Morning Star Christian Fellowship

January 21, 2010

Preface

I suppose you could say that my research for “From Adulation to Betrayal ~ Timeline of 35 Parables” began because I am a “counter.”  I count the number of Canadian Geese in V-shaped formation as I walk along the Hudson River near our home in upstate New York. I count the petals on the corolla of a flower and not just those of clovers. Often I will count or estimate the number of people in an audience or those included in a social outing. Minutes ago I counted seven deer in the snow-glazed meadow adjoining our property. Am I an obsessive counter? Absolutely not! I draw the line at counting the stars although I admire them almost every night throughout each season as I stand on our back deck. I let the Astronomers frustrate their brains and do the estimated counting.

In the fall of 1995 as I was studying the recorded life of Jesus Christ my curiosity was stirred by the frequency of His parable usage. So, I began counting. I was familiar with the often-cited parables, such as The Sower and the Seed, The Prodigal Son, and perhaps the most well-known, The Good Samaritan.  However, I was fascinated by the extent that Jesus utilized this ancient cultural form of communication. In fact, two-thirds of His teaching was presented to His listeners through either figures of speech, similitudes, or clearly designated parables.

The first question that begs to be asked is, “Why did Jesus make the decision to reach His listeners through parables?”  Certainly, as the master orator an entire range of techniques were at His command. Second, “What was the first parable and to whom did He address it?” Third, “When did He begin using parables…from the start of His public ministry, in the middle, or toward the end?”  As I have been led along through my research the answers to these and many other pertinent queries were uncovered somewhat like opening a treasure chest filled with indescribable riches. I have found layer upon layer of insights into The Master’s wisdom, strategy, and His passion.

Why write about the parables? And why now? I can answer both of those questions from a personal point of view. In the summer of 2009 as I was preparing teachings for my second trip to India and Nagaland, I sought the Lord’s inspiration.  My speaking schedule included sessions with Youth With A Mission Discipleship Training School students (YWAM DTS) in Bangalore, India and Nagaland Bible College students in Mokokchung, Nagaland. The Spirit of the Lord spoke clearly to me and said, “Teach on the Parables.” Without hesitation I unearthed my research from 1995 and got ready to teach.

In both settings I received numerous comments regarding the teaching. However, without any dispute, the most frequent comment was that, “I have never heard anything like this before.” Every teacher likes to think that he or she is teaching something new and worthy to be learned by his or her students. I am no different. You see, the Holy Spirit led me to present the timeless themes of the parables of Jesus in chronological order and with the corresponding backdrop of audience, location, and plotting on the timeline graph of His public ministry. Learning these aspects was powerful for me as well! I felt as if I were traveling with my listeners back in time to Galilee and Judea, to the “Lake”, Capernaum, and Jerusalem ~ feeling the emotions of excitement as the crowds swelled,  perplexity among the disciples when they did not understand His actions, and the growing sense of danger as the religious leaders closed in on killing the prophet from Nazareth.

After my third and last session teaching at the Nagaland Bible College, an extraordinary thing happened. One of the teaching  staff, a pastor’s wife named Ester, came to me with some measure of trepidation, I must say, and asked me, “Have you ever thought about writing your teaching as a book?” Within two  minutes, the Academic Dean of the College, Sir Imcha Jamir, quietly confided to me, “I have never heard anything like this. Have you thought about putting your teaching in book form?” Immediately, Sentila, the college administrator, and her husband, Moa, who both knew I was working on a personal memoir chimed in, “Yes, we think this would be good as a training book for Bible College students.” When I asked Sentila & Moa which writing project should I work on first, they looked at me, I looked at them, and we joyfully chorused together, “The book on the parables!”  And so it was spoken …confirmed by the mouth of two and three witnesses.

What do I hope to communicate to you as I write about His parables? I hope to transport you back in time and enable you sense the atmosphere in the land of Israel two thousand years ago.  I hope to convey His immeasurable compassion for the multitudes that followed Him. And, to make you feel the roller-coaster of emotions that His disciples faced. I believe knowing our Savior Jesus Christ is a lifelong endeavor. Primarily, we get to know Him in two ways ~ by His Spirit abiding in us and by absorbing His Word. The parables are the majority of His Word spoken to real people in real settings then and now.

It does not matter what your culture or your gender or your age is. His parables are for every culture, both genders, and every age group ~ whether you are male or female, whether you are six, sixteen, twenty-six, or sixty-six!  I pray that you will experience a deepening awe of Jesus Christ and His unprecedented wisdom presented in the timing of His Parables.  The truths embedded in “From Adulation to Betrayal ~ Timeline of 35 Parables” explain the principles of the Kingdom of God ~ tangible, eternal principles that promise and deliver freedom to the human soul and spirit regardless of nationality, age, or culture.

I will leave you, the reader, with one last question, “What was the last parable which Jesus spoke and what were the last three words of that parable?” Would you say that the answers are significant?

Sarah Anne Smith