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.”
They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
What might Jesus want you to realize or do today?
How will you respond?
Subscribe here to receive these guided meditations free by email Monday-Friday each week. If you find these meditations helpful, please forward them to a couple of friends.
The Everyday Jesus Follower’s Guide ebook can help you learn how to recognize God's voice, how to read and understand the Bible, how to develop deep spiritual friendships, and how to become the person you were meant to be. Use it alone, with a friend or in a small group.
