Rejected Yet Chosen: God’s Dream in Mark 11:27

Mark 11.27-12.12

In this passage, Jesus is confronted by the chief priests, scribes, and elders, who question his authority. Rather than answering directly, Jesus counters with a question about John the Baptist’s authority, leaving his challengers unable to respond. He then tells a parable about tenants who reject and kill the owner’s servants and son. The parable serves as a warning about rejecting God’s messengers and a declaration of hope: “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”

What is attractive about God's Dream?

The image of the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone is profoundly hopeful, especially at Christmas. This season reminds us that God’s Dream isn’t reserved for the powerful or perfect—it is born in unexpected places, through unexpected people. Just as Jesus was born in a manger, the cornerstone of God’s Dream emerges where the world sees rejection or insignificance.

Jesus’ wisdom and courage in confronting the religious leaders are also compelling. He refuses to be cornered by their challenges, instead revealing truth with clarity and strength. At Christmas, this reminds us of the power of truth and love to overcome fear and opposition.

What is challenging about God's Dream?

The parable of the tenants is unsettling because it highlights humanity’s tendency to resist God’s call and reject his messengers. Christmas often calls us to reflect on the ways we welcome—or fail to welcome—God’s presence in our lives. Are we too distracted or too comfortable to recognize the gift of Christ?

The rejection of the son in the parable also challenges us to embrace the cost of living into God’s Dream. Just as Jesus faced rejection, we are called to remain faithful even when it’s difficult, trusting that God’s vision will ultimately prevail.

What is transformative about God's Dream?

This passage transforms our understanding of rejection as part of God’s redemptive work. At Christmas, we celebrate that Jesus, the stone rejected by the builders, became the cornerstone of God’s Dream. This reversal offers profound hope: no rejection, no failure, no darkness is beyond God’s ability to transform.

As we celebrate Christ’s birth, this passage calls us to live with a spirit of renewal and courage. God’s Dream is one of restoration, where what seems broken becomes whole, and what feels rejected becomes essential. Christmas invites us to trust in the cornerstone of God’s Dream and to see our lives—and the world—through the lens of redemption.