Day 23 – Rejected Son, rightful Lord

Opening Prayer

Father, give me humility to hear Jesus today; expose my resistance, and lead me into joyful obedience.

Headline

Jesus’ authority is challenged, so he tells a parable: the Son is rejected—and judgement is inevitable.

Mark 11:27-12:12

 ²⁷ They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. ²⁸ “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?”

²⁹ Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. ³⁰ John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!”

³¹ They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ ³² But if we say, ‘Of human origin’ …” (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)

³³ So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

12 Jesus then began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. ² At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. ³ But they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. ⁴ Then he sent another servant to them; they struck this man on the head and treated him shamefully. ⁵ He sent still another, and that one they killed. He sent many others; some of them they beat, others they killed.

⁶ “He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’

⁷ “But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ ⁸ So they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.

⁹ “What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others. ¹⁰ Haven’t you read this passage of Scripture:

“‘The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone;
¹¹ the Lord has done this,
    and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”

¹² Then the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders looked for a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd; so they left him and went away.

Comment

The tension in Jerusalem is now thick. Jesus returns to the temple courts, and the religious leaders corner him with a question that sounds tidy but is anything but neutral: “By what authority are you doing these things?” (v.28) They are not seeking clarity; they’re trying to strip Jesus of credibility in public.

Jesus answers with a question about John’s baptism. It’s brilliant—not evasive. Because if they will not acknowledge the authority God gave John, they will never acknowledge the authority God gives Jesus. And Mark shows us the real issue: they are ruled by fear of public opinion, not fear of God. They’re calculating, not listening. So they say, “We don’t know.” (v.33) A convenient ignorance. And Jesus refuses to play their game.

Then comes the parable of the tenants—one of the most direct stories Jesus ever tells. A man plants a vineyard, rents it out, and sends servants to collect fruit. The tenants beat one, kill another, stone another. More servants come; more violence follows. And then the shock: the owner sends his son—“a son, whom he loved.” (v.6) There is pathos in the line: “They will respect my son.” (v.6) Why would he send him? Partly because the son is the rightful heir. But deeper still, it’s an astonishing display of patience and mercy: one final appeal, one last overture.

But the tenants see the son as a threat to their autonomy. They want the vineyard without the owner. So they kill the son and throw him out. It’s chilling because it names the human heart so accurately: we don’t merely break God’s rules; we want God off the throne.

Jesus’ conclusion is inevitable: the owner will come, judge the tenants, and give the vineyard to others. And then Jesus quotes the Psalm: “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” (v.10) Rejection will not be the final word. God will take what is despised and make it central. The rejected Son will become the foundation of everything.

And Mark ends the scene with the leaders realising Jesus is talking about them. They want to arrest him, but they fear the crowd. The conflict is now out in the open: the King has come to his city, and the question is simple—will we submit to his rightful rule, or cling to our little kingdoms?

Reflect

• Where are you tempted to ask about Jesus’ “authority” while quietly keeping authority for yourself?
• What “fruit” might God rightly look for in your life at the moment—repentance, trust, generosity, forgiveness, courage?
• What comfort is there in knowing that rejection and opposition cannot derail God’s plan—the rejected stone becomes the cornerstone?

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus, forgive me for the ways I resist your authority and try to keep control. Thank you for God’s patience and mercy—even sending his beloved Son. Please give me a heart that yields to you gladly. Make my life fruitful, not performative. And when I’m tempted to fear people more than God, strengthen me to stand with you—the rightful Lord, the cornerstone, the one God is building everything upon. Amen.