All Jesus did that day was tell stories — a long storytelling afternoon. His storytelling fulfilled the prophecy: “I will open my mouth and tell stories; I will bring out into the open things hidden since the world’s first day.” Matt 13:34-35 (MSG)
About Stories – Part 9
Go to PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3 | PART 4 | PART 5 | PART 6 | PART 7 | PART 8
American Poet Robert Frost said, “I am not a teacher, but an awakener.”
Screenwriter Dudley Nichols said, “Jesus of Nazareth could have chosen simply to express Himself in moral precepts; but like a great poet he chose the form of the parable, wonderful short stories that entertained and clothed the moral precept in an eternal form. It is not sufficient to catch man's mind, you must also catch the imaginative faculties of his mind.”
Jesus was a great teacher, but he is also a grand awakener. One-third of his recorded conversations, whether spoken with a few or with multitudes, are parables. Jesus was asked many questions and was often challenged to ‘lay down the law’ and give ‘black and white' instruction on life and living. He had many opportunities to “express himself in moral precepts,” to rattle off dot points of “how to’s” for following his New Way. But instead, he responded to most questions in parables; prophetic poetry used to move us beyond logic and reason and to wake up the heart and imagination, taking us to the deep end of life.
Parables in our ears, are like yeast is in bread. It enters looking like any other story or moment, but there’s something about them that stirs into our souls and activates with the heat of life. These stories rise and expand within us pushing our boundaries and challenging our world views and convictions. We would be wise never to underestimate the power of story.
The Good Samaritan brings up all kinds of things for me. Can I see the good in my enemy or am I blinded by hate? Can I call them my neighbour? What about war? Violence? The boldness of peace… I could go on.
Then, the Pharisee and the Tax Collector! Whenever Jesse (husband) and I catch each other comparing our situations with someone else we've been saying, “You’ve just become the Pharisee.” It's challenging me to my core!
What about you?
Email us (talktous@pktfuel.com), if you like, about what the parables in this series are awakening within you.
The problem with reading the Bible as a rule book, or a textbook, is that our imagination stays somewhat suppressed and the essence of our being mostly untouched and unmoved. Next time you read parables, do it with wide-eyed wonder. Turn on your imagination and allow the greatest story-teller in the universe to awaken within you things that have slept far too long.
There’ll be more parables in a week or so. Let us know if you have a favourite you would like us to write about.
Go to Parable Series 2
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