What is the Methodology Behind the Parables of Jesus?

In our last foray into the life of Christ, we were witness to Jesus’ and His apostles whilst dining at Matthew’s house (See Christ the Miracle Worker is a Healer). In that account, I was remiss in not mentioning one other event that took place. Let’s fix that:

                  During the meal, the Pharisees were offended / angered, because Jesus’ disciples weren’t fasting:

Then they said to Him, “The disciples of John [the Baptist] often practice fasting and offer prayers [of special petition], and so do the disciples of the Pharisees; but Yours eat and drink.” Lk. 5:33 AMP

                  Jesus responds:

“Can you make the wedding guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? But days [for mourning] will come when the bridegroom is [forcefully] taken away from them. They will fast in those days.” Lk. 5:34, 35. AMP

            ‘Fasting’ is a spiritual practice of denying oneself food and / or drink for a prescribed period to remove one’s focus from the flesh and shift it to the spirit, just as Jesus did before His encounter with Satan (See Christ as a Boy and a Warrior).

                  The Pharisees (who purposely ‘modified’ Scripture so that the laity would be forced to come to them for enlightenment), demanded fasting from their congregants twice a week indefinitely.

                  Fasting was also associated with mourning. And that is what Jesus is referring to here – rebuking the Pharisees, saying that when He (the Bridegroom) was with His disciples, it was time for rejoicing, not for mourning. Unbeknownst to the Pharisees, He was also alluding to His impending crucifixion.

            Jesus continues by telling the Pharisees His first recorded parable:

 “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and puts it on an old one; otherwise he will both tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 

And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new [fermenting] wine will [expand and] burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one, after drinking old wine, wishes for new; for he says, ‘The old is fine.’” Lk. 5:36 – 38. AMP

                  A parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson – wrapped within the social framework of the hearer’s understanding. Jesus brought His teachings to the intellectual level of farmers and sheepherders, who most composed His audiences.

                  Simple, yet theologically sound:

‘Good parables…beef up an argument’s thrust by making it relatable and mentally sticky…They employ characters and themes that immerse us into the truths being taught. They force us to ask how we would act in a situation…teaching us about our relationship to the truth.’

                  Seeing Jesus from the East by Abdul Murray.

                  Returning to Jesus’ first parable, He described a process well known by His audience whereby a new patch of cloth will pull away from the older garment if it has not first been ‘pre-shrunk’ through a process of pressure, heat, and moisture.

            Jesus is teaching the Pharisees that the old forms of Judaism could not contain the New Covenant message (Gospel), because it was not a ‘patch’ for the old ways.

                  Similarly, new goat skins must be used for fermenting wine because they were strong enough not to burst during the process like old ones would. Again, Jesus is pointing out that is that they cannot mix their message with His, and His saying that people want the ‘old wine’ is a reference to the Pharisees’ stubborn grip upon their old ways. Thus, the Kingdom of God would be denied them.

            Now, we can push forward. It is approximately 28 A.D. Jesus and His disciples return to Jerusalem to celebrate a feast (some scholars believe it was Passover; others think it was Pentecost).

                  The Bible tells us that in Jerusalem there was a Sheep Gate, with a pool nearby called Bethesda. People who suffered from various maladies would gather around the pool because the angel of the Lord would appear at appointed times to ‘stir up the waters,’ and the first person that could enter the pool at that time would be healed.

            Jesus approached the pool on the Sabbath and saw a man who was crippled and could not walk; and He omnisciently knew that he was in this condition for 38 years. Jesus approached him and said:

“Do you want to get well?” Jn. 5:6 AMP

                  The man first responded that no one would help him into the pool when the angel arrived.

                  Christ commanded him:

“Get up; pick up your pallet and walk.” Jn. 5:8. AMP

                  The man was totally healed! But Jesus disappeared into the crowd.

            This was brought to the attention of the Pharisees, who became angry because the man did ‘work’ (picking up his pallet / mat) on the Sabbath. Then they interrogated him about how he was healed. All he told them was that a man commanded him to get up and walk, and he was healed.

                  Later, Jesus found the man in the temple and said to him:

 “Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.” Jn. 5:14 NLT

                  The healed cripple is jubilant, telling everyone that it was Jesus who healed him. When the Pharisees get wind of it, and they began to harass Him for healing (working) on the Sabbath. Jesus responds:

“My Father is always working, and so am I.” Jn. 5:17 NLT

                  The Pharisees felt that He broke the law of the Sabbath and blasphemed by calling God His Father and making Himself equal to Him. So, they want to find a way to kill Him.

                  Jesus perceives this and responds:

“I assure you and most solemnly say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself [of His own accord], unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever things the Father does, the Son [in His turn] also does in the same way. 

For the Father dearly loves the Son and shows Him everything that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will be filled with wonder. Just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life [and allows them to live on], even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment [that is, the prerogative of judging] to the Son [placing it entirely into His hands], so that all will give honor (reverence, homage) to the Son just as they give honor to the Father. [In fact] the one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who has sent Him. Jn. 5:19 – 23. AMP

            This is the turning point of Christ’s ministry. He is publicly declaring His deity – an equal footing with Jehovah, an extension of His will. And He has the power of resurrection, both in His incarnate time and on the judgment seat at the end of time. Also, He is to be revered equally along with the Father.  

                  How BIG is your Jesus? He now elaborates on both the present and eternal ramifications of what He has just revealed to them:

“I assure you and most solemnly say to you, the person who hears My word [the one who heeds My message], and believes and trusts in Him who sent Me, has (possesses now) eternal life [that is, eternal life actually begins—the believer is transformed], and does not come into judgment and condemnation, but has passed [over] from death into life.” Jn. 5:24 AMP

“I assure you and most solemnly say to you, a time is coming and is [here] now, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear it will live. For just as the Father has life in Himself [and is self-existent], even so He has given to the Son to have life in Himself [and be self-existent]. And He has given Him authority to execute judgment, because He is a Son of Man [sinless humanity, qualifying Him to sit in judgment over mankind]. Do not be surprised at this; for a time is coming when all those who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and they will come out—those who did good things* [will come out] to a resurrection of [new] life, but those who did evil things [will come out] to a resurrection of judgment [that is, to be sentenced].” Jn. 5:25 – 29. AMP

                  *…’did good things’, refers to behavior that reflects one’s faith in God. God wants your faith. You can’t earn your way to heaven. The only way is by the grace of God through Jesus Christ.  

“…I say these things so that you may be saved [that is, have eternal life].” Jn. 5:34 AMP

            But now Jesus drives home the Pharisees’ present state, so that they may grasp how badly they have endangered themselves:

You search and keep on searching and examining the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and yet it is those [very Scriptures] that testify about Me; and still you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. I do not receive glory and approval from men; but I know you and recognize that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. I have come in My Father’s name and with His power, and you do not receive Me [because your minds are closed] … Jn. 5:39 – 43. AMP

Do not think that I [am the One who] will accuse you before the Father. There [already] is one who accuses you: Moses, [the very one] in whom you have placed your hope [for salvation]. For if you believed and relied on [the Scriptures written by] Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me [personally]. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” Jn. 5:45 – 47. AMP

                  There is only one way to the Father, and that is through the Son. Amen.

                  Goodnight and God bless.