and it is wonderful to see

Today in the One Year Bible, we read from Mark 11:27-12:17. Jesus quotes the Old Testament, and says that what was meant for the nation of Israel - God's chosen people - had been rejected. And now, the "vineyard" from His story was being given to someone else. But then in the middle of this explanation of something that sounds terrible, the OT verse says, "And it is wonderful to see."

Why is this wonderful? Well, for lots of reasons, and some of them are too great for us to understand entirely. But one of the biggest reasons is me and you. Unless you are from a Jewish background (and you very may well be!), you owe your salvation and your relationship with God to this thing that is "wonderful to see". Before this wonderful thing came to pass, God was dealing almost exclusively with the Jewish people. When a Samaritan woman came and asked Jesus for healing, He gave the impression that this is not what He came for - that He was there for the chosen people. To the Jews first, and THEN to the Greeks.

But since the religious leaders among the Jewish people rejected Him, the offer of salvation was given to the rest of the world. The doors to heaven were thrown open to gentiles like me and you (probably). It was "too small a thing" the New Testament writer says, for the gospel to be given only the the chosen Jewish people. It was offered to the whole world.

And THAT is wonderful to see.

God, thanks for working everything for good - even the rejection of Your great salvation.