Mysteries

Mystery (def) - A mystery is something that is unknown, unexplained, or a secret that baffles understanding. Jesus spoke in parables. A lot of parables. And in Luke 8 He explains the purpose of those parables and who was to hear them and who was to understand the deeper meaning in them. Luke 8: ⁹ Now His disciples began asking Him what this parable meant. ¹⁰ And He said, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest they are told in parables, so that while seeing they may not see, and while hearing they may not understand. Some view the parables as "stories" that Jesus shared with His followers, but in the above verses, Jesus tells us the parables are much more, because they are a deeper look into the mysteries of God. Jesus said we have been granted or given permission to see the deeper message that is just a story. These are an introduction to the mysteries of God. Significant and important? I believe so, and as we look at the parable of the sower, we get a deeper look into this parable about how the seed (the Word of God) impacts different people, and the effect therein.

Luke 8: ¹¹ “Now this is the parable: the seed is the word of God. ¹² And those beside the road are the ones who have heard, then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. ¹³ Those on the rocky soil are the ones who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and yet these do not have a firm root; they believe for a while, and in a time of temptation they fall away. ¹⁴ And the seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked by worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and they bring no fruit to maturity. ¹⁵ But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word with a good and virtuous heart, and hold it firmly, and produce fruit with perseverance.

Jesus has given us the total understanding of the parable of the sower, and we can see where we are in that parable and how this great mystery has exposed the truth of this parable. We get a glimpse into the way Jesus sees how the Word of God affects people and how it affects us, and what might seem cryptic to some is totally clear to those who will "really" hear and "really" see. The "really" part is our desire to see the deeper truth within the parable and let it affect how we live our lives and how we see others through the eyes and truth given to us by Jesus. God wants us to understand His Word and offers us "cliff notes" within the truth of the parables of Jesus, and this shortcut to understanding makes the Word come alive to each of us who are on this faith walk called life.

The Pilgrimage Continues,

David Warren