Luke 20:1-19
Notes
Transcript
Why is Jesus such a big deal?
Last time we saw him enter Jerusalem. Some celebrated the arrival of the King, the Messiah, into the holy city.
But many questioned, doubted, opposed all the fuss made about Jesus of Nazareth. They didn’t think he was the real deal, they didn’t like the things he said, or the things he did.
And today, the same goes on, right?
Some love Jesus! Some try to orient their whole lives around him; they take him seriously, seeking to obey his commands and follow the Way.
But others don’t get it. They don’t understand why Jesus is such a big deal. Some doubt, some question, some oppose and some outright reject Jesus.
They might ask: What right does Jesus have to tell me how to live my life?
If we’re honest, even those of us who know and love Jesus already might sometimes ask that question, especially when we find Jesus challenging our will, our desires, our decisions.
So, we need to get this clear in our heads and hearts: why is Jesus such a big deal, and where does he get his authority?
And we should ask: why is it so important to listen to Jesus, and follow what he says? What are the consequences of rejecting him?
This morning, let’s behold the authority of Jesus, beware rejecting the Son, and build our lives on the cornerstone.
Behold the authority of Jesus
Behold the authority of Jesus
Jesus is in Jerusalem. He has announced himself as Messiah, and now he’s acting like it:
We saw in Luke 19:45 that he cleaned up the Temple, driving out the sellers and restoring it to a house of prayer for all nations.
And v47 he was teaching in the temple every day, with people hanging on his words. That’s where we find him in 20:1...
One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel,
By doing this, Jesus is claiming the right to instruct God’s people in God’s place. The Jewish authorities held that only they had the credentials and authority to teach in this way.
Hence their question...
the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up and said to him, “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.”
Maybe they were hoping to undermine Jesus in the eyes of the crowds who were hanging on his every word.
Instead of openly condemning him, they sought to cast doubt in the minds of those listening.
By raising the question of authority, they were trying to discredit Jesus as a nobody from nowhere, with no right to speak, teach and act as he did.
But Jesus won’t be fooled! He answers with a question of his own.
He answered them, “I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?”
Seems like Jesus is dodging the original question! But he is actually answering it with some incredible force.
On the surface, the question is about John the Baptist. That’s certainly how the Temple leaders took it.
But mention of John’s baptism takes us, the readers, right back to Luke 3:21-22.
When all the people were being baptised, Jesus was baptised too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’
When Jesus talks about John’s baptism, he’s talking about his own baptism, when his ministry as God the Son was authenticated by the God the Father and empowered by God the Holy Spirit.
So, Jesus has answered the question! “By what authority are you doing these things, who gave you this authority?”
His authority is from heaven itself.
But, either the leaders missed this altogether, or they deliberately evaded the meaning, because they respond:
They discussed it among themselves and said, ‘If we say, “From heaven,” he will ask, “Why didn’t you believe him?” But if we say, “Of human origin,” all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.’ So they answered, ‘We don’t know where it was from.’
And with that, they are now the ones who are completely undermined.
They’re supposed to be the ones with authority, with answers! They’re supposed to be the ones who declare whether John or Jesus are from heaven or from man.
But the best they can say is, “we don’t know.”
It’s not that they don’t know the answer. Their more concerned about the right outcome for them than the right answer.
These men had no courage to recognise and speak the truth. The only authority they were interested in was their own - holding on to it, even if it means denying what is obvious to all.
Jesus comes out of this skirmish easily on top: his authority, and the true source of his authority, is on full display.
But that doesn’t mean it’s recognised or acknowledged.
It’s a lesson for us all.
Will we recognise and acknowledge before others that Jesus is the Son of God, with the authority of heaven to rule over us?
For some, that’s a big leap - believing that Jesus is God’s Son and submitting to him, and then publicly acknowledging him as Lord.
Can mean ridicule, being cut off from friends or family, people thinking you’re weird or even stupid for believing in this Jesus stuff.
Is that something you’re facing up to, worried about?
Don’t let the opinions of others keep you from owning up to the truth about Jesus and his authority. Consider the opinion and judgement of the eternal Son of God as worth far more than the opinions of the broken, limited people around you.
Behold the authority of Jesus. And...
Beware rejecting the son
Beware rejecting the son
Jesus now tells a parable to illustrate where his authority comes from, but also to show the consequences of rejecting him.
He went on to tell the people this parable: ‘A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out.
