Jesus was teaching in the Temple at Jerusalem. He told this parable: "A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a pit for the wine press, and built a watchtower; then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants to collect from them his share of the produce of the vineyard. But they seized him, and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. And again he sent another slave to them; this one they beat over the head and insulted. Then he sent another, and that one they killed. And so it was with many others; some they beat, and others they killed. He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' But those tenants said to one another, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' So they seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.”
As Jesus began this story, the parable must have excited the people who had visions of overthrowing the Romans, Herod, and the temple leaders. They lost their land to these leaders through debts incurred as crops failed. The situation of these peasants was exactly like that of the tenants in the vineyard of Jesus' story. Maybe they too could revolt. However, much of Jesus' teaching warned of the futility of rebellion in this hostile environment. Destruction would be inevitable because of the superior Roman forces. So, he concludes the story with the following description of how the armed rebellion would end. He said, “What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others.” Jesus was teaching the people that this cycle of violence alternating between suppression and rebellion is futile and must end.
Mark overlays this story with a lot of theological interpretation, but if we strip it down to the story itself, it becomes very clear what Jesus was teaching the people. Mark does say that the temple leaders recognized themselves in the story and were so incensed by his teaching that they again plotted to destroy him. They considered his teaching as dangerous, because they were part of this domination system that stole the peasants' lands and made them slaves on their own land. No teacher could get away with such dangerous teaching at this time. The last thing Pilate, Herod, and the temple leaders wanted was trouble with so many pilgrims in the city.
The cross was looming ever larger. Time was running out for Jesus. He would soon be telling his greatest parable, not in word, but in deed. When the time comes, his life and death will become the story line. He showed us all the more excellent way. In the end, only love can overcome evil. He displayed the ultimate love of going to the cross rather than continuing the cycle of violence. At one point, Jesus tells his disciples, “My peace I give to you.” That is the agape love that is the hallmark of the coming kingdom.
Prayer: Loving God, we thank you that Jesus taught us the more excellent way. Like his listeners, we are also consumed with the cycle of violence that can only lead to further destruction. Give us the courage to love not only our friends, but our enemies. We know that Jesus was right, but we often lack the courage and the will to practice his way of nonviolence. Give us peace, O God. Amen.