Although I can’t make it to church for the covid bug I am chasing out of my system (no worries I am doing well resting, eating, inhaling vicks vapor rub, and of course relying on the Lord for HIS HEALING). So, I was able to send forward my sermon – the first of a “Back to School” series for Jesus teaching through Parables.

 The disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” Jesus replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. “ Matthew 13:10-13

Some of us still have “back to school” notions even though we may not have anyone actually of schooling age anymore in our houses – but we feel that change in the weather – the change in the school buses being out there and less family vacations.

Here is another major teaching moment – when we teach our kids how to drive – relying STRONGLY on His Strength – practicing in parking lots and then later the roads and highways – whew! Practicing driving is good – the more time to learn the better. Some learn on back roads, some in the farmer’s fields, some in parking lots.

In our scripture today, we are reminded of the blessed schooling of God’s teachings – God’s wisdom for us to tap into – Jesus came to save and first Jesus came to teach. Jesus always teaching about God our Father and how life in step with Him is where we will find the most fulfilment. remembering to use His strength. We heard of disciples questioning Jesus  – He was always teaching – so much that many called Him Rabbi – “Rabboni” – “Teacher”… And they were asking about his teaching style – perplexed even – “Why do you speak in parables?”

 There is both the obvious thing about parables – they are REMEMBERABLE – could be recounted to others who didn’t get to go to the Jesus event – something to talk about on the road home – something to ponder deeply,  – AND – as Jesus said: “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you…” oh, cool….

Jesus knew the reality – people “will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving”…  People weren’t getting it – same today – people maybe simply never got a chance to hear – or they sadly close their ears – and yet these parables are still so good for reaching – for teaching – they help people THINK…  Parables are different but better than like a pun or a joke that takes you a moment to decipher – better than a puzzle – these are analogies that one person says “AHA!” and then explains it to the rest of the people. It is not the telephone game of “send the message down the line” – this is from a DIVINE LINE! The Word to understand.

Learning (like teaching) is something so important – requires time – requires the right mind set – requires wisdom that unpacks a little at a time. There is a great work project these days all over the world to decorate encouraging messages onto rocks and place those rocks at schools, playgrounds, even colleges, parks, workplaces. These rocks like our ROCK of Jesus will serve as teaching tools to remind the folks that we are not alone. Surely you have been encouraged, imagine to come across a rock placed at work or a park that said something like “SMILE” – even place some message in your garden then months later stumbled upon it. It is not just the advice – it is the knowledge that God sent it – right time right place – the Holy Spirit will do that – He in almighty movements will move you to find Jesus and encouragement and life. “blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.”

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And here is a very important parable that Jesus taught – He really was looking for the thought-provoked disciple to grasp this knowledge – and this one is a reminder for us in living in this world… 

Jesus told them a parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ – “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. – “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ – ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’” Matthew 13:24-30

HMMMMM…..   curious huh?  This parable was embedded into the parables of the sower and of the mustard seed and yeast and of the pearl – really a Smorgasