More stories from Jesus’ School Hunch 31
He said to them, “Do you bring
in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its
stand? For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is
concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. If anyone has ears to hear,
let him hear.” “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the
measure you use, it will be measured to you--and even more. Whoever has will be
given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”
He also said, “This is what the
kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day,
whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not
know how. All by itself the soil produces grain--first the stalk, then the
head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts
the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”
Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.” With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.
In a Nutshell
Jesus taught His disciples with simple pictures that can be remembered easily so they can be passed on.
Questions
What's so special about parables?
Here are more of Jesus' parables. He seems to have told them over and over. They are His answer to the question: What is the Kingdom of God like? To get Jesus' answer we have to learn to listen to them.
On the boat it was not just his closest disciples; Mark says there were "others" as well who asked Him to explain the parables. His answer is like He was saying: Yes, these simple stories tell you what the Kingdom of God is like stories so you can concentrate on how God cares for you. But remember that what I have to say is for the whole world. Don't just keep it to yourself. Yes, you have to be taught it so you can teach it. But it's like the lamp. When we light it, it's not just for ourselves. Part of the secret of God's Kingdom is that it has to be passed on. The disciples asked questions and learned from Jesus' answers how God sees them. The lamp has to shine; the light of God's word has to be lit. It shines on all in the house. Make sure it's in a place where it can shine all around.
Look at the second story a phrase at a time.
This is what the kingdom of God is like.
A man scatters seed on the ground.
Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.
All by itself the soil produces grain--first stalk, then head, then the full kernel in the head.
As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because
the harvest has come.
Life may be a big mystery but God is in control of it. Our task is to scatter seed and be patient, and get ready for the harvest. God sets the timetable.
This is another story about seeds.
Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.”
Wheat farmers aren't the only ones who can be likened to how God's Kingdom works. Jesus talked about another kind of seed - mustard. It is so small and tiny that it is almost as if it is never planted, and if it grows it is more out of good luck than human planning. Yet, says Jesus, have a look at it - smallest of seeds a lovely home for birds. Read it again. God's Kingdom might start small - yes, just like one of these tiny parables - but let's not underestimate God's way of doing things; He's in charge and just as He made the mustard seed and the mustard tree, so His way of running our lives will surprise us and others. We won't be able to avoid it when we see His work in our lives; like the birds in the branches of the tree we will delight in His shade. That's what the Kingdom of God is like. That's why Jesus invited us to be like the birds enjoying the mustard tree of his Kingdom. Also enjoying the mustard seeds of small stories like this.
With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.
Jesus used parables and made them special, special for us. Jesus gave them to His disciples so that they too could think about themselves and their lives as members of God's Kingdom. They're personal.