Reflection on Mark 12

Mark 12: 1-12

“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. At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard...(vs. 1-2)

Jesus is the BETTER vintner: He takes care of everything and everyone God has entrusted into his care. He does not misuse, abuse or waste the opportunities, privileges and responsibilities God has given Him.

Jesus is the BETTER tenant: Who takes perfect care of everything the owner has given him.

May we allow Jesus to take care of us as his vineyard, may we give stewardship of our whole existence and everything we have into his hands, because He will take better care of us than we can.

Mark 12: 13- 17

Jesus is the BETTER interpreter of Church vs. State laws and obedience to earthly governments:

He shows us how much more powerful and mighty God is compared to all earthly rulers and kingdoms...without encouraging us to disregard and disrespect earthly authority.

(Matthew 22- especially the question about whether Jews should pay taxes to a heathen-Roman-occupying-colonialist)

The powerful way he emphasizes that the Emperor should ONLY get what ONLY TRULY belongs to him ("his coins")

MUST remind us that in reality everything the State has and the Emperor claims, all commitment, duty and loyalty the State asks us to give whole-heartedly is in God's hands.

It is only truly God who deserves utmost allegiance and we must choose Him above the State.

Remember, Jesus died at the hands of the "powerful" Roman empire - in reality gave himself up- but now Jesus lives as King and that Roman empire is non-existent.