Year 2025, Passion Week Special Dawn Prayer, 4/14, Mon-19, Sat. ChulavVista Kor.Pres. Church.

4/14,Mon, Mk12:1-12 <From the Forsaken Stone to the Rock of Salvation> 216/Savior! Your dying love.

 Now Jesus is about to die on the cross to take our sins upon Himself. Through the parable of the vineyard farmers, the Lord criticizes the sins of the world and its leaders. They commit the sins of unbelief and rebellion. The owner of the vineyard plants the vineyard well, rents it to the farmers, and goes to a foreign country. Then he sends his servants to collect the produce. However, the farmers beat or kill the servants, and even kill the owner's son. So the owner will destroy the farmers and entrust the vineyard to others. The Jewish religious leaders know that this parable is referring to them.

1. The farmers are evil (1-5)

In this parable, the vineyard represents Israel, the owner represents God, the farmers (servants) represent the leaders of Israel (us today), the servants represent the prophets (God's workers), and the son represents Jesus. The farmers beat and sent away the servants the master sent (2-3). Because of their greed, they ignore the master’s legitimate demands. When we are consumed by greed, we also ignore the grace we have received. Therefore, let us thank God for His grace every day. However, the master patiently sends the servants repeatedly. However, the farmers beat, insult, and even kill them (4-5). Their hearts are more deceitful and corrupt than anything else (Jer.17:9). Therefore, we must guard our hearts so that we do not lose our gratitude and first love toward God (Prov 4:23).

2. The farmers kill their beloved son (6-9).

The master sends his beloved son at the end. God sends his servants many times and finally sends his beloved only son. God is patient and does not give up. However, the wicked farmers do not honor the son but rather kill him as the heir (7-8). Truly, these sinners are foolish and wicked. Who is this son who is being killed? It is Jesus Christ. God loved the world so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16). The sins of mankind are clearly revealed. The religious leaders of that time killed Jesus for their own benefit and greed. We all must abandon greed, empty our hearts, and live by serving the Lord as our master.

3. God turns the rejected stone into a cornerstone (10-12)

Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, is rejected by people. He quotes Psalm 118:22 and says, verses 10-11, “10. Have you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; 11. This was done by the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes?’” The Lord is forsaken by people, but He tells us that He will become the most valuable cornerstone. The Lord dies on the cross, but He is resurrected and becomes the rock of salvation. God judges the evil and sin of mankind (9), but He accomplishes salvation. However, sinners only thought of killing Jesus until the end, and failed to accept Him as their Lord (12). May you experience the great grace of the cornerstone.

Conclusion: What about us? Aren’t we similar to the wicked farmers? However, God showed us His love by being patient and not giving up on us until He gave His only Son. Jesus was abandoned by sinners, but He died on the cross and was resurrected, becoming the cornerstone. Jesus became our Savior, and when we receive Him, He gives us new life through the grace of salvation. Let us all realize the grace of God who is patient, repent of our greed, and be thankful. I pray that you will believe in Jesus, the cornerstone and life, and fulfill your mission as a child of God. Amen. 

Prayer: God, I confess that the image of the farmers who betrayed their master for their own benefit is the image of me as a sinner. Thank you for giving the life of your only Son to save me from the path of disobedience. Please let me be a servant of the Lord who always thanks for His grace and faithfully cares for the vineyard You have entrusted to me. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.