Sermon: Rejecting Jesus Instead of Handling Him with Care
Scripture: Luke 20:9-20
“Now Jesus turned to the people again and told them this story: “A man planted a vineyard, leased it to tenant farmers, and moved to another country to live for several years. 10 At the time of the grape harvest, he sent one of his servants to collect his share of the crop. But the farmers attacked the servant, beat him up, and sent him back empty-handed. 11 So the owner sent another servant, but they also insulted him, beat him up, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 A third man was sent, and they wounded him and chased him away.
13 “‘What will I do?’ the owner asked himself. ‘I know! I’ll send my cherished son. Surely they will respect him.’ 14 “But when the tenant farmers saw his son, they said to each other, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate. Let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves!’ 15 So they dragged him out of the vineyard and murdered him. “What do you suppose the owner of the vineyard will do to them?” Jesus asked. 16 “I’ll tell you—he will come and kill those farmers and lease the vineyard to others.” “How terrible that such a thing should ever happen,” his listeners protested. 17 Jesus looked at them and said, “Then what does this Scripture mean? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’[a] 18 Everyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.” 19 The teachers of religious law and the leading priests wanted to arrest Jesus immediately because they realized he was telling the story against them—they were the wicked farmers. But they were afraid of the people’s reaction.
Introduction: Experiencing rejection is a normal part of life. It happens to all of us. There can be hundreds of reasons why we experience rejection. Even though, most of us want the reasons to be logical and reasonable, yet often the reasons don’t make sense. How could a single Palm Sunday Celebration cause the religious leaders to be jealous, and envious of Jesus? Whether it is a small thing or something of great importance, rejection happens to everyone. What is most important is how you deal with it. What can you do when you feel hurt or angry about rejection? Jesus kept focus on His assignment. Jesus knew that this event in his life had been foreword by the prophets.
Psalms 118:22-23, describes the treatment He was receiving at the hands of the Pharisees and other religious leaders after his glorious triumph entry. They were rejection Jesus and casting his away as a useless stone. The very stone God had chosen and sent to be the head of corner and the chief cornerstone was being rejected. Although Jesus was careful with his words as he relates this parable, the Pharisees and religious leaders got the message. The message for consideration was rejected as an attack. That’s still the case today. These men desire to setup the kingdom and be a part of God’s kingdom, yet they rejected God’s way and rejected Jesus as God’s Cornerstone. They were willing to fight for the tradition of the elders and hold on to the Laws of Moses, without realizing the implications.
Some Jews believe the passage in Psalms 118 was an accurate description of hos Israel rejected David, even though he was God’s choice as Israel’s new King. Yet this text speaks more accurate to how Jesus was rejected by the religious leaders. The builders of Jesus’ day, search long and hard for the right cornerstone and the right head stone. One stone tied the foundation together and the another tied the standing walls together. The stones were unique and cause the building to stand securely. Luke 20, shows Jesus surrounded by leaders trying to get rid of Him. They were looking for a way to trap Jesus with his words, but Jesus answered their question with a question. Their motives were always exposed, and Jesus avoided all their traps. In the parable of vineyard, Jesus identified the vineyard as Israel, the husbandmen as the religious leaders, the servants as God’s prophets and preachers, Jesus as the Son and God as the owner of all. Those listening recognized that Jesus was referring to his own rejection. Jesus himself was God’s chosen one. He is the Living stone, tried, elect and precious. Like the leaders of that day, many still reject Him.
Why did they reject him? Why do men reject him today? Was the landowner asking for too much? Was the rent cost too high? What the request unreasonable? Was the time period too limited? No, they simply rejected God’s choice, God’s way, and God’s provisions. The text said, “He went to a far country, waited for the proper season, and made a fair request. You see the rejection had little to do with vineyard owner and everything to do with the heart and the attitude of the husbandmen. They had become owners in their heart, greedy and possessive. They saw no excellence or value in Jesus. They thought about what they might lose instead of what they might gain. Then again, Jesus did not fit into their mold and would not play by their rules. They wanted a different kind of stone, one from their own quarry, with their mindset, so the easiest thing to do was to cast him away.
Ps 118:22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. 23 This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. 24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Isa 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. 17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
1Pe 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
These Scriptures all testify to the rejection of Jesus Instead of handling Him with care Why? because Jesus exposed hiding places and sweeps away lies of refuge. Jesus, God’s chosen one provides the only sure foundation because he is tried and true, precious, and valuable, needed, and necessary. We should all handle him with care because Jesus is replaceable. Nothing or none can take his place!
1.Jesus is Irreplaceable. - Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Ac 4:11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Jesus is not one of the ways to God, he is only the way. He is not one of the standards for life and religion, he is the Truth and truest standard. God has exalted Him to be the chief cornerstone and head of the Church. He alone crowns the church was HIs glory and beauty. He alone breaks down the dividing walls and unites the family of God, both Jews and gentiles together in the family of God.
1Co 3:11 “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Jesus is irreplaceable and He is invaluable!
2. Jesus is Invaluable. The value of Jesus is seen in what his blood was able to purchase. What can wash away my sin? What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,”
Not only is Jesus irreplaceable, but he is also invaluable! The price he paid, by shedding His blood, was the only thing that could redeem fallen humanity. His value as the sinless lamb of God, exceeds all other things in worth. He alone sustains and upholds and supports the weight of the kingdom. God has made Him the chief cornerstone, grand in honor, glorious in splendor, and the eternal hope of all mankind. All our hopes, all our joys and the bond of our fellowship as His body were purchased by Him and are held together by Him. Not only is He most valuable, but he also gives value to each of us. Whatever we are as His Church or whatever we hope to be, we owe it all to Christ alone. He is irreplaceable, invaluable, and He is immoveable. Nothing can take His place!
3. Jesus is immoveable. Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. This statement means that Jesus is immoveable in his person, in His office and in His doctrine.
With respect to his person, he is eternal and immutable, a priest after the order of Melchizedek. He is the bases for our forgiveness and our redemption. Never will we need another high priest or sin offering. He is forever the only begotten Son of God. His offering has been accepted once and for all, forever. Humanity’s sin debt is paid. We are redeemed and reconciled to God.
More than that, He is immoveable in His office. He alone is prophet, priest, and king. He legally prophesied in God’s name, offered a legal sacrifice and as king proclaimed eternal freedom and release. He obtained a full, legal, and everlasting pardon for all who believe. His blood is the propitiation for our sins and the sin of the whole world. His is immoveable!
Then he is immoveable in His doctrine. The word of God is seldom. Forever settled. God revealed Himself through Jesus Christ as the God who saves, heals, and delivers. His doctrine made known to all by Jesus Christ, includes all that is need for eternal salvation and total deliverance. To reject Jesus is to reject His father God. To reject Jesus is to reject His doctrine; to reject His doctrine is to reject the only remedy for our sin and separation for God. Jesus is the immoveable bridge between the Righteous God and Sinful Humanity. John 3:15-17 “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
4, Since Jesus is irreplaceable, invaluable, and immoveable, He should be handled with care. Each week, as we send out books and CDs to fulfill order from the website, we make sure the CDs are stamped “Fragile” “Handle with Care.” We can even purchase insurance against lost or damage to ensure the order arrives intact. God has given us a day of grace. He allows each of us an opportunity receive or reject his graceful offer. The men of our text willfully neglected their day of Grace. They chose to build their own way, with their own stones, forgetting the foundation stone God had given. The ground they had chosen was sinking sand.
If we do not handle Jesus with care, we reject the most needful part. You can give time and money and even your life to many good things, and still miss Jesus. Since Jesus is irreplaceable, invaluable, and immoveable, we should start our giving with Him. Give Him your life first, then your set apart time and talents to His good work, knowing all other ground and any other way is sinking sand. The men of our text had titles, positions, and the authority to assist in building the kingdom of God, but they rejected Jesus, they would not accept God’s choice for the cornerstone. Without Jesus Christ, there can be no lasting structure of God’s habitation. God’s habitation begins with a place in our yielded heart. Many people are guilty of the same thing today, trying to build a life, a family, a home or even a church without Christ. Remember, that which is least esteemed among men for salvation and deliverance maybe most esteemed by God. Jesus quoted Ps 118:22, “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. 23 This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. 24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Each day, as God sends out a fresh call of His Grace, saying “whosoever will let him come.” Life is uncertain, Death is sure, and tomorrow is not promised. Since life is fragile, each opportunity of grace should be “Handled with Care.” The blood of Jesus is our only assurance and insurance against loss or damage. His blood ensures that everyone makes it home saved, safe and arrives home intact. Will you reject or accept His offer? The choice is always yours, personal, and unique, how will you respond? The day of salvation is at hand and the time is now.
Ps 95:7-11 “For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. 10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:”
