NATHAN'S NOTES
Trust God in
the Worst Events
(Is it Marvelous
Yet?)
Pastor Nathan Martin Rehn
June, 2008
When Jesus
tells the story of the evil tenants of the vineyard, he is telling
the Jewish leaders that they have been horrible stewards of God's
property, and they do get the point. He has accused them of the
worst possible self-centered, egotistical, criminally negligent, and
maleficent behavior of all time. They have purposely attempted to
silence the owner of their world and reap the benefits of his world
for their own power. They have tried to convince those under their
influence that the Son of God is repulsive and deceptive and that he
deserves to die. In this process and endeavor they will be
successful. They will lead thousands astray from the source of life
and they will kill the Author of life. However, God is working his
plan through their wickedness. They, the builders, have rejected the
Stone, but he has become the Cornerstone! He becomes the Cornerstone
through their rejection. He must die to be our Savior! It is a
fantastic victory of God and a wonderful irony. When they thought
they were casting the Son aside, they were being used by God to make
him the Savior of all who believe.
After Jesus tells them the story of the evil tenants he
quotes Psalm 118 as follows:
"The stone that the builders rejected has become the
cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our
eyes'?" Mark 12:10 & 11
Notice to whom Jesus attributes this work. He says it
is the Lord's doing! Do not fall into the temptation to blame evil
on randomness. Do not fall into the temptation to see evil as proof
that God is out of control. The evil leaders would be held
accountable for their choices, but God was still using
them!
When we remind ourselves who is at work in history, it
all becomes marvelous in our eyes. Our task as believers is to trust
God in our difficult trials. Jesus was able to trust his Father
through this horrible series of events. He knew that God was working
his good will. Can we begin to marvel with Jesus about how God works
his wonders?
Genesis 50:20 As for you, you meant evil against me,
but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should
be kept alive, as they are
today.
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Pastor Nathan Martin
Rehn
Meet the Rehn
Family
First Baptist Church of Monterey
600 Hawthorne Street
Monterey, California 93940
831.373.3289
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