Convinced: The Son Arrives

Title: Convinced: The Son Arrives

Text:

Series: Convinced: Jesus is the Son of God, Gospel according to Mark

Introduction:

Illustration: Today will mark a return of sorts. Many of the mothers, wives, loved ones who are on the ladies’ retreat will return today. Some have been making preparations — cleaning, buying…etc.

As this arrival impacts our thoughts and behaviors, our passage marks the arrival of the King to Jerusalem. The arrival of this King to Jerusalem is noted, but our passage is best understood by a parable that Jesus himself gives.

Foundation:

The Householder

The Vineyard

The Husbandmen

The Fruit

The Servant(s)

The Son

As we consider this parable, it is quite clear that the Son deserves respect. The Son deserves honor. The Son deserves a correct response. In similar manner, Jesus Christ has been convincingly shown to be the Son of God in the book of Mark to this point.

Conclusion:

God deserves the fruit of all-consuming, genuine, heart love. No one enters the kingdom without meeting this demand of God. ()

As we consider this parable, it is quite clear that the Son deserves respect. The Son deserves honor. The Son deserves a correct response.

In similar manner, Jesus Christ has been convincingly shown to be the Son of God in the book of Mark to this point. He has come exposing the evil hearts of men, calling forth a new people of God…He has come showing forth an authority that is convincingly the authority of His father — as He heals the dead, infirmed, and casts out demons. What should be the response of men?

Thesis: Because Jesus is the Son of God, He is the One to Whom we should be supremely and completely devoted - in love & in life.

Because Jesus is the Son of God, He is the One to Whom we should be supremely and completely devoted - in love & in life.

(1) The loved Son comes to the vineyard

Illustration: There is a show called “Undercover Boss”. The plot of this show is that a CEO of a Fortune 500 company disguises himself/herself and comes to work for his own company to see the in’s and out’s of what is going good in the company, what is going bad, and who the employees are…etc

(a) The Son observes the vineyard (11:1-11)

(b) The Son illustrates the fruitless vineyard (11:12-14)

The Barren Fig Tree

Many detractors of our Lord have pointed with glee to what on the surface seems like a fit of petty anger on Christ’s part, spawned by His selfish appetite. In reality, it was probably unrealistic to expect figs at that time of year, a fact which He must have known quite well. Perhaps the key to the whole passage is in the fact that “His disciples heard it.”

When we look at the surrounding passages, we see that Christ was using the barren fig tree to teach His disciples something they desperately needed to know. This might be called a living parable. Our Lord had just come from His triumphal entry into the city, having been proclaimed as King by the multitude (vs. 7–11), knowing their shallow adoration would soon turn into cries for His death. Leaving the fig tree, he drove the money changers from the temple grounds, having recognized that they were not only exploiting all the Jews who entered, but had taken over the court of the Gentiles, using it as a shortcut through town (v.16) and a place of business (v.15), thus denying the possibility of true worship to all, both Jews and Gentiles. The fig tree was an object lesson on barrenness, typifying the Jewish nation’s condition in spite of their privileged heritage. This type of hypocritical fruitlessness receives condemnation (vs. 20–21), exhibits a lack of faith (vs. 24–26), and hinders our prayers (vs. 24–26). - Source unknown [10,000 Sermon Illustrations]

Source unknown

(c) The Son purges the vineyard (11:15-19)

(d) The Son explains fruit expected in the vineyard (11:20-26)

The son of God comes, finds and exposes the emptiness of fig leaves. He therefore purges the sinfulness of the people in the house of God and clarifies that for which God is looking.

Illustration: Peroxide has an unusual affect when it is poured on to an open wound. It fizzes. The chemical reaction is immediate. As the King has come, the affects are immediate. The infection of heart is being exposed.

When God sees your heart, what does he find?

(2) The loved Son’s authority is refused by the Husbandmen

(a) The husbandmen refused the authority of the messenger who came before the Son (11:27-33)

(b) The husbandmen were thieves who desired for themselves what belonged to the householder (12:1-12)

OT Ill:

(c) The husbandmen (Pharisees, Herodians, Sadducees, & Scribes) lacked a true faith/submission to the authority of the Father’s word (12:13-34)

(d) The loves of the husbandmen are the true reasons for their denial of the authority of the word (12:35-40)

(illustration: The widow shows the kind of fruit the Householder seeks: )

The coming of the son of God exposes the rebellious heart of the husbandmen. The husbandmen refused the Son because they were refusers of the Father & the Word.

, ,

Who do you really love?

(3) The loved Son’s coming is central to…:

(a) Central in revealing the Father’s demand

Acts 17:30–31 KJV 1900

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

(b) Central in revealing the depth of man’s depravity

(c) Central in revealing the Father’s ordained plan

Needed the death of the Son

Only One fulfilled the Law perfectly

(d) Central in revealing the need to be truly transformed in heart (revealed by the sacrificial giving of the widow)

Applications:

(1) The first coming of Jesus Christ is a call/command to all people: Yield your heart & life to the King!

There is no recognition of the Father or His Word apart from receiving the Son.

1 John 2:23 KJV 1900

Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

Have you repented of your sin and believed on Jesus Christ?

Have you repented of your sin and believed on Jesus Christ?

(2) Your motives in your offerings matter to the Lord.

An all-consuming love leads to an all-consuming sacrificial giving.

Are you consumed with love for Jesus Christ?

Is there evidence of your love for Christ in your sacrificial giving?

(3) A heart yielded to Christ is a heart yielded to the authority of the Word.

Consider time, devotion

Consider how this devotion is absolutely desirable and possible for the Christian -

Cold, heartless sacrifices flow forth from those who know the scriptures in a Christless fashion.

Are you growing in love for Christ as you are intentionally growing in love for the Christ-centered scriptures?

Recap:

(1) Have you yielded your heart/to the King?

(2) Do you love Jesus Christ? How is your giving evidence of this?

(3) Is your heart yielded to the authority of the word of God?

Transition/Illustration:

The horizon was once again beautiful this morning. Shades of purple, violet, auburn began to fill the skies around 6:44 AM. It was not until a short time later that the Cause for this beauty was revealed. It was the rising of the Sun. With the rising of the sun, the chill of the morning is melted away, the light reveals what darkness had previously concealed, and a new day is brilliantly begun.

(4) The son of God is coming again.

Are you prepared for the coming of the Son of God the second time?