Pentecost 76 Why Jesus Spoke in Parables

[HKHaugan]

Pentecost 76 Why Jesus Spoke in Parables

‘The silence was deafening (perhaps depicting a moment of embarrassment.)’ ‘I could see the wheels turning (you observe someone thinking.)’ ‘It was like there was no one home (someone looks at you with a blank stare.)’ ‘He’s not playing with a full deck’ and ‘His elevator doesn’t go to the top floor (describing someone who may be a little off.)’ These are expressions that convey what you believe is going on in the unseen. They give meaning to what you perceive. Belief shapes perception. What you believe is the basis, the means, and the foundation upon which you interpret your experience. This is precisely why Jesus spoke in parables. He was getting to the heart, the mind and the spirit in each of us. He was teaching us the practicality of placing spiritual understanding above what the world calls common sense.

Jesus’ parables show us several things. Here are five to begin with.

First, parables use something visible to make sense out of something invisible. Jesus came to give us spiritual eyes and ears. Anyone can draw parallels to describe a concept or an emotion but Jesus’ parables convey the insights and nature of God’s mind and heart. He gives us a new way to think. He enables us to think spiritually before we think as the world thinks. Parables jump-start the mind with spiritual reality. They are lamps to light our path in the unseen. They give us discernment in the midst of the world’s dark deceit. Studying parables gets us into the practice of discerning what is taking place in the invisible dimension that surrounds us.

Second, parables are keys to open the heart to what God wants us to sense as reality as opposed to what the world calls reality. Our hearts are where we sense the difference between good and evil. The heart is the seat and source of motivation.

Third, parables set our minds to think in spiritual categories. They help us to make judgments, establish a way of ordering our experience and then decide on a course of action. When we begin to see everything in a spiritual context that is when we are on the road to real maturity. Parables enable us to practice becoming spiritually mature.

Fourth, parables are examples by which we begin a new way to think about life and be creative in how we communicate. The more we get into parables the more able we are to describe what we are like inside, how we feel, what we believe and our sharing becomes more meaningful to others.

Fifth, the parables are elementary to rearranging the way we begin to set the course of our lives, plan our future and experience eternity in the present. What parades as important in the world is exposed as temporary. Our values are changed from satisfying the moment to trusting in the qualities of God to build character.

These are just five indicators as to the nature of Jesus’ mission and they are part of the way we are justified by grace through faith.

Mark 4:9-12 (New International Version)
9Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
10When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. 11He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables 12so that,
" 'they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,
and ever hearing but never understanding;
otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!'[a]"


Stay tuned…….