by David Scott Robertson
“When he [Jesus] was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables.
“He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables
“so that, "'they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!'" (Mark 4:10-12)
Jesus rarely taught publicly without using a parable.
He used the natural to illustrate the supernatural.
The common to explain the uncommon.
He called attention to ordinary things to convey spiritual truths.
His words had the potential to either make people mad or set them free.
His illustrated sermons were interesting, enlightening, and absolutely life-altering.
Truly, "no one ever spoke the way this man does…" (John 7:46).
But still, it was possible to hear the
Actual, literal, audible voice of the Son of God live and in Person
And yet still never grasp what the voice of God was saying.
Although Jesus’ words were absolute truth
(For it is impossible for God to lie - Hebrews 6:18)
And were presented in a simple parable,
Many, if not most, of His hearers could not receive the full impact of His words
(Including the Twelve apostles.)
But those that came to Him in private;
Those whose hearts yearned to know the meaning of the parable;
Those who took time to press in close to the Master;
I tell you
These are they who obtained understanding.
Nicodemas heard the Rabbi speak
And came at night to hear Jesus elaborate on what it meant to be “born again” (John 3:2-21).
Nicodemas obtained understanding.
After the crowds had dispersed,
Time and again,
This next verse was the standard operating procedure of His close followers:
“His disciples asked him what this parable meant” (Luke 8:9).
And the standard operating procedure for Jesus went something like this:
“He said, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, "'though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.'
"This is the meaning of the parable…” (Luke 8:10-11).
Two men on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13) walked with “a Stranger” a good while
As the Lord (unknown to them) opened the scriptures to them about the Christ.
Jesus privately tutored the men in what the Christ must suffer
And as they broke bread together
The eyes of their understanding were opened and Jesus vanished.
They had just attended the school of Christ.
So we see that knowing the truth of God
Surpasses merely hearing the voice of God.
Jesus explained the reason for this in the verse quoted earlier:
“…but to those who are OUTSIDE, all things come in parables…” (Mark 4:11 - emphasis mine)
According to Jesus,
Remaining on the “outside” resulted in
Seeing but not perceiving,
Hearing but not understanding,
And an unwillingness to turn from sin that they might be healed.
So, getting on the “inside” must mean
Leaving the “crowd” and making your way toward the “core”, right?
As we have seen,
The apostles, Nicodemas, the woman with the issue of blood, blind Bartimeus, others,
All pressed in and received truth, healing, and understanding from the Master.
So then, can we conclude, that it is the “pressing in” to Jesus,
Seeking a personal encounter with the Lord,
That somehow qualifies you to get on the “inside?”
Well, consider this.
A personal encounter with Christ
Didn’t seem to produce much revelation for…
…the rich, young ruler.
…the Pharisees.
…the Sadducees.
…the scribes.
…the teachers of the Law.
…Herod.
…Pilate.
…Judas Iscariot.
Again, scripture provides the answer.
“Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
Now we know that
God is “…not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
Therefore, the question remains:
Who is qualified to enter the “inside”,
The core,
The private meeting,
The secret place,
The power encounter with the Son of God?
Answer: Whosoever.
Not just “The Twelve.”
Not just some elite Jewish group of guys who happened to be at the right place at the right time.
Not just the first century church
Who followed after the actual footprints of Jesus Christ on a dusty Judean road.
Whosoever. Check out the hungry souls in the next verse:
“But when He [Jesus] was alone, THOSE AROUND HIM with the Twelve asked about the parable. And He said to them, ‘to YOU, it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God…” (Mark 4:10 - emphasis mine)
Later 108 of THEM would show up in the Upper Room
Along side of the apostles (including Matthias, Judas Iscariot’s replacement)
To receive the Promise of the Father,
The mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1).
(Pentecostal math: 120 in the Upper Room – 12 apostles = 108 whosoevers.)
“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me” (Rev 3:20).
We get “inside the parables of Jesus”
By allowing the Jesus of the parables
To get on the inside of us!
DSR
2/3/01