Meeting Jesus - Embrace The Message Of Hope
When we began this series, one of the first messages in January was about the rejection Jesus experienced. Throughout the Gospel of Luke, the Pharisees continued to reject him despite all of his miracles and all the proof he gave to the world that he was the Savior. I count at least 14 times in the Gospel of Luke that describe the Pharisees rejecting him.
Rejection is a terrible feeling.
If you have tried out for a sport but didn’t make the team, you know the feeling of rejection. In Middle School – I, too, experienced rejection. I was 13 years old, and I was in love. Her name was Rebecca Bumpus. We sat together for breakfast and lunch in the cafeteria. We passed notes in the hallway. And on occasion, when teachers weren’t looking, we even held hands. That relationship lasted for about one whole week. I remember our relationship so well because of how it ended. I believe our relationship began on Monday – but by Friday – Rebecca's best friend, Marcine, was sent to do her dirty work. Marcine Butts (that’s right. Her last name was Butts) sat down beside me in class on Friday afternoon and told me that Rebecca was breaking up with me. I didn’t understand why Rebecca was rejecting me. I asked Marcine, “Why is she breaking up with me.?”
Marcine Butts replied, “Joe...you’re ugly.”
And those words of rejection lingered in my heart for years. Anytime I was interested in asking a girl to “go with me” in middle school, high school or go out on a date with me in college, I could always hear Marcine Butts words in my head, “Joe, you’re ugly...”
Rejection stinks!
Whether it is in relationships, whether you apply for a job, at work, or in court, rejection stinks. Especially if it is done in a way that tears you down.
In today’s passage, we are going to read a parable about people who continued to reject Jesus. Let’s read.
Luke 20:9-19 (NLT2)
9 Now Jesus turned to the people again and told them this story: “A man planted a vineyard, leased it to tenant farmers, and moved to another country to live for several years. 10 At the time of the grape harvest, he sent one of his servants to collect his share of the crop. But the farmers attacked the servant, beat him up, and sent him back empty-handed. 11 So the owner sent another servant, but they also insulted him, beat him up, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 A third man was sent, and they wounded him and chased him away. 13 “‘What will I do?’ the owner asked himself. ‘I know! I’ll send my cherished son. Surely they will respect him.’ 14 “But when the tenant farmers saw his son, they said to each other, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate. Let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves!’ 15 So they dragged him out of the vineyard and murdered him. “What do you suppose the owner of the vineyard will do to them?” Jesus asked. 16 “I’ll tell you—he will come and kill those farmers and lease the vineyard to others.” “How terrible that such a thing should ever happen,” his listeners protested. 17 Jesus looked at them and said, “Then what does this Scripture mean? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ 18 Everyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.” 19 The teachers of religious law and the leading priests wanted to arrest Jesus immediately because they realized he was telling the story against them—they were the wicked farmers. But they were afraid of the people’s reaction.
Nearing the end of his journey on the earth, before he faced the brutal death on the cross and paid the price for our sins, Jesus once again tried to reach the Pharisees who hade spent the last three years rejecting him. This parable isn't just about squatters refusing to pay rent. Jesus is actually revealing how people often treat God's messages and messengers. And the plot twist is that the son in the story represents Jesus Himself. The squatters who beat and kill the son of the landowner foreshadow what is going to happen to Jesus. We have three takeaways from this passage that, if applied, will change your life. The first takeaway is this:
GOD PATIENTLY SEEKS PEOPLE DESPITE REJECTION OF HIS MESSAGE
This first point is good news about the message of Good News. I have shared the message of Jesus with many people, and not everybody trusts in Jesus the first time they hear the message. Maybe that’s you. Maybe you have heard many times that if you put your faith in Jesus and believed that he paid the price for your sins on the cross, died, was buried, rose from the dead, and will one day return… but you rejected the message.
