Once again Jesus began teaching by the
lakeshore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat.
Then he sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore. He taught
them by telling many stories in the form of parables…. Mark 4:1-2
Parables. Were those used in the Old
Testament?
-
A
psalm of Asaph. O my people, listen to my instructions. Open your ears to what
I am saying, for I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you
hidden lessons from our past—stories we have heard and known, stories our
ancestors handed down to us. We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about
his power and his mighty wonders. Psalm 78:1-4
-
Their
purpose (The book of Proverbs) is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to
help them understand the insights of the wise. Their purpose is to teach people
to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just,
and fair. These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and
discernment to the young. Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even
wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance by exploring the meaning
in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles.
Proverbs 1:2-6
-
I
sent my prophets to warn you with many visions and parables." Hosea
12:10
Parables in the Old Testament were more
like stories passed down in the generations telling of the stories of ancestors
describing their relationship to God and His wisdom. Jesus was building on the
stories of the old days…ancient times. People then and now relate to stories. Maybe
that is why so many pastors tell stories as part of their sermons. Stories draw
us into the message…help us relate to what we are hearing. What is your story?
How do you tell others about your relationship to God?
My favorite story of learning about God
begins with a Sunday School class around a kitchen table at church where my
Sunday School teacher described the “Give
us this day our daily bread” from the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) as a spiritual
bread…not physical bread…toast or sandwich bread. How do we get that spiritual
bread? Read God’s Word. It is the bread
of life. This was a spiritual awaking for me.
Jesus said, "I tell you the truth,
Moses didn't give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you
the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down
from heaven and gives life to the world." "Sir," they said,
"give us that bread every day." Jesus replied, "I am the bread
of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me
will never be thirsty. But you haven't believed in me even though you have seen
me. However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never
reject them. For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent
me, not to do my own will. And this is the will of God, that I should not lose
even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the
last day. For it is my Father's will that all who see his Son and believe in
him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day." John
6:32-40
Do you believe in Jesus? Consider His words
and His life. He is the bread of life. Feast on His words.
Prayer
~ Lord Jesus…give us this day our daily bread.
Daily
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 3-5
©
2018 Text and photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All
scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted
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