Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

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21 April 10

    Greetings, dear people.

    Here we are in the middle of the day.  I gave most of my morning focus to preparing to speak to a bunch of school kids in Tualatin.  There were over 50...preschool thru 6th graders.  Had a great time with them.  Then I stopped at a supplier in Tigard and picked up some sign materials.  My next stop was at my cousin, Skip's place.  He actually prepared lunch for us.  It was a terrific lunch.  After our meal, he hopped in the truck with me and I brought him home with me.  He'll hang out with us and spend the night.

    I have a lot of work calling for my attention...so until tomorrow, hang in there!  Do it right.  Be blessed.

    Love and prayers.  Dad/Ray

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21 April 2010
Passage: Mark 11:27 – 12:17
Focus:  “At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard.”  Mark 12:2

            I confess that it is, at first glance, nigh unto irritating to read the account we read yesterday where Jesus seemed to arbitrarily curse the fig tree because it did not have fruit when He wanted.  Upon more careful thought and consideration, however, I think we are led to see that there is lesson content here for His disciples who saw and heard what He did and said.  The fig tree can appropriately represent Israel in whom God has invested so much, and yet who are so unproductive of spiritual fruit.  They have the stock and leaves of religion, but little to no fruit to please the desires of the Owner.  To underscore this idea, notice that Jesus was at that time in route to Jerusalem where He, in a sense, cursed the fruitless fig tree of the Temple.  In so many words, Jesus was saying, “This is supposed to be a tree of Life to the nations, a house where God is honored and worshipped.  But you jerks are perverting it into a corrupt business that produces absolutely nothing pleasing to the Father!”

            Today’s parable of the guys who rent the vineyard from the owner is in a similar vein.  The Jewish nation is best understood as the tenants.

            Beyond applying it all to Israel, I think there is an extremely important lesson for each of us.  God simply desires fruit from your life and your faith.  The leaves of religious activity are not enough.  He doesn’t necessarily want all of the fruit.  You can keep some joy, peace, and goodness for your own consumption.  He just wants “some of the fruit” returned to Him in the form of true worship…along with the heart-felt acknowledgment that He rightfully OWNS it all.  (I Cor. 6:19-20)