The meaning of this parable would not have been lost on the religious leaders, or probably any Israelite listening.
In the OT, the vineyard is often used to represent Israel, with God as the owner.
Especially the song of the vineyard in Isa 5
The farmers represent the religious leaders, God is the owner, and the servants stand for the many prophets that God sent to his people to warn them to repent.
The owner expects to receive fruit from his vineyard.
With John the Baptist fresh in our minds, we might also recall words he spoke...
Luke 3:8 “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
But none is forthcoming.
The vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the nation of Israel, and the people of Judah are the vines he delighted in. And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard cries of distress.
The servant-prophets were mistreated. So the owner-God sends another...
‘Then the owner of the vineyard said, “What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.”
Notice the words “My son, whom I love.” A direct quote of the words spoken at the baptism of Jesus (Lk 3:22).
And notice the reaction of the tenant-leaders...
‘But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. “This is the heir,” they said. “Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.” So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
They recognise the authority that the son has - he is the heir! The acknowledge that the vineyard is rightly his by inheritance.
But they are only interested in themselves - taking ownership of the vineyard for themselves and for their own ends.
And so they throw him out and put him to death.
Did they think they could get away with it?! Seems insane! They’re out of their minds to conceive such a plan and not expect any consequences.
‘What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.’ When the people heard this, they said, ‘God forbid!’
The result is that the tenant-leaders will have their authority for the vineyard-nation taken from them, and it will be handed to others more trustworthy.
Who are the “others”? Most likely means the Gentiles, or the church which includes the Gentiles.
Hence, the strong reaction - “God forbid!” Or “Never!”
The consequence for rejecting the Son is being thrown out of God’s vineyard altogether, forsaking the blessing of belonging to God’s eternal kingdom.
Some might ask - Why is Jesus such a big deal? What does it matter if I don’t believe in him, or don’t choose to follow him?
The answer is clear: those who refuse to acknowledge Jesus as Lord will be cast aside. Any autonomy or authority they thought they possessed will be taken away.
Here’s another way to look at it - If people choose to reject Jesus’ rule over them, God will honour that choice. But the consequence is to be removed from his blessing.
We might think this is a warning only to those who refuse to believe. But remember that the religious leaders were the “believers” of their day.
They might have thought they were living for God and honouring him, when they were actually living for themselves.
Every believer and every church must also beware rejecting the authority and supremacy of Jesus over them.
Do you, do we, refuse Jesus in any way? Does he have authority over our every part of our lives? Are there things that we won’t let Jesus touch, or have a say over?
Beware rejecting the Son. Instead...
Build your life on the cornerstone
Build your life on the cornerstone
Jesus looked directly at them and asked, ‘Then what is the meaning of that which is written: ‘ “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone”? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.’
Another OT reference, this time Psalm 118:22.
Apparently, in Hebrew there is a play on words, with son (ben) sounding similar to stone (eben).
We’ve shifted images now from the vineyard to the temple.
Jesus is the cornerstone of God’s new temple - the new people of God, the church. If the Jewish leaders, or anyone, reject him they will not be included in that building, that people.
They and their power, their authority, will be decimated.
But, of course, the leaders couldn’t accept this...
The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.
If the result of rejecting Jesus is to be crushed by the cornerstone, what is the alternative?
It’s to recognise and acknowledge the ultimate and final authority of Jesus as the Son of God.
He is the one who has come from God to speak God’s final word to humanity, to redeem those who will believe in him - his death that pays for sin, his resurrection that guarantees eternal life.
The parable shows us that sin, our sin, is by nature fiercely independent. Sin wants all the power and authority for itself. It hates giving it up and yielding to another.
That’s true whether you believe already or not. Sin clings to power with all its might, and we all feel that battle within us.
Which is why we need to look to Jesus, the cornerstone. We need to consider his perfect power, his absolute authority, and humbly yield to him in everything.
Because - and here’s the twist in the tale! - by yielding to Jesus, laying down all we are and all we have to him, we gain what is his!!
We become co-heirs, Sons of God, with all that is his becoming ours!! Righteousness, eternal life, everlasting hope, perfect love.
That is the life-altering, liberating promise of the gospel of Jesus.
And it’s ours now - today - if we believe and receive Jesus for all he is and all he has done.
Come, and willingly bow to his authority, give him all of yourself, submit to his will, and find joy in the endless treasure of knowing Christ and living for the Son of God.
