According to German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche, “God is dead.” According to God, “Nietzsche is dead!”

For those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, God’s not dead—he’s alive! Yes, some may think, as some of the disciples did, that it’s “all nonsense” and “not believe” (Luke 24:11). But it’s true, Christ “has been raised from death” Luke 24:6. So we celebrate, thanking God that this is the day death died!

Peter was sitting there when Jesus had told the story about the two sons (Luke 15:11-32). He got it. So did the highly esteemed religious leaders. And he must have been shocked when Jesus told them that repentant shysters and hookers would get into the kingdom of God long before they would. A story like that sticks with you.

We don’t know if Peter’s fishing business was about to go bankrupt or if it was listed in Galilee’s equivalent of the Fortune 500.

As Jesus approaches his crucifixion his confrontation with the religious authorities becomes sharper. He continues to speak in parables, and their meaning was not lost on them.

Vineyards were a common sight in Israel, and are found in both the Old Testament and the New Testament as an image of the garden that God is cultivating with his people. Isaiah 5:1-7 tells of a vineyard, just like this one, that failed to produce good fruit.

God desires relationship with mankind. Jesus’ parable about the wedding feast illustrates this spiritual truth.

The nation of Israel comprised the initial guest list. The king – God – sent messengers to deliver the invitation to the banquet, but the Jews ignored the request to come. Complacency or daily responsibilities consumed some. Hatred for the messengers consumed others.

“Tell us what you think! Should we pay taxes to the Emperor or not?”

The Pharisees’ followers and Herod’s supporters posed this trick question to Jesus. The unusual cooperation between these two groups meant only one thing – they felt national interests were threatened. They became allies solely to bring Jesus down, and he knew it.

How easy it is to misinterpret God’s word, especially when we read it through the lens of unbelief or limited understanding.

The Sadducees believed that there was no life after death. Seeking to prove their stance correct, they tried to engage Jesus in debate. They referred to Moses’ teaching about widows marrying their husband’s brothers, and then they applied that law to a Jewish folktale about a widow who married seven brothers.

We elect leaders who may embarrass and disappoint us. When Toronto’s mayor makes Time magazine’s list of “Top 10 Apologies of 2013,” voter cynicism can’t be far behind. We aren’t unlike the early Israelites in this regard.

The people of ancient Israel lived in a time much like ours, rife with great fear and conflict.