The Use of Parables
Mark 4: 21-33
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Back to Basics The
New Testament Witness of the Apostle
Peter |
Max
A Forsythe | |
Often various writers, both spiritual and pagan, have connected the pinpoint dots of the starry heavenly host to represent a sign in the heavens. In another sense, the stars have even been appropriated to represent the angelic host. C.S. Lewis used the last sense in his excellent three volume science fiction trilogy which included Out of the Silent Planet, Perlandra, and That Hideous Strength. To this day I am tempted to make more of the biblical passage "When the morning stars sang together" than the scriptures would warrant. But, I am reminded of my pastoral responsibilities to make no more of the revealed word than I have liberties or abilities so to do.
As we look over this section of Mark, we have to understand that many aspects of the Scriptures require a special spiritual acumen not given to every human under the sun. Specially should we note that the having of a degree in theology, or any ministerial office is not a guarantee that the spiritual acumen is also present! Of course, we well know that the Prophets, Priests, Kings and Apostles who composed the Divine revelations, or "love letters" as Augustine called the books of the Old and New Covenant, did indeed have the Spirit as they were carried along in those writings. In addition, we know that certain of the Doctors, Fathers and Brethren of Christ's Church have also had this spiritual acumen.
Unfortunately, this special gift - which is listed in the Scriptures as valid - is not easily noted. Some spiritual leaders have it, others have a certain personal charisma - devilish or even Christlike, but all too many only have a manmade and even a learned copy of the real gifts dispensed by the Spirit. Not only in our time is it more likely for those with the spiritual acumen to be persecuted and kept out of leadership in Christ's Church, but even in the Lord's own advent do we see that the Lord of all the Earth would be denied Lordship over His own people - if the false prophets could have their way.
I say all of this as we dwell on the parables that Jesus taught to make certain that we understand that all of the parables had a purpose and a lesson to be learned. And since, even the disciples often had to have them explained to them, it is well that we approach the lessons here with great care. Just last week we read the Parable of the Sower and then the commentary of Christ Himself upon what it meant. In our passage today we see that He also explained those before us to the disciples as well. Let us not think for a moment that the disciples were less able than many others of higher education to ascertain the meanings both clear and obscure. No indeed, we are all even limited by our worldly education than we might suppose. I have probably personally spent more time unlearning the worldly wisdom that infected and afflicted my college and seminary training than I have in studying the graces and mercies of God's revelations. And for those called to the ministry, like the disciples - a period of time in such endeavor is well worth the discipline to be minimumly prepared to serve the Spiritual Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Calvin observes that: "By these parables Christ encourages his disciples not to be offended and turn back on account of the mean beginnings of the Gospel. We see how haughtily profane men despise the Gospel, and even turn it into ridicule, because the ministers by whom it is preached are men of slender reputation and of low rank; because it is not instantly received with applause by the whole world; and because the few disciples whom it does obtain are, for the most part, men of no weight or consideration, and belong to the common people. This leads weak minds to despair of its success, which they are apt to estimate from the manner of its commencement. On the contrary, the Lord opens his reign with a feeble and despicable commencement, for the express purpose, that his power may be more fully illustrated by its unexpected progress."
I am reminded of very many ongoing debates between the so called experts of this world and the common people who raise serious questions about the tall tales and myths being spread far and wide by the media, the educational and the political establishment. I still have an argument against over reliance on experts that I read in 1985. It is entitled "A Conversation with Richard Feynman". This secular expert in atomic energy goes on in great deal to encourage the average citizen to not be intimidated by so called intellectuals. "... most experts," he writes, "whether in the stock market, education, sociology or some parts of psychology, don't know more than the average person. They may act as though they are engaged in real science. They do studies, follow certain methods and have results. But they are really practicing what I call "cargo-cult science."
He goes on to explain: "In the South Seas there is a cargo cult of people. During World War II, they saw airplanes land with lots of good material, and they want the same thing to happen now. So they've arranged to make things that look like runways, put fires along the sides, make a wooden hut for a man to sit in, with two wooden pieces on his head like headphones and bars of bamboo sticking out like antennas _ he's the controller. They wait for the airplanes to land. They're doing everything right. The form is perfect. But it doesn't work. So I call these things "cargo-cult science" because they follow all the apparent precepts and forms of scientific investigation, but they're missing something essential."
And that something essential in theology is the gift of the Spirit in discernment and understanding. Now if you think that I emphasize this Kingdom of the Spirit to much here, I will have even more to say about verses thirty through thirty-four next week. For today then let us confine our focus on the three parables before us. And let us take our understanding in the context of the whole of Scripture and leave the worldly wisdom and the liberal commentators aside.
On the first parable of the light that must not be hidden my commentator Alan Cole has this report from the wisdom of the Jewish Rabbis: "If a man would not act so foolishly with a kindled light, how much less so God?" Common sense would tell us that we should not put an ordinary basket over a flame. Of course, the flame could well be extinguished for lack of air, the light hidden from sight and perhaps even the basket could catch on fire. Hiding it under the bed or couch would not be a good idea either? Common sense dictates that the proper place for the lighting flame to be set in its proper place - the lamp stand.
As a culture, we have forgotten an awful lot about lighting with candles, kerosene lamps and all the rest of the more primitive appliances. We flip a switch or even clap our hands and the room is drenched in light. Now, the application of Matthew on this parable as an injunction to let the world see the light of your comprehension of the Gospel is not the purpose to which Mark records it here.
Here, the parable follows after the deliberate obfuscation of the parable of the sower which Christ explains to His men later. In continuing, Mark bridges the gap from that parable to the injunction of Christ in verses twenty-four and twenty-five. Obviously, Jesus is saying here that the Creator God did not send Jesus Christ to be hidden from men, but to be revealed. Common sense dictates that the Light of Life not remain hidden. Indeed, those who know Him are admonished to share whatever little they understand of who He is and what He has come to do! As Dr Cole describes it: "To those who learn, and then pass on to others what they have learned, more will be given." How often have we all felt inadequate to share what little we know about Jesus Christ. However, one thing that I have learned over the years is that the more we share, not only the more our knowledge means and deepens, but the more it multiplies as understanding and comprehension grows through our sharing. Had I not been called to the ministry and compelled by that calling to read and study, I would not know even a tenth of what the Lord has graciously added to my limited ability to know and understand.
Let us move on to the second parable in this small collection. Again a farming parable that the worldly are loosing knowledge of most rapidly in our Urban era. At home, we have experimented with green house seedlings enough to know that we cannot fully control the process of germination and growing. There is still locked within each seed not only a potential for growth but also for death. Some seeds of course sprout more easily and others, some last for much longer times than others. Weed seeds especially have a life span that seems incredible in comparison to the domesticated crops.
One writer once observed that like sheep in the animal kingdom, the domestic crops such as wheat, barley, oats, corn and the like appear to be dependent upon mankind for their survival. Wheat especially is unlikely to grow in the wild for very long. And even the biblical practice of letting the fields lie fallow one year in seven seems to stretch the limited viability of our most popular crops. Of course, those crops are much more manipulated in our time than when the Scriptures were written, so we should allow that those crops were probably more hardy than they are now.
Yet, in our greenhouse, we learned that if we wanted to use last year's garden seed instead of just throwing it out, that we had to plant not only two but often three seeds to each container to germinate one little plant. Some of the clusters in the tray still had to have transplants in order to fill the whole plastic container. Certainly, much progress has been made in comprehending and understanding the complexities of creation, but the more we learn - the more we realize how little we know completely! Over the course of working a greenhouse garden, we lost more crops than we gained. God's creation is still imperfectly understood and the more control you try to take of your garden the more likely something can and will go wrong. I remember the year that our tomatoes were just a week or so from being edible when the power went out for thirty-six hours. We needed the Kerosene heater to keep ourselves warm. One of the neighbors, who had a fondness for fresh tomatoes called to see how they were doing. I think he cried when he learned that there would be none to sell or eat. God still controls the natural order, even as we try to understand and improve natures abundance.
From this parable we should well learn that the Great Husbandman in the heavens is growing His Kingdom. Whenever we try to hurry it along, the crop may be stunted, flooded or frozen out by natural means as well as providential. Dr Cole quite correctly observes that: "the process of spiritual growth is 'natural' within the kingdom of God, but it remains a mystery to natural man." I well remember a book on how to create a revival that I received in the mail from someone I hardly knew in California. I looked it over and kept it in my library for some years. Once I learned that such spiritual events could not be manipulated - I threw it out!
The third parable describes the growth of the Kingdom of God or as I like to phrase it, The Kingdom of the Spirit. One of the interesting things about this parable is no one is quite certain exactly what cultivar of the plant world is meant. The obvious inflection of the parable explained by Dr Keener is that "the kingdom might begin in obscurity, but it would culminate in glory". Dr Cole concedes that the disciples, like the majority in our time fully expect a "cataclysmic establishment of the messianic kingdom in their lifetime." Such has not happened in any era of the history of the Church. Certainly, there have been high points and low points in the providential growth of Christ's Kingdom here on earth. And these vary in intensity and worldly success from time to time.
Even so as Mark sums up these three aspects of the Kingdom of the Spirit - we would do very well indeed to comprehend the essential lesson before we go on to more lessons. The growth and increase of Christ's Church are in the capable hands of our Creator God, His Son and the Holy Spirit. As a result we ought not to run riot before Him and enlarge the garden of God beyond the borders that He has set from age to age. Neither ought we to convince ourselves emotionally or intellectually that we can rightfully do the work of the Kingdom apart from His Sovereign will. Whenever we go beyond the pale of biblical limitations, the work of our hands will be shortchanged so that His will may be accomplished. Let us know that from these parables and so learn to live by the Spirit, for the Spirit and in the Spirit. Amen.
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Resources Used | |
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Cole, Alan. |
Tyndale New Testament
Commentaries: |
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Feynman, Richard |
"Most Experts Don't Know More Than the Average Person", US News & World Report. (18 Mar 95) |
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Keener, Craig S. |
The IVP Bible Background Commentary:
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Pringle, William. |
Calvin's New Testament
Commentaries: |
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The
New Geneva Study Bible
(NKJV) | |
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B2b22 |
27 February 00 |