We once had a Sunday School curriculum called “Teach Like Jesus Taught.” It was a large box of story books, lesson plans, and little trinkets to be used as illustrations. Each lesson told a parable with objects to convey spiritual truth to kids. Allegedly.
I have also read a number of books for pastors about preaching encouraging pastors to have good object lessons and illustrations, just like Jesus.
The humorous thing about this, and remember there’s something funny about a lot of sad things, is that Jesus used parables so people wouldn’t get His point.
As you read the New Testament epistles you will notice a lack of illustrations. Oh sure, faith is a fight and race to be run, but they are more similes than they are elaborate stories like the Good Samaritan or the Prodigal Son.
My take on this is that the Epistles are written to believers who have the Holy Spirit, thus they can discern spiritual things. Jesus is not talking to people with the Holy Spirit. Plus there’s other stuff going on. Big stuff that most miss when they read the Gospels.
The disciples asked Jesus why He spoke in parables. Mark 4:11 has His answer, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables.”
Those “on the outside” are everyone except the disciples and anyone who is following Christ. So, why did He speak in parables to those on the outside? Jesus tells you in the next two verses:
“They may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!”
Jesus doesn’t want those on the outside to turn and be forgiven!
Calvinist types pounce on this verse: “See! God keeps people from being saved! He not only ordains to life; He ordains to destruction! It’s right there!”
Here’s the bit of the Four Gospels most people miss: There’s lots of stuff going on with Israel and their Covenant. Israel was prophesied to crucify their Messiah. It was prophesied that they would miss Him, that they would destroy their Covenant and be scattered among the nations. All this is in the process of happening while Jesus is speaking.
These two verses are a quotation of Isaiah 6:9-10. When Israel blows their covenant they will be set aside. He won’t hear their prayers. They have turned from Him and He has let them go. He uses their going to accomplish the Gospel.
This is not talking about God arbitrarily hardening some to destruction; it’s a fulfillment of prophecy. It’s the reaping of having sown disobedience to their covenant. They broke it; God is not going to skip on their punishment. He won’t let them off the hook. They will blow it and be set aside.
This passage is not talking about individual salvation. It is talking about Israel and their covenant being set aside.
Here’s the real kicker: This is also what Romans 9-11 is talking about.
Israel was chosen. God guaranteed their chosen-ness until they brought forth the Messiah (which is what they were chosen to accomplish). Once they do that, and subsequently reject Him, Israel is set aside and the Gentiles are brought in. It’s all explained in Romans 9 and 11, neither of which are about individual salvation.
Romans 10 is about individual salvation, and what does Romans 10 say? Any who call on Him will be saved. If you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth you will be saved.
Israel has a lot to do with what God is talking about in the Bible. We pretend it’s all about us. It aint. Much of it is by inference, and certainly the results of what Israel did impact us, but not all of it is geared directly at Gentiles.
If you know this you will see it everywhere, especially in the parables of Jesus. Most of them make a point about Israel. They aren’t about you and I being nice to people; they are mostly about Israel and God’s plan of redemption.
Read the Bible to understand what the Bible is talking about, not just to get pithy illustrations to guilt people with!
anti-itch meditation 