The Trouble with Jesus
by Constance Hastings
The Trouble with Jesus: He means his message even harder now
than he meant it then.
“Anyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces,
and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.”
In some ways, the world seems to never change, stays on repeat. Jesus saw it then; God watches it now. When Jesus got cornered, he didn’t sugarcoat. He dropped heavy words at times, but altogether he was fair. You always knew where you stood with him. On the whole though, it’s easier to take his toughness when he calls out the source of chaos. But when he made it into a parable? Sit up straight. Pay attention. He meant it then, and he means it even harder now.
Corruption at the Top
The situation was almost too familiar. Jesus had said some things, done some things that challenged leadership. They tried to trip him up, but he was too smart for their weak tricks. Let’s face it; when you’re right, you can smell the manipulation a mile away, see through the other side.
These leaders, both religious and political, were protecting their seats, power, status. Anybody who threatened that? They’d smear you, silence you, or straight‑up remove you. They were out to get him. They would be successful in that. But Jesus would expose their motives before going down.
A Chateau Tale
His story portrays a landowner with a vineyard. Stop right there. The crowd already knew what this meant. The prophets had compared Israel as being God’s vineyard. (Isaiah 5:1-7) They knew a good vineyard took years of sweat and hard work with no profit being made while the vines developed and grapes matured. Furthermore, it needed to be planted in a place where there was peace and stability, no threats of enemy destruction. It was a symbol of hope and a future, blessings and stability in their own lives and land.
In this vineyard the harvest was finally ready. It should have been a time of celebration, a toasting of all the good wine that would be packaged, sold, and stored for another good day. The landowner sends his servants to collect his share. Twice. Things get ugly. Those who had been caring for the vineyard abuse and kill the servants. It’s clear their violence must be met with a stronger effort.
Insurrection by Murder
But when the landowner’s son shows up, those who had been in charge show their true colors. “Here comes the heir to this estate. Let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves!” So they murdered the son, a coup d’état where power is changed illegally or by force.
Jesus doesn’t give the story a happy ending. It stops there. Roused in the listeners was righteous anger, a need for justice. This shouldn’t happen in anybody’s vineyard, let alone among your own people. Jesus throws out the question: What should happen to these murderers of the landowner’s son, those who would overtake the place that was chosen by God for Israel to live, to prosper in this place? What will the landowner do when he shows up to bring justice?
Inculpatory Judgement
“He will put the wicked men to a horrible death and lease the vineyard to others who will give him his share of the crop after each harvest.” So said the religious leaders, not Jesus.
They basically snitched on themselves. Ever say something without thinking, protest a wrong and not have insight to realize your place in it? Ever make an incriminating comment?
The Cost of Grace
We already know how the real story plays out. Before the week is finished, the landowner’s Son will die a brutal death on a cross. The religious leaders of the day were players in making that happen. Their statement damns them. But Jesus didn’t.
The landowner was willing to do whatever it took to bring the caretakers of the vineyard to live and do what was expected. He wasn’t trying to take everything, only his share. He’d allow them to be blessed by their labor. But the caretakers claimed the whole vineyard and all its profit for themselves. So the landowner sent the one who would be his best representative, his own Son to bring what he hoped for them. Violence and injustice was their response.
Jesus flips the story on his enemies. Quoting an ancient Psalm, he says, “The stone rejected by the builders has now become the cornerstone.” (Psalm 118:22-23)
Translation: “What I mean is that the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit.” The Kingdom will go to people who actually produce something real.
Proper Fruit
A nation that will produce the proper fruit. Jesus meant that then, and he means it now. View the vineyard as a nation, a church, a political or social movement, or even a family. Just know to whom the vineyard really belongs. The caretakers of these vineyards need always be mindful of who is the real owner and what the owner expects. From this vineyard should come good fruit: justice, mercy, truth, celebration, provision.
Those who hijack the vineyard for their own purposes eventually resort to seizing control by abuse, violence, and the need to dominate and rid opponents in whatever way they can. Some would even kill God’s messenger to make that happen. Their destructive schemes though one day will be the stone that breaks and crushes them into pieces.
Injustice eventually turns and eats on itself.
Watch This Though
In the vineyard there’s still forgiveness. Still redemption. The fruit of the vine produces wine, and the wine in a cup is the blood of the landowner’s son. When he’s killed, the landowner brings back the son, resurrected, forgiving, merciful, offering grace despite what we have done to him.
Drinking from that cup is to accept the Son whose blood fills it.
“This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous to see.”
Named 2024 Notable Book Award by Southern Christian Writers Conference
and
Kingdom Book Awards 2026 Finalist!
The Trouble with Jesus: Considerations Before You Walk Away by Constance Hastings
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