People like to listen to stories. Stories speak to our emotions and well as to our minds. Also, it is often easier to remember a story than a set of facts. Because of this skillful teachers use stories in order to make the truths they present easy to remember. They will also use ordinary things to illustrate complex concepts. Jesus was a master teller of stories. He used parables, sayings and illustrations to make His teaching easy for His followers to remember and understand. At the same time, Jesus used parables and stories to conceal the meaning of His teaching from those who opposed Him.
In the Gospel which bears his name, Mark records some of the illustrations Jesus used. “He said to them, He said to them, “Is the lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn’t it put on a stand? For there is nothing hidden, except that it should be made known; neither was anything made secret, but that it should come to light. If any man has ears to hear, let him hear.” He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you, and more will be given to you who hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away from him.”” (Mark 4:21-25)
What Jesus said seems so obvious that it is easy to dismiss it – lamps are meant to illuminate. We do not conceal them so that they cannot light up their surroundings. It is more difficult to understand the profound truth to which Jesus was pointing. Some think that Jesus was referring to His own teaching. It was not meant to be hidden or obscured. It would be brought out into the open and it would illuminate the world. While this is possible, it is more likely that Jesus was referring to Himself. At the present His identity was obscured or hidden. However, one day, His radiant glory would be revealed to all. On another occasion He said, “…I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12 NIV)
Jesus then gave a caution. We need to carefully evaluate what we hear. Those who are receptive to Jesus and His message will understand even more than before. Those who treat Him and His message with indifference or hostility will lose even the little understanding they have.
Mark provides us with another example of Jesus’ teaching, “He (that is Jesus) said, “God’s Kingdom is as if a man should cast seed on the earth, and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, though he doesn’t know how. For the earth bears fruit by itself: first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the fruit is ripe, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”” (Mark 4:26-29)
Though this parable is very short, it illustrates several profound truths. One of these truths is that in the Kingdom of God there is work for everyone to do. God accomplishes His purpose through people. In the parable the seed did not plant itself. In the same way it is people who further the God’s kingdom. Some people have the mistaken idea that it only church leaders or those whom we pay who should do the work. However, there is a role for each follower of Christ. The Apostle Paul writes, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10 NIV)
There are others who have the attitude that it is only through their efforts that God’s kingdom grows or makes progress. They have an unrealistic view of their own importance. The parable teaches that, in reality, it is God – not us – who makes the seed grow. Once it is planted it will grow regardless of what we do. In speaking of his own work to spread Jesus’ teaching the Apostle Paul wrote, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” (1 Corinthians 3:6-7 NIV)
Another truth is that we cannot harvest a crop without first planting. In another parable Jesus likened God’s Word to seed. If we sense a lack of growth in ourselves; if our lives do not exhibit the fruit of righteousness, is it possible that we have not allowed God’s Word to take root in us?
“He (that is Jesus said, “How will we liken God’s Kingdom? Or with what parable will we illustrate it? It’s like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, though it is less than all the seeds that are on the earth, yet when it is sown, grows up, and becomes greater than all the herbs, and puts out great branches, so that the birds of the sky can lodge under its shadow.” With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. Without a parable he didn’t speak to them; but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.” (Mark 4:30-34)
The point of this parable Jesus told is that something might seem insignificant, yet produce great results. A mustard seed is tiny, yet when full-grown it reaches a height of 3 meters. In the same way, from a human point of view the Kingdom of God often looks weak and insignificant. Yet, from humble beginnings it grows strong and powerful. Jesus, Himself, was born in a stable, to a poor family, yet His life and ministry have revolutionized the world. We may regard ourselves as insignificant. Yet, if we are part of God’s kingdom, our life has great meaning and purpose.
Jesus not only taught in parables, He demonstrated that He is more than a teacher. Mark writes, “On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side.”
Leaving the multitude, they took him with them, even as he was, in the boat. Other small boats were also with him. A big wind storm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so much that the boat was already filled. He himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they woke him up, and told him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are dying?” He awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? How is it that you have no faith?” They were greatly afraid, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”” (Mark 4:35-41)
Just like the disciples, each one of us must answer the question, “Who is Jesus?” Do we consider Him only a gifted teacher, or do we realize that He is much more than that? Like the disciples do we fear and lack faith that Jesus can save us when the storms of life strike?