Tonight's blog for Monday, April 29, 2013

If I were to put a title to this blog, tonight, it might be a variation on the old "Where's Waldo?" picture search for

children. We might call it "Where's Marv?" or you could substitute your name, "Where's _________?" Instead of a picture, I'd like to use a different medium for discussion purposes. "Where's ______?" in a parable by Jesus. We have been searching the parables of Jesus for hidden meaning, or for more modern interpretations since HE taught them. Most of the parables of Jesus were told to hide some of the meaning of His teaching from some while explaining the meaning to others at a later time. Some, like the 4 soils are explained by Jesus, so we know what HE meant. 

Which brings me to the application part, the searching part, the "looking for me" part, the Where's ______?" part. What I realize is that I have been reading the 50 or so parables by Jesus in the Bible, as though I were the star of each. Have you? In the parable of the sower, one has seed thrown on a hard path, one has seed choked by weeds, another has a "shallow root" that prevents growth. The hero of this parable is #4, the good soil, who produces 100 times as many seeds as the other three. Right? So, we have been been the "good soil" or at least have been compared to this part of the parable. So, if 100 have received Jesus because of your life and words, you may be the hero. Specially if each has become a seed producer as well, then you may be right. I can't help but wonder if Jesus wants us to see that all 4 parts have the same soil, the same seed, and the same sower. The difference is our interaction with the world, such as hard paths, or rocky soil or thorny problem. 

When you read that parable in Matthew 13, did you see the hero as the one who sows the seed, since we know the seed sown is the word of GOD. Most of us have seen the sower as the hero of the story, but I know folks who would have taken the time to prepare the soil better, a good "Troy-built" tiller would have turned hard paths into productive soil. Bending down and picking up the rocks would have given the seed a better chance at deep roots. Done with bare feet, hillbilly style will let you know immediately if there are any rocks to pick up. Again, turning into productive soil is a win-win situation for the seed, the sower, and the soil. Finally a hidden kneeler, bent down and using your "prayer knees" will help to get rid of weeds and thorns and thistles. Problem solved, right? So, who are you in this modern retelling of the 4 soils? NO one wants to be the rocks. NO one wants to be the Thorns. NO one wants to be the creator of "Hard-paths," the one who is the cause of hurt and hardness of heart in others.  

Tonight, I don't want to be the star in any of the parables… I started this blog tonight with the intention of retelling the three parables in Luke 15. We know why Jesus told these interrelated and connected parables. He was being attacked for loving sinners and tax collectors. In the parable of the sheep, I want to be the lost sheep who is found. In the one about ten coins, again, the one who is found is the star. In the story of the two lost sons, I want to be the prodigal, not the elder brother. No one should aspire to be the elder brother. No one should wish that they were the "mutterers" at the beginning of the chapter. "Where's the hero" in these three parables? To me, the one who searches for the lost and dirty lamb is Jesus, the clear hero of that parable. Could the woman who finds the lost coin … could she be his church, making sure we keep track of our own folks? If so, then she is the hero of that part. In the "Prodigal Son" part, the hero is clearly the dad. He waits, He watches, then, when and only when the son turns to repent and return to the family, He runs to meet and accept the son. If I weren't a Christian, I would become one after reading this one! GOD Bless you tonight, my dear brothers and sisters! big marv