But eventually, you accepted the message of hope, listened to the messenger, and surrendered your life to Jesus, then you have experienced the patience of God. Despite rejecting Jesus many times, God was persistent in showing patience to you because he Loves you. Despite rejecting the messenger and the message of Jesus, God continued to be patient with you because he wanted you to be saved and surrender to Him. See, the reason Jesus has not yet returned to the earth, is because he is patient and desires all those who have rejected Jesus to repent of their sin and trust Jesus as Savior. Speaking about why Jesus had not yet returned, the Apostle Peter said:
2 Peter 3:8-9 (NLT2)
8 But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. 9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.
Like in the squatter's parable, God is patient for you.
So, our second takeaway:
EMBRACE REPENTANCE BECAUSE OF GOD’S KINDNESS
Embrace repentance because of God’s Kindness. In this parable, Jesus is very blunt with the religious leaders, and he warns them that God’s patience will eventually end for them. He is patient.
His messengers are beaten up and rejected. He is patient.
His son is murdered. The patience of the vineyard owner came to an end for these squatters.
Luke 20:15-16 (NLT2)
15 ... “What do you suppose the owner of the vineyard will do to them?” Jesus asked. 16 “I’ll tell you—he will come and kill those farmers and lease the vineyard to others.” …
If you have ever lost patience with one of your children, it most likely surprised your kiddo. Internally, for you, the irritation had been building up. But for them, it came out of the blue. They did not know you were being patient, kind, and forgiving…but you had enough and snapped at them because they did not heed your warnings to correct their behavior.
I have done that. But this parable does not teach us that one day, God’s patience will come to an end. Instead, this parable teaches us that God has a plan to return. One day, Jesus will come back just like he said he would. And the reason he has not yet returned is because God is being patient with you and all those who have rejected Jesus.
Eventually, God’s plan is going to unfold.
So, respond while you can to God's Kindness and patience.
Romans 2:4 (NLT2)
4 Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
In the parable, the vineyard's owner is kind, tolerant, and patient. And in your life, God is kind, tolerant, and patient with you. So, embrace repentance because of God’s kindness, and embrace…
THE MESSAGE: BUILD YOUR LIFE ON JESUS!
Luke 20:17-18 (NLT2)
17 Jesus looked at them and said, “Then what does this Scripture mean? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ 18 Everyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.”
Jesus did not die on the cross simply to forgive and save us. The cornerstone of buildings kept the rest of the walls from wobbling. Jesus desires to prevent the walls of your life from wobbling and falling apart. He sacrificed his life so that you and I can build our lives on him. Jesus did it so our entire life could be built on Him.
If you follow Jesus, he is the cornerstone of your life. He is not a decorative painting that hangs on the wall; he is the foundation that holds everything together. Think about your everyday life:
The music you listen to…The movies that entertain you…Your spouse…The way you raise your children…How you engage with one another at Beach Church…How you love one another…
Every single bit of your life should reflect the values, teachings, and love of Jesus because he is your cornerstone. When Jesus is our cornerstone, He influences our choices, guides our actions, and shapes our worldviews. Building on this foundation means that every beat of our heart and every decision we make reflects His presence in our lives.
I don’t mean to prescribe a set of rules to live by. Because Jesus is our cornerstone, Jesus' sacrifice and love should saturate through every corner of our existence. He is our cornerstone, meaning we create a life that sings, speaks, and shines the message of Jesus in the most authentic way possible.
So, would your Netflix queue reflect that Jesus is your cornerstone?
Would your last argument with your spouse reflect that Jesus is your cornerstone? Does your song playlist reflect that Jesus is the cornerstone of your life?
Essentially, that is what it looks like to build our lives on the cornerstone of Jesus. It means we line up the walls of our lives through everyday decisions we make, with the patience, kindness, and love that God has demonstrated to us.
Remember Jesus is more than a Savior; He is the cornerstone of our lives. His love and message are not just lofty ideas; his words are practical guides for living. Embrace Jesus in words and actions, making Him the solid foundation of all we do.