Parable Power

As a church, we embark on a new series exploring various parables of Jesus. These short, simple stories carry spiritual truths that have shaped lives and societies for centuries. Parables haul a spiritual weight that unsettles the proud and uplifts the humble. Confronting, consoling, disrupting and healing - those whom Jesus took aim at, through a parable, would not be left the same. “When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them.” (Matthew 21:45) And they were not pleased. Jesus’ words had landed and exploded!
 
Standing in a long tradition of prophetic parable-tellers, Jesus utilised the power of the parable to bring fresh impact and divine authority to the age-old form. Psalmist Asaph declared, “I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old.” (Psalm 78:2) Solomon urged, “Let the wise listen and add to their learning ... for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.” (Proverbs 1:5–6) God, through prophet Hosea, said, “I spoke to the prophets … told parables through them.” (Hosea 12:10)
 
One such prophet was Ezekiel - instructed by God to “set forth an allegory and tell it … as a parable.” (Ezekiel 17:2). However, when Ezekiel uses plain speech to warn of impending doom, his audience dismissed God’s word, saying, “Isn’t he just telling parables?” (Ezekiel 20:49). Both figurative and plain speech became vehicles of God's word—sometimes hidden, sometimes revealed.
 
Because Jesus “did not say anything … without using a parable” (Matthew 13:34) His puzzled disciples asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” (Matthew 13:11). Jesus replied that the secrets of the kingdom were revealed to some, but not to all. The parables were both a revelation and a filter. “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables.” (Mark 4:11) The parables concealed truth from those unwilling to hear while revealing it to those with hearts ready to receive. “With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.” (Mark 4:33)
 
At times, the disciples struggled; we still do! Luke tells us on one occasion “that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.” (Luke 9:45). On another, “they did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them and they did not know what he was talking about.” (Luke 18:34) Thankfully, Mark tells us that when Jesus “was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.” (Mark 4:34)
So as we begin this journey through a selection of Jesus’ parables, let us come with open eyes, attentive ears, ready-to-receive hearts. These stories are more than ancient anecdotes or interesting illustrations - they are invitations into the mystery and majesty of the kingdom of God. May we come closer to Jesus to ask, learn, understand and obey.

Revd Michael Hogg