Story Telling [part two] ...

It is important for us, as we read the story Peter recalled to John Mark in chapter four of his gospel, that we see the words clearly.  For some of us, this requires insuring our reading glasses are on, or that we look at the words through the proper part of our bifocal lens.  Without this enhancement to our vision, it is difficult to read the words and gain the meaning behind them.  But whether your eyes are new, or still maintain a 20/20 reading clarity, there is yet another lens through which scripture can be viewed.  This is the lens of Jesus Christ, and His infinite love for us, and great desire to see us redeemed.  To read scripture, especially when presented in parable or story-form, without keeping in mind the mission of Christ for our redemption, it is easy to begin to insert self into the themes.  Our corrupted thinking begins to influence the meaning we derive from scripture, or stories we read within them.  Perhaps the most telling example of the corrupting influence of “self” even when reading scriptures, was given by our Pharisee forefathers.

The Pharisee was a devout man, dedicated to the study of scripture, the debate of its meaning, and the knowledge of God he believed it would impart to him.  The Pharisee shared the same philosophy as most Bible based faith and denominations of our day.  Where we depart from them (I should hope) is that modern Christians assert the divinity of Christ, and are willing to see scripture through the lens of Jesus Christ.  As we do this, we gain clarity behind not only the words, but the motives of scripture.  We begin to see how things work together for our redemption, instead of our condemnation.  We begin to see how stories were designed to lead us to being made free from sin, not remain bound in slavery to it.  The argument between the Pharisees traditions of keeping Sabbath, and the way Jesus intended for it to be kept, could have been resolved quickly, if the Pharisees were willing to submit their ideas to actual Author of the Law.  But instead they chose to embrace their own “wisdom”, and refused to be taught by Jesus Christ.  When we look at our doctrines, that so distinctly divide denominations of the Christian faith today, can we say we are any different?

As we have allowed our own perceptions, traditions, and egos to enter in to the discussion and debates over the meaning of scriptures.  We have divided believers from each other over the disagreements among us.  None of us are willing to humble ourselves and admit we could have much to learn on a topic we are so certain about.  All of us, believe we have it right, and that we most closely represent what God intended.  Yet not ALL of us could be correct in this assertion, and still maintain so many differences in our faith.  Our obvious lack of clarity, and unity, is evidence of how much of “self” has crept in to the interpretation of scripture.  While we hold to a certainty of our beliefs, we echo the path of our Pharisee forefathers.  The advantage the disciples had over us, is that Jesus Christ was a new phenomenon to them.  As they encountered the Messiah, they quickly realized He knew Truth, the whole of Truth.  No matter what traditions or wisdom had been imparted to the disciples before they met Jesus, they were willing to re-learn anything now that they were in His presence.

If modern Christians were so willing to admit their own fallibility in examining the word, and their complete need of Jesus to see it rightly, perhaps unity could be restored.  In the aftermath of reciting the parable of the sower, Peter recounts to John Mark some interesting dialog and back story about this first parable recalled in scripture.  In our previous study we reviewed the story itself, and the interpretation of its themes both given directly by Jesus Christ.  Now Peter takes us behind the scenes, after the sermon, in the quiet time with the Master.  After the crowds have gone home, and the disciples are alone with Christ, they go to the source of Truth, in order to know more about what He has taught them and the people.  John Mark begins the behind the scenes conversation in verse 10 saying … “And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.”  Keep in mind the disciples officially numbered 12, but in this instance there were a few more folks there,   that stayed behind to understand the gospel better.  Perhaps this group included Lazarus and his sisters, perhaps it included Mary Magdalene, or the blood relatives of Christ His siblings and His mother.  In any case, it is this group that asks Jesus for more.

Jesus responds in verse 11 saying … “And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: [verse 12] That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.”  The distinction between the disciple’s ability to understand what Christ was saying, and the Pharisees, was the willingness to see Truth only through the lens of Jesus Christ.  This group of believers including the twelve, did not go home, or away from Christ to study what He meant alone and by themselves, to “reason” out what the Truth of this story was.  Instead they went directly to the source of Truth, and asked Him.  The disciples did not pair off into small groups and go break down scriptures and debate meanings until they came to consensus.  It was not human consensus that was needed.  It was clarity only Jesus Christ could bring.  When we read scripture, do we ask Christ directly for its meaning, or do we look at each other and attempt to gain consensus on what it means?  Are we willing to put aside our own ideas and listen to what Christ may add to our mistaken “wisdom”?

The word, without Christ, CANNOT save you.  It is not your accumulated wisdom that saves you, it is your submission to Jesus Christ.  It does not matter how many scriptures you read and memorize, it matters how fully you are willing to allow Christ to re-create you into the person He intended you to be.  As you are willing to depend and submit yourself to Christ, He is able to bring the actual truth of scriptures to your mind.  As you believe you already know the truth, He has little room to actually teach you something because you discard it immediately since it does not fit your preconceived ideas.  There is no room in the certain-mind for something more, or something different, than fits its own ideas.  Our certainty is a reflection of our ego.  Our dependence and constant willingness to be taught, is our first step on the journey to His Truth.  Our faith must be based in the Author of the scriptures, not in the certainty of its reader.  Jesus will ALWAYS know more about His scriptures than we will.  He will always get it right, as opposed to how often we get it wrong.  It was the willingness of this group of believers to ask Jesus for His explanation and not try to create one of their own, that granted them insight into more Truth.

Those who base their own salvation in what they do, and in what they know, will retain who they are, and what they want … being bound in the addiction of self-love, and remain enslaved to their own sins.  It is only in coming to Christ and humbling ourselves, giving up the ideas of self-control, and self-assurance, that we can find He is the One who makes us free from ourselves.  It is our self-reliance that keeps us from being truly converted.  It is our self-reliance that keeps us enslaved to sins, instead of finding more than forgiveness from them, but to find freedom from them.  Only Jesus Christ can save us in this way.  For a modern Christian to repeat the path of the Pharisee will have the same result, it does not lead to salvation but to destruction.  The path of self always leads only to this destination.  We can see the scriptures but not understand them, we can hear the teachings but not perceive the Truth.  This is because we refuse to humble our own perceptions and be taught through the lens of Jesus Christ.

Then to emphasize the need to see scripture through Jesus Christ, He asks them the rhetorical question in verse 13 saying … “And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?”  Jesus is saying to them, this is only the first example of a main theme of truth that will be revealed in story form.  Many more will follow.  If the disciples and this group of dedicated believers cannot understand this story’s meaning on their own, they will not understand any other bit of scripture either.  If even the simplest story requires Jesus Christ to understand it properly, how could we hope to interpret the later writings of John in Revelations of Jesus Christ?  The writings of Paul will be more profound and carry deeper meaning.  The stories of the Old Testament while literal, will still require the lens of the redemptive love of Christ in order to be understood properly.  The lesson for these group of believers and for us, is the same.  We need Jesus Christ to understand ALL of scripture.

Then Jesus begins His interpretation which we studied earlier except for the start of the interpretation found in verse 14 saying … “The sower soweth the word.”  This is the summation of the gospel.  God the Father soweth the Word (His Son Jesus Christ) into our hearts, and into the world.  God the Father did not send down golden scrolls for us to read, understand, and gain salvation from our own wisdom.  It was not another book we needed.  It was the person of His Son Jesus Christ.  We needed to see Him live out a definition of how far love will go to save the object of its affection.  We needed to see and bear witness to how much the Father God wants to see us restored physically from our diseases, and mentally from our addiction to sin.  This could not be accomplished through texts.  It had to be lived in person.  We had to see the person of God, in the form of His only Son, come to this world and live love for us, and die rather than see us suffer that fate.  Our scriptures RECALL those events, they do NOT replace them.  Our scripture points us back to the Author of the book, not simply to the words within the book.  It is the Author that is most important.  What was sown into us is Jesus Christ, the Word of God in literal form.

Then Jesus explains His story to the group of believers gathered there from verse 15 to 20 as we have already reviewed in part one of this study.  But He goes a step further, revealing yet another Truth founded in Himself.  There is no Truth that will be kept hidden forever.  Jesus continues in verse 21 saying … “And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick? [verse 22] For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. [verse 23] If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.”  Whether we accept the Truth of Jesus Christ or not for ourselves, His Truth will be revealed in those who do.  The light of Christ cannot be contained under a bushel or a bed, or put in a place where it cannot be seen.  The light of Christ shining through us, His love for others reflected through us, cannot be contained.  It reaches out to those in need, and touches them.  The love of Christ reflected through us, cannot pass by the needs of another, it MUST meet them.

Those who obsess over the meaning of scripture, and do not stop their debate long enough to love someone else, do not have Truth, nor can they comprehend it in any meaningful way.  They may have the name of Jesus Christ, but have no idea who it is they claim to serve.  While they are busy studying in Sabbath Schools attempting to gain more knowledge; those who have been touched by the fire of His Love cannot help but to DO something about their beliefs.  Those touched by the fire of His love, are driven to meet the needs of others, and reach out to them in meaningful acts of love and kindness.  They are not content to sit and study, they would rather learn by doing.  They would rather be active, they are like little children who will not sit still.  They do not disdain the word or scripture, they instead are driven to apply those words in the living examples of their lives.  They preach with their hands and their hearts.  And the reflection of Christ within them is unmistakable.

When you meet Christians like this, you begin to redefine what a Christian truly is.  If you find yourself driven to love others beyond any reasonable understanding of why you feel the way you do, you are blessed to have found the Word sown into your heart.  The stony heart of apathy, and dislike for others, that may have once ruled your actions has given way to the living Word of Love that Jesus Christ alone can create within you.  If inaction still rules your life, then perhaps your first order of business should be to cast yourself at the feet of the Author.  Perhaps spend less time reading, studying, and debating, and more time doing, loving, and caring for those who clearly do not deserve it.  As we submit our hearts to Jesus Christ, He fills them with His infinite love for others.  As we begin to act on His love for others, we begin to live out scripture, rather than just study it.  We begin to see the meaning of scripture reflected through our actions to make the life of someone else better than it was before we encountered them. 

This light, created by the fire of His love for others, and reflected through us as we are willing to submit to Jesus Christ, cannot be hidden from the world.  For it will not allow itself to be hidden.  His love must be set free in us, to reach those who are in so desperate need of it.  This life, this way of living, is what is meant to replace the cold, unfeeling, intellectual embrace of the Word.  His goal is not that we become scholars and professors of the theory of the gospel, but that we become doctoral experts and practitioners of the gospel.  The parable or story-telling of the seed that is sown into good ground, was not just meant for some, but for all.  None of us, and nothing evil we have done in our past, can prevent God from making our future the future of good and fertile ground.  We too can become vessels that reflect His fire and His light to the world.  As our passion to love others grows within us, it will not be hidden, but employed.  And the world will be the better place for it.

Having finished His first story … a series of them would follow quickly.