"We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is

coming, when no one can work" (John 9:4, ESV). The man blind from

birth in John 9 encountered Jesus doing the amazing works of God. What

a life-changing moment it was! From that moment forward, His eyes

would see, and his lips would tell the story of Jesus who had opened his

eyes.

His weren't the only eyes opened that day. The disciples learned that

infirmity isn't always inherited from another's sin. The Pharisees

discovered that witnessing God's glory matters more than their Sabbath

regulations. Eyes opened to God's work, God's power, God's Son, and

God's grace.

When I read this week’s parable, I think about the master’s return for more

workers and remember: the call to follow Jesus is for ALL.

In the Great Commission, Jesus commands, "Go therefore and make disciples

of ALL nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and

of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19, ESV).

Paul declares in Titus, "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation

for ALL people" (Titus 2:11, ESV).

To Timothy, he writes that God "desires ALL people to be saved and to come

to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:3-4, ESV).

Peter reminds scattered believers that the Lord is "not wishing that any

should perish, but that ALL should reach repentance" (2 Peter 3:9, ESV).

And Paul emphasizes that Christ "died for ALL" (2 Corinthians 5:15, ESV).

"The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray

earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his

harvest" (Matthew 9:37-38 ESV). In the parable of the workers in the

vineyard, the master makes five trips seeking laborers. His persistence

reveals God's profound heart for His work.

Do we see with the same eyes as our Master, Jesus? In Matthew 9:35-38,

Jesus surveys the crowds and sees people "harassed and helpless, like

sheep without a shepherd” (ESV). The word “compassion” in the original

language describes a gut-wrenching emotion. Christ's heart was moved

because He knew His kingdom needs more workers.

When I taught, I reminded students of two crucial elements in Bible

study: Content (what is said) and Context (the setting, occasion, and

culture). There is much for us to learn when we consider this week's

parable of the vineyard workers. We first need to zoom out and observe

the surrounding moments that frame this teaching.

In Matthew 19, we encounter a rich young man who allows his wealth to

keep him from following Jesus. This man, who has everything the world

deems valuable, is going to miss the most important thing of all. As the

disciples contemplate this encounter, Peter says, "See, we have left

everything and followed you. What then will we have?" (Matthew 19:27,

TRANSLATION).

“When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they

perceived that he was speaking about them. And although they were

seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to

be a prophet” (Matthew 21:45-46 ESV).

Even though they were seeing Him directly—knowledgeable of His

miracles, aware of His fulfillment of prophecy, aware that He is speaking

directly to them—they just can’t let go of their comfort zones, perceived

status, and selfish ambitions.

“They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and

let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their

seasons.” Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The

stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the

Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”(Matthew 21:41-42, ESV).

People in Jamaica have a wonderful saying to keep things in perspective

and not to get too worried about life. They say

Sometimes we see scenes in courtrooms where a lot of drama unfolds.

Some of the saddest scenes involve children. Few scenes are more

perplexing than watching heartbroken parents speak of their child’s

murder while the killer smirks. Occasionally, a father loses control and

leaps at the perpetrator and is restrained by security. To murder

someone’s child is one of the worst things humankind can do.