milk & honey mamas

Stories

Written by Kristen

Theological Background

Jesus then began to speak to them in parables

Mark 12:1 NIV

Mark 11:27-13:37. Most of Tuesday consists of conflicts with Temple authorities and associated leaders (Borg and Crossan). It also contains what scholars call the “little apocalypse,” which is Mark’s account of Jesus foretelling the destruction of the Temple (which had already occurred by the time of Mark’s writing).

Jesus tells parables and recites scripture, confounding and outmaneuvering the authorities’ intentionally complicated questions. He gives the parable of the wicked or greedy tenants, and he emphasizes the great commandment from Jewish scripture.

We are also reminded, in the midst of the conflicts, that not all scribes were opposed to Jesus’ teachings, nor were all Pharisees or authorities.

The parable of the tenants is usually understood to be about Jesus as the beloved son, and it is often misunderstood to be an indictment of Jewish people as the wicked/greedy tenants. Rather, the vineyard represents Israel, and the greedy tenants are “the powerful and wealthy at the top of the local domination system” who want the vineyard’s produce for themselves (Borg and Crossan, 60). The parable is meant to indict the scribes who are questioning Jesus, who realize “he had told this parable against them” (Mark 12:12).

Tuesday builds the resentment of the leaders who dislike Jesus’ authority and indictment of their practices. It widens the chasm between those who follow Jesus and those who oppose him, and emphasizes the power and entrenchment of a system reluctant to receive criticism.

Story

Contributed by Kristen

On Tuesday, Jesus told stories. You see, some of the leaders who liked the way things were did not care for Jesus. They wanted to trick him, to get him to say something that would make people turn away from him. They wanted him to stop telling them to change.

But Jesus looked at them with his kind eyes, and he reached out with his gentle hands, and he refused to stop inviting everyone to God’s feast. Sometimes, conversations got heated. The leaders were angry, and they tried to confuse Jesus. “Answer this riddle, rabbi,” they would say. But Jesus was calm. He knew they were afraid. He would pause, and then he would tilt his head back and close one eye and he would tell a story. A story like this: 

There was a big, beautiful vineyard. A man who loved this vineyard with all his heart took good care of it, but he had to go away for a bit. So he asked if anyone wanted to stay in the vineyard and take care of it. Some very greedy people said, “yes, we will stay!” but they did not want to share the grapes and the juice and the garden. They wanted it all for themselves.

The man who loved his vineyard sent some of his friends to check on the vineyard, but when they arrived, the greedy people said “you cannot go back. We want this vineyard for ourselves” And they killed them.

The man who loved his vineyard sent more people, but the same thing happened. Finally, he sent his beloved son. He thought, “they will not hurt my son.” But the greedy tenants did hurt his son. They killed him. They were so greedy all they could see was the richness of the vineyard, and all they could taste was the sweet juice. They did not want things to change.

Jesus told this story to say, “my friends, greed blinds you. God’s vineyard is for everyone. For all Israel and more. But some of you do not want to share the good grapes, and the delicious juice. God is not happy about that. God has invited everyone to the feast of love.”

But the people Jesus was talking to did not like this story. They did not want to change. They wanted to stay in control of the vineyard. They were angry, and they began to plot how they could destroy Jesus. 

Activity

Bake an Easter treat (check out some of our favorite Easter recipes, here!) and share “the feast of love” with friends.

Poem

Compiled by Caroline

I Dream A World

by Langston Hughes

I dream a world where man

No other man will scorn,

Where love will bless the earth

And peace its paths adorn

I dream a world where all

Will know sweet freedom’s way,

Where greed no longer saps the soul

Nor avarice blights our day.

A world I dream where black or white,

Whatever race you be,

Will share the bounties of the earth

And every man is free,

Where wretchedness will hang its head

And joy, like a pearl,

Attends the needs of all mankind-

Of such I dream, my world!

Song

Compiled by Caroline

Art