“Jesus began to speak in parables.” (Mark 12:1 NIV)
Why parables?
Profound truth isn’t just handed to us. It’s unpacked like fine china nestled in protective packaging. Jesus told parables so those who wanted to hear could hear, tuck the parables away and continue to extract truth long after Jesus had left the scene. To an outsider, His stories likely sounded simplistic, but to a God-seeker, the parables invaded their minds and seeped into their hearts.
The disciples didn’t write the gospels until three or four decades after Jesus’ ascension. Have you ever wondered why? I suspect they spent the following thirty or forty years steeped in what He said: unpacking, revering, applying. The seemingly simple nature of Jesus stories allowed them to be easily memorable, yet still incredibly powerful.
It seems the disciples were initially a bit confused by Jesus’ use of parables, but of course, they could take their questions right to Him. (So can we – revel in that!)
“The disciples came to Him and asked, “Why do You speak to people in parables?” He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the Kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance, whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken away from them. This is why I speak in parables.” (Matthew 13:11-13 NIV)
Jesus then quoted Isaiah, reminding His disciples that they heard because they wanted to hear, but many had closed off their ears and hearts to the truth of God.
The parables seem like an opening deposit on the disciples faith. Jesus planted powerful stories in their hearts. Time and attention to these stories yielded interest: much was given to them. Others in the audience perhaps brushed off the parables as simple stories; rejecting even the original deposit Jesus had made. What they had was taken away entirely.
Jesus reminds His disciples and His modern day reader alike: looking and listening to what Jesus is doing produces blessing.
“But blessed are your eyes because they see and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and hear what you hear but did not hear it.” (Matthew 13:16-17 NIV)
We don’t have to understand, we have to want to understand. Godly desire receives the deposit. So much of our relationship with God is about the position of our heart: are we poised to know Him? To walk with Him? To obey Him? To love Him? Godly desire is an essential ingredient in becoming a Kingdom person.
Lord, today we thank You for telling stories that stand the test of time. We wouldn’t worship a God who could be fully understood in simple sound bites. Instead You made deposits in Your disciples and in us; stories that we unpack over time, ever reveling in the deep truths we uncover. Thank You for leading us in learning more about Your Kingdom. Thank You for entrusting us with the opportunity to grow more into Your image. Amen.