Opportunities
Imagine you have just sat down with your spouse. The kids are in bed. You worked hard all day. Putting your feet up and sipping your favorite late night beverage (mine is coffee) is relaxing. A big bunch of grapes were bought today at the store. Pandora, with your favorite soothing channel, is playing in the background. You grab the first plump, perfect grape. Pop it into your mouth.
Then...
Your lips pucker. Not because you're going to kiss your spouse, but that perfect looking grape was completely rotten and sour. The fruit looked good, but it was really worthless.
This is the image God uses often in the Old Testament for his people, Israel. He planted them in a land. He cleared away everything that would choke them out. He made everything perfect for them to flourish. Instead of flourishing, they withered. He was the Master Vineyard Keeper. He cared for the vines. He gave them the perfect conditions for success. They failed to take advantage of what God gave to them.
Fast forward to Jesus' day. Jesus used the image of a vine and vineyard a lot. Including the last time he was with his disciples. He and his disciples had just ate the Last Supper. Judas was dismissed to go betray Jesus. Jesus and the other 11 disciples left the room to go to the Garden where Jesus would be arrested. While on the way, Jesus took the opportunity to give one last teaching to them. This was the most important stuff. The stuff they had to understand.
Right at the climax of this teaching (John 13-17) is John 15, Jesus' Parable of the Vine. He starts off saying, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser" (15:1). He ties himself and his Father to the Old Testament image of vineyard. The Father still is the Master Vineyard Keeper. Instead of planting a nation, the Father planted a Person. The Father planted his Son, Jesus, as the Vine. The conditions are perfect. The Vine is perfect. The opportunity is great. What would they do with the opportunity?
Jesus wanted the disciples to learn from their forefathers. He wanted them to learn from those who looked good, but are really sour on the inside. Not only were these people in history, but they were making history by getting ready to arrest Jesus. He had already told these fakers they were missing the opportunity of a lifetime by telling a different parable about a vineyard (Matthew 21:33-46). In this story, a man created a great vineyard. He then sent messengers to tell the people who were supposed to recognize great opportunities when they see it. Instead of seeing the opportunity, they seized the messengers. All of them. Beat them. Killed them. Including the vineyard owner's son. The fakers got it. They got mad.
God has given us an opportunity. He has a vineyard. The conditions are perfect. The Vine that he has planted is perfect. Will we take the opportunity? John 15 is about finding and taking the opportunity.
We are starting our #N90T reading this week. It is not too late to join in!
