07/06/12

All things are done in parables

Mark 4:11 - And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all things are done in parables [means using symbolism]:


Every person who opens the Bible and reads the New Testament will say it is an excellent book. They will also say Jesus was an excellent teacher, great man and many other good things. Mahatma Gandhi also said the same thing. He went to the extent to state if only Christians followed the Bible.

Even among people who call themselves Christians hardly understand the Bible well. There are very few who will tell you that there is not much difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament leaving for implementation of the improvements in the covenant between God and man.

Do people really understand the Bible? No and Yes.

In today's message the Lord is reminding us His word as stated in Mark 4:11 - to all people the things of the Kingdom of God is like parables (spoken using symbolism) but to only those who are of Him are given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God.

Did those who were seated before Jesus have the ability to know of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God? No, none of them did. Then was Jesus lying about them having that ability? No. for later a few from them did receive the ability to understand the mysteries.

One needs to understand some basic factors in the Bible.

It is only the Spirit of God - the Spirit of Truth Who reveals the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. This revelation we can share with each other but then too those who are blessed with wisdom and have a heart that surrenders to God will really understand them.

Secondly in most places the Lord speaks not only to those present at that time but to all people across centuries therefore the grammatical tenses used in many place are tenses like aoristic, present perfect (across time) etc. many a times even before the actual event took place the word was given as done.

We need to understand God works not in time like us. He dwells across time - past, present and future at the same time. Time is not a factor that binds Him, thus when He speaks and the things He does it is across time (I explained in my previous message about time). It is only our not abiding by the conditions that does not let us receive of the things spoken by Him. Paul about 160 times uses the word 'now' in his letters but this now will be according to our time only when we abide into the conditions and connect into His time (flow of events).

We see even the 11 closest students of Jesus really knew Him only after they surrendered to the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. They had received the Spirit of God when Jesus breath into them before ascending to the Father.

It is only when one understands this and the role the Lord played in the Old Testament before He came as man Jesus, will one understand how the Men and Women of God were saved from Hell even before the sacrifice was actually performed.

In John 3:13 Jesus confirms none ascended to Heaven these included Abraham, David, Moses, Elijah and others before that time yet we see Jesus speaks to the spirits of Moses and Elijah later. God had forbid man with the sin nature (of Adam) not to communicate with the sleeping spirits of man therefore when Saul spoke to Samuel's spirit he was punished but Jesus who was without sin was not. Jesus confirmed His sin-less-ness by his ability to transfigure. The only spirit we can communicate with is the Holy Spirit because He is God and no other spirit of any man / woman can we communicate (Jesus was raised in the flesh therefore He is not just a spirit being and thus yet also referred as Son of Man).

For those who are asleep will be raised up when Jesus comes and for them it will seem just a moment from them going to sleep and being raised (there are much more things that happen in these spiritual rem which will baffle human mind but since man is restricted by worldly principles and worldly knowledge thus cannot understand them).

The Lord is telling us unless we surrender to His Spirit the Bible will be a parable to us. We will learn some things from it but will not understand the Truth; the purpose of it will not bear fruit in our lives. But when we surrender to the Holy Spirit, He will unfold scriptures to us and give us understanding of it unlike ever done. We need not have great qualification or educational to learn from Him (there are people who do not know to read or write but can read and understand the Word of God).


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, when You created us You also made all things needed for us available right from the beginning. You knew man would sin and lose the Truth, therefore You made a Sacrifice available from the start. By the sacrifice You made available your Spirit to man, to unfold your Word - your instructions for the salvation of man by the Truth coming back into man. Lord, we pray the Bible does be a good book for us but be words of life. Holy Spirit, make our bellies flow out rivers of Living Word and its understanding unto those who are yours...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
John 20:21-22
21 Jesus therefore said to them again, Peace be unto you: as the Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit:

John 14:26 But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you.

John 3:13 - And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)