The Secret of the Kingdom

Last week in Jesus Class we hit on one of most baffling aspects of Jesus' teaching. Jesus can be so profoundly simple in portraying kingdom truth, while at the same time outstrip humanity's ability to conceive just what it is we're supposed to do with what he's telling us!

The parable of the sower and the seeds for example. One of Jesus' most familiar stories, sadly falls on ears and eyes that just don't hear or see. People flocked from everywhere in Jesus' day to get to where he was at. And when they showed up, what did they get? A story about a stupid farmer who plants seeds on sidewalks!

If you think you've got the secret of the kingdom figured out try this. Give Mark chapter 4 a read, but shut your bible after verse 9 and see if you can decipher the secret of the kingdom. Go ahead! I dare you.

By the time Jesus is done with the Twelve in the verses that follow...there's a slim chance some of them understand the secret. But if you're in Jesus' audience and you can't get past a story about seeds and soil, how will you understand anything else Jesus has to say?

Once you get the secret figured out, see if you can figure out why Jesus teaches in parables based on Isaiah 6:9-10. Isaiah was told he was going to have people who didn't want to hear him out, but to keep preaching anyway! Otherwise...how's anybody who does want to hear and understand ever going to get it with so many dense people in the crowd!

Ouch. That hurts, Jesus! Are you sure you know what you're talking about?

(hint: the secret is hidden in the questions. if you don't ask, you'll never really know)

If You Don't Get This One...

When your teacher says "Get this part or you'll be lost in this class for the rest of the semester!" it made you sit up and take notice. This week in the Jesus Class we tripped over one of those passages in our manuscript.

Mark has been writing down everything Jesus is saying. At a feverish pace. Then suddenly the narrative stops and he gives us Jesus' first recorded sermon. Jesus had been performing miracles, teaching in the synagogues, healing and casting out demons! He was building a monumental following. So what was the first sermon Mark, Jesus' biographer actually posts for us? The parable of the soils (Mark's gospel, chapter 4).

This parable, and what Jesus is saying with it is so important that he gives us the impression if you understand it....you'll understand the rest of what he's got to say. Note to self: If I don't get this, I'm a bigger loser than I ever imagined!

This took the Jesus Class to the edge of our seat as we struggled with what Jesus says about the kingdom. The kingdom of God is tied up in a secret. And the secret is being revealed...but only to those who really want to get it. It's clearly audible to everyone! But not everyone gets it.

So, my question reader, is this: Do you know what the secret of the kingdom is and why a bunch of seeds is a fitting illustration of it? If you don't understand THIS image of the kingdom, you won't understand the rest. It's just that simple!