Rejecting the Cornerstone

​5th Sunday in Lent – C                                                                                   LSB #’s 912, 571, 434
Text – Luke 20:17
 
But He looked directly at them & said, “What then is this that is written: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’?” 
 
REJECTING THE CORNERSTONE
 
 
Last Sunday, with the parable of the Prodigal Son, we considered how foolish the father was  to give his younger son the inheritance before the father was even dead.   As children of God,  how often do you consider the heavenly Father  to be a fool?  It might seem out of line  for me  even to suggest that  to you.   Yet, the parable of the vineyard  reiterates that very point. 
“When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard.  But the tenants beat him & sent him away empty-handed.  And he sent another servant.  But they also beat & treated him shamefully, & sent him away empty-handed.  And he sent yet a third.  This one also they wounded & cast out.  Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do?  I will send my beloved son;  perhaps they will respect him.’”  (Luke 20:10-13 ESV)  
 
What father would do such a foolish thing?    Would you?    The father should have destroyed the tenants from the get go,  but gets his own son killed  instead.   Whom does the owner of the vineyard represent?   Yes,  it’s the heavenly Father,  & His Son Jesus  is the one telling the parables  that demonstrate the foolishness of God. 
It’s important to keep in mind, however,  that labeling God a fool  comes purely from a human & earthly perspective.   As finite creatures  we  have no ability to see the future.  God’s actions can appear foolish to us  because we cannot see how things will turn out. 
Our experience in this sinful world teaches us this – anything that can go wrong  will.   Because of that, sending a son, after the tenants have already beat up the first three servants,  seems like a very foolish idea.  Our experience teaches us that  there is no such thing  as a free lunch.  Resources appear to be limited  so we have to be very careful  how we spend them. 
Giving your inheritance to your children before you’re dead  is not likely to end well. 
When the prodigal son returns flat out broke,  the father runs to greet him  & reestablishes the son’s place in the family.  From a worldly perspective,  what Jesus is teaching does not appear very wise.  Because our sinful nature seeks wisdom instead of foolishness, it’s important to remember what St. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians:
“…we preach Christ crucified,  a stumbling block to Jews & folly to Gentiles, …For the foolishness of God is wiser than men…”  (1:23, 25 ESV)   In other words,  when human beings think that God’s Word is foolishness   God is demonstrating His wisdom.    Since God is love, when human beings think that God’s Word is foolishness   God is demonstrating His love. 
As the Son of God tells this parable,  it’s just three days before He’ll be crucified  for the sins   of the entire human race.    Yet,  it is precisely that death of Messiah  which seems preposterously foolish  to the scribes & chief priests.  In that,  they are the tenants of the vineyard who have beaten & driven off the servants  who were sent by the owner.
 In three days, they’ll have the Son of vineyard owner killed.  They are trying to do away with this rebellious rabbi  because He dares to pronounce judgment upon them.  However, in this battle against unbelief, Jesus is not trying to get rid of them.  He’s trying to turn them around  so they see the foolishness of their hatred.  He’s willing to be killed by them  in order to save them. 
To the world  that is the height of foolishness.  Our sinful nature views such generosity as foolish  because we live in a finite world  that is defined by limitations.  Our Lord knows  no such limitations,  & if we arrive in heaven  neither will we.   Until then, our faith in Jesus exists in an upside down world.   Until then, the Holy Trinity is working to build a new creation. 
The old covenant has yielded to a new covenant, of which Jesus,  rejected by the Jews, will be the mighty cornerstone.  His death & rejection did not eliminate Him.  On the contrary, it made Him what the new structure needed, the Cornerstone of the new covenant.  In this parable, Jesus announces judgment upon those who reject Him.  Then, Jesus goes to the cross & dies in order to accept that judgment upon Himself.  Rejecting Jesus is not saying, I’d like a piece of the cake, but without the ice cream.  If I reject Jesus, I am rejecting life itself & everything that comes with it.  The result is bad enough here on earth.  It will be infinitely worse  in eternity. 
“What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?  He will come & destroy those tenants & give the vineyard to others.”  (Luke 20:15b-16a ESV)   While the parable of the vineyard workers is a warning of the judgment to come,  it is also a demonstration of God’s love for us. 
The parable demonstrates that our Creator keeps on sending people,  again & again,  to call us back to Him, going so far as to send His only Son.   As we are proud or self-righteous, God appears foolish to us  in that He is generous beyond all comparison.  We hear of that same generosity when Peter comes to Jesus:
“‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me & I forgive him?  Up to seven times?’   Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times,  but up to seventy times seven.’”  (Matthew 18:21-22 NASB)   That kind of generosity is beyond our ability  because sin has corrupted us & turned us inward to me, myself & I.  The Holy Spirit works to turn us inside out. 
The workers of the vineyard had forgotten who owns the vineyard & they are not working for him, but for themselves.  This same persistent love of God which has triumphed in us to make us His people is also the power & motivation for lives which produce the fruit of the vineyard.  As God produces that fruit in us  we become a blessing of peace & joy to our world. 
This Gospel reading from Luke is appointed for the Sunday before Holy Week begins.  Holy Week makes up some of the last chapters  of a very long history of God’s people rejecting Him & His Word.  The result of Israel’s rejection of Jesus means our inclusion.  And God has not “merely” included us.    He has continued being recklessly, wastefully & foolishly generous toward you & me  with His gifts of grace.  It means that this parable, for those who’ve heard the Word of God & believed, is good news!   And through us, our Lord & Savior is reaching out in the same way to all His human creatures.  Yes, there is a word of warning, but the good news is far greater.  Christ has become the cornerstone of a new & perfect creation that will last forever. 
Our Lord & Savior has invited you  to join Him in that creation.  Some people may think of Jesus as a fool for doing that, but such is the love of Christ Jesus for all.  His foolishness  is greater than the highest wisdom of any man.  Accept Christ’s love for you & find rest there.  Amen. 
 
 
Christ Jesus is the ground of faith,  who was made flesh & suffered death;  all then who trust in Him alone  are built on this chief cornerstone.     God would not have the sinner die;  His Son with saving grace is nigh;  His Spirit in the Word declares  how we in Christ are heaven’s heirs.     Be of good cheer,   for God’s own Son  forgives all sins which you have done;  & justified by Jesus’ blood,  your Baptism grants the highest good.  Amen.  LSB 571:2-4.