While noting Jesus was a man of virtue by Roman standards, Mark cannot let us forget He was an Eastern man, a mystic. While mysteries were necessary, they were never meant to put truth out of reach; on the contrary, parables were designed to bring truth within reach of His followers. Even as far west as the Roman capital itself, residents were much more familiar with such diverse cultural variations as Eastern Mysticism than is typical in the West today. While Romans might debate whether there was much to gain from a deeper understanding of mystical insights, there was little debate there were things beyond normal human logic. Mark hints to us sadly how the enemies of Jesus had over generations lost their way, lost their understanding of their own cultural truths. This loss was reflected in the lack of comprehension exhibited by His disciples, men who were raised under Pharisee cultural control.
The Parable of the Sower should have been relatively easy to guess nonetheless. Perhaps they were simply trying too hard. When they asked Jesus about the parable in private later, Jesus enunciated the principle of spiritual division. Truth clothed in parables served to separate between those led by the Spirit and those who rejected the Lord. That's how the Holy Spirit works: where He is present, truth cannot be denied. Where He is absent, truth cannot be found. This was the foundation of the parable itself. In one sense, this was a parable about parables. Unlike the popular mystery religions of that day, there is no need to hide the truth from outsiders -- they cannot grasp what is obvious to their faces.
Mark paraphrases Isaiah 6:9-10 to show this was a basic principle from long ago. Truth has always made its own path in the human heart. Those unworthy of truth cannot hear it. Jesus warns His disciples if they cannot embrace the spiritual view of life, they cannot hope to understand, much less teach, the Word of God. He explains the imagery to them. Then He adds a parable about the purpose of lighting a lamp. This is no insider mystery religion; this is about ultimate reality. Truth is not something hidden by intent. Just a little truth opens the door to far more. Just a little darkness takes you deeper into ignorance. As revelation is proclaimed and preached, those open to truth will naturally grow richer in it. Those closed to truth will lose what little they have.
Yet another parable shows who the preacher need not understand at all how truth does its work. Just as a farmer sows and reaps with no idea how dry seeds come to life and grow into fruitful plants, so the servant of God cannot comprehend the nature of truth. He knows only doing his work and seeing the results. Further, like a mustard seed, the smallest bit of truth can grow into a massive bush, even a tree, large enough for birds to perch in flocks. This is the way of the Kingdom, for it cannot be detached from the truth upon which it's built. It, too, grows from the most insignificant starts. Where it is started, it blossoms beyond all comprehension. No man can grasp just how, but can know for sure such things are without failures. Thus, Jesus established the pattern of His ministry. All the most important things were taught in parables. Then He would explain them to His disciples privately.
Yet, for all these efforts, it seemed His disciples were none the wiser. Indeed, they may well have been by human standards the worst choices for followers any leader ever gathered. For while Jesus was careful to insure the principles of His truth and authority were clear to them, they never seemed to embrace it to the point they had His faith and trust in the Father. In one incident, as they crossed the Sea of Galilee, a sudden storm blew over them, as was typical of that body of water. It could go from gentle breezes to violent and deadly storm in just a short while. The disciples panicked, and cried out in fear of this storm. It should have been a clue to them that Jesus was asleep, as if nothing significant was happening. But they woke Him, and He stilled the storm with a word or two. They were stunned by this display of power.
We are left wondering in our minds why Jesus chose these men. Yet it was surely the same reason God had for choosing Israel. The prophets of the Old Testament made it clear Israel was chosen precisely because she was the worst choice of all nations on the earth. By choosing the most hard-headed bunch, God showed the greatness of His power and grace. In choosing what seems the slowest-witted of men from His nation, Jesus shows the greater power of truth to change the world. These men were wholly unfit, and so are you and I. All virtue comes from above, and it good and fine men enter the Kingdom, it proves nothing. If the most useless of all become pillars in the Kingdom, that in itself is the clearest declaration possible of God's grace and mercy.
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By Ed Hurst
01 March 2008
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