"Misconstrued"

 "There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:" (Ecclesiastes 10:5 KJV) 

 "Then Jesus began teaching them with stories: "A man planted a vineyard. He built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country. At the time of the grape harvest, he sent one of his servants to collect his share of the crop. But the farmers grabbed the servant, beat him up, and sent him back empty-handed. The owner then sent another servant, but they insulted him and beat him over the head. Others he sent were either beaten or killed, until there was only one left - his son whom he loved dearly. The owner finally sent him, thinking, 'Surely they will respect my son.' "But the tenant farmers said to one another, 'Here comes the heir of the estate. Let's kill him and get the estate for ourselves!' So they grabbed him and murdered him and threw his body out of the vineyard. "What do you suppose the owner of the vineyard will do?" Jesus asked. "I'll tell you - he will come and kill those farmers and lease the vineyard to others. Didn't you ever read this in the Scriptures? 'The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the LORD's doing, and it is wonderful to see.'"" (Mark 12:1-11 NLT)

 Just in case you missed it, the spectacle yesterday in the Senate was pretty amazing to watch. There is really something that happens to average citizens that become politicians for life, they get stupid and don't really care about the people they serve anymore, because they are more concerned about themselves! This happens in the city governments, all the way up to highest positions in the land; there is just something about having any sort of power: power makes people selfish! 

 If you know the parable Jesus is sharing, it is about the children of Israel and the history they had of killing and beating the prophets that God sent them, throughout the many years they were a nation. And in the case of the son, mentioned in the story, that would be Jesus Christ, the One telling the story! These Jews, those that were leaders in the Temple, having witnessed Jesus chasing out the money changers and clearing out the Temple, were asking Jesus. "By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right to do them?" (Mark 11:28)  

 You know, there are so many people, Christians included, that really don't understand the real power of the cross of Christ. This was something that God had planned and established from the very beginning of time. Everything had been pre-ordained and meticulously carried out, over thousands of years; all linked together for one spectacular day, when Jesus, the Savior of the world, would take His place upon that cross, to destroy the curse and satisfy the penalty for all our sins! 

 Reading through the Bible, out loud to my wife, I have been starting to realize the importance of so many of the things that God instructed Moses to pay close attention to; especially the sacrifices and the burning of incense; everything had to be carried out in a specific order, and in a perfect manor; all the way down to the smallest detail. 

 That is exactly what God did, setting up for the sacrifice of His Son...

"With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it. My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed - cut off from Christ! - if that would save them. They are the people of Israel, chosen to be God's adopted children. God revealed his glory to them. He made covenants with them and gave them his law. He gave them the privilege of worshipping him and receiving his wonderful promises. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are their ancestors, and Christ himself was an Israelite as far as his human nature is concerned. And he is God, the one who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen." (Romans 9:1-5 NLT)