What does Mark 12:11 reveal about God's role in human rejection and acceptance? Text Of Mark 12:11 “‘This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes.’ ” Phraseology And Grammatical Notes • “From the Lord” (παρὰ Κυρίου) places divine agency at the front of the statement. • Perfect tense—“has become” in v. 10, echoed here—signals a completed, enduring divine act. • “Marvelous” (θαυμαστή) is the Septuagint’s vocabulary for miraculous works of God (cf. Exodus 15:11). Old Testament Roots: Psalm 118:22-23 Mark cites Psalm 118:22-23 verbatim from the Greek Scriptures found among the Dead Sea Scrolls (4QPs a; c. 150 BC). The psalm, sung at temple dedication and Passover, already carried the idea that Israel’s deliverance, though opposed, was Yahweh’s doing. The original audience heard temple-builders reject a stone that Yahweh Himself chose. Jesus applies this to Himself. Immediate Context In Mark 12 The parable of the vineyard (vv. 1-9) portrays tenant-farmers killing the owner’s son. Verse 11 explains why the rejected Son will yet be exalted: God is author of the reversal. Human dismissal does not thwart divine purpose; it fulfills it. Divine Sovereignty Over Rejection And Acceptance 1. Foreordination: Acts 2:23 links Christ’s crucifixion to “the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God.” 2. Governance: Proverbs 16:4—“The LORD has made everything for His purpose.” 3. Vindication: Isaiah 28:16 foretells a precious cornerstone laid by God; Mark 12:11 shows that prophecy realized. Human Responsibility Maintained Though God authors the outcome, the builders freely reject the stone. Jesus still pronounces judgment (v. 9). Scripture consistently affirms both realities (Romans 9:19-23). Christological Fulfillment • Cornerstone imagery aligns with temple language; archaeological study of Herod’s temple foundation stones (e.g., 570-ton Ashlar south-west corner) illustrates the metaphor. • Resurrection is the decisive “marvelous” act. Multiple early creedal texts (1 Corinthians 15:3-7) attest eyewitness confirmation; over 1,400 pages of historical analysis demonstrate the event’s bedrock credibility. Corporate And Individual Implications For Israel’s leaders: national warning (Romans 11:7-11). For believers: secure identity (Ephesians 2:19-22—built on the cornerstone). For unbelievers: unavoidable decision (1 Peter 2:7-8—stone of stumbling). Archeological And Historical Corroboration • Temple-stone imagery confirmed by 20th-century excavations along the Western Wall. • First-century ossuary inscription “James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus” situates Jesus within verifiable family lines. Systematic Theological Synthesis God ordains salvation history so that human rejection of Christ becomes the very means of atonement; divine acceptance follows resurrection, guaranteeing justification for those who believe (Romans 4:25). Thus Mark 12:11 encapsulates the paradox of sovereign grace: what sinners cast aside, God enthrones. Conclusion Mark 12:11 teaches that God stands sovereign over both the rejection of His Son and the exaltation that follows. Human unbelief, while morally culpable, cannot derail His redemptive design. The verse summons every reader to marvel at, and personally embrace, the Lord’s astonishing work. |
    |