Devotion - Tuesday, August 23

Continuing in Mark 4, Jesus tells a number of parables about the Kingdom of God. In Verse 34, Mark tells us, "With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything."

The first part of Mark's assertion is obvious: Jesus tells a lot of parables. It seems that most of what he says, he says in parables. Whenever we are trying to understand this teaching or that belief, we most likely to refer to one of these parables. Even the longest of his sermons (the Sermon on the Mount) consists of a number of shortened parables.

But what of that last part in Mark's assertion: that he explained everything to the disciples? There are several instances where the Gospel writer will include one of these explanations. But not in every instance.

By the time the Gospel writers were doing their work (Mark is the first of the Gospels to be written, and the references to the destruction of the Temple would lead us to think that its writing was as late as 70 a.d.) it was already obvious that folks wanted some definite answers. These parables were too open-ended. They lacked the specificity desired by the masses.

Even if the full explanations for the parables were not included in the text, the reference allowed one to have confidence that we knew exactly what Jesus was trying to say.

But do we? How many sermons have your heard on the same parable? Did they all agree? One of the beautiful things about a parable is that it allows enough openness of thought that it might lead me in one direction today, and another tomorrow. It isn't that the parable has changed; rather the circumstances in my life have changed. Jesus could not give a guidebook which would address every instance, but he could tell a parable rich enough in its imagery to speak to wide variety of human experiences.

I am leading to the notion of a living word of God. The words spoken by Jesus reveal a Word which follows me all the days of my life and guides me in all things.

This is what a parable is able to do. This is how Jesus' voice remains fresh every day of my life.