Patrick and I sat in a tasting room with ten strangers, drinking wine from delicate glasses. Before us, an expanse of windows revealed a golden hillside. Our host raised a bottle of cabernet and smiled. As he poured the red wine, he told us about the vineyard’s renowned owner, John Shafer, a man who, in 1972 had left a successful banking career in Chicago to purchase farmland in California. A pioneer in American winemaking, John Shafer’s wines helped put Napa Valley on the map.
Enraptured by the tale and tastes, I almost didn’t hear the door open behind me. Turning, I saw an elderly man walk in, using a cane. Wrinkled but smiling, he had blue eyes and a faint suggestion of hair on top of his head.
“Well, here he is,” the tasting host said, standing quickly from the table. “This is John.”
I could tell from the flabbergasted look on our host’s face, that this was no normal drop in. At ninety-two years old, the vineyard owner rarely made appearances. For decades, he’d put in the hard work of tending grapes. Now, he trusted his sons and staff to maintain his legacy. As I stared at John Shafer’s face, I felt like I was in the presence of royalty. In his presence, I cared a lot less about the wine and a lot more about the man who’d made it.
Throughout Scripture, a “vineyard” is used as a metaphor for the nation of Israel. In Luke 20, the crowd listening to Jesus’s parable would have recognized that symbol. With this story, Jesus proclaimed that if the Israelites rejected Jesus, the promises and inheritance of God would go to new owners. In other words, God was about to offer His grace, kindness, and salvation to the Gentiles. The chief priests, scribes, and elders reacted quickly, shouting, “That must never happen!” (v.16).
Imagine if John Shafer had turned to me, and right there in front of his employee, said, “Claire, I’d like you to take over the day-to-day operations of this place.” Consider if he’d smiled, raised a hand, and pointed to the land outside those shining windows. “The whole thing is under your management.” Do you think his employee would have raised a toast? Not likely. Instead, they would have thought the owner had gone mad.
For millennia, Jews held claim to the exclusive privileges of being God’s people. They couldn’t believe those blessings could extend to anyone else. Jesus’s presence, His kindness to Samaritans and women and disabled people, His claims to be the Son of God—threatened everything the Pharisees held to be true. They were in the presence of the vineyard owner, and yet they refused to release their death grip on the grapes. They couldn’t see the person because their eyes couldn’t look past their own power.
If I felt awed by the presence of John Shafer in a tasting room, how much more should I be in awe of Jesus, who hands me the keys to His kingdom? It’s a kindness so kind, it might be seen as irresponsible. He has given us an inheritance that is “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading” (1 Peter 1:4). Some may reject Him, but to all who receive Him, Jesus gives the right to become children of God (John 1:12).
He steps forward, points to the vineyard, and says, “My beloved sister, enjoy.”
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34 thoughts on "The Authority of Jesus Challenged"
So thankful this morning for the HOPE we have in Christ.
I feel like I have been on a wilderness journey since my kids started university praying for what is next in my journey-knowing God has plans in His timing but I hate waiting and being an extrovert and a planner I do not like unscheduled days. Sometimes it is hard to wait with hope when the days seem to run into each other and although “busy” are not life giving.
If you have not listened to this song it is beautiful. Living Hope by Phil Wickham.
https://youtu.be/u-1fwZtKJSM
I try to read news reports with discernment. If I’m aware of a particular bias, I read the reporting with a skeptical eye. I am searching for the truth, not just someone’s strongly held opinion. I also don’t want to form a personal opinion based on inaccurate and biased reporting.
Jesus revealed Himself time and time again as the Messiah. His actions and His words carried an authority that could only be from God. The Pharicees, Sadducees and scribes had a particular bias. They looked at Jesus with skeptical eyes. They weighed the Truth that they saw in front of them against the Law they had studied and interpreted. They had a tight fist around the Law and a tight fist on the secondary gain that came from their earthly power and authority. The Law became more important than the Truth. They forgot the spirit of the Law and the heart of the Law Giver. Jesus was a threat to their interpretation, their personal opinions. Jesus was a conundrum Who could not be ignored like so many other rabble rousers. Jesus’ authority was like no other and far superior to their own. He taught the Scriptures with authority even they could not deny. They chose however to keep their fists clenched rather than open it to the Truth standing before them. They closed their minds to what discernment is. Discernment involves the willingness to admit you might be wrong in your initial assessment. Discernment is the decision to accept Truth above and beyond all else.
So I ask myself, do I fully accept and acknowledge the authority of Jesus over my life? Or am I keeping my fists around certain Scriptures and dismissing others – because I don’t really want to submit, because of some secondary gain if I choose my own way? Oh Lord, reveal my stubbornness and help me live completely under Your authority for You alone give abundant life and freedom. You alone are Truth and You alone are worthy to follow. Amen.
Churchmouse, I love the way you explain things. The sentiment you just expressed is something I desperately struggle with in my own life. Submitting ourselves to God doesn’t involve “God please make me whole again….but I’m just gonna keep control of this little corner, so don’t You worry about that.” Submission is all or nothing, and goodness how stubborn I can be.
Claire, the story you have shared really helps me better understand the meaning behind this passage and parable. Thank you. I think I often underestimate the magnitude of the inheritance I have been given. If I woke up tomorrow receiving notice I was an heiress to a kingdom/vineyard… it would change everything. My life would be forever altered. Life as I know it would be over. How much more true is this in light of my Father’s inheritance? Game changing. I hate how easily I forget.
You said exactly what I was thinking after reading this! I hate that I forget to especially in comparison to what I think is important or if more value. May the Lord continue to reveal to us just how blessed we are in being his daughters.
We are all adopted, co-heirs with Christ bc of His great work! Praise the Lord!
Thank you for this post today. The story Claire shares brings a lot of clarity to today’s passage.
Amen! Me too Angie! Highlighted it in my Bible! What a great way to start the day!
But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name ~ John 1:12
1 Peter 1:3-4 BLESSED be the GOD and FATHER of OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. Because of His GREAT MERCY he has given us NEW BIRTH into a LIVING HOPE through the RESURRECTION of JESUS CHRIST from the dead and into an INHERITANCE that is IMPERISHABLE, UNDEFILED, and UNFADING, kept in HEAVEN for you.
This is where I will dwell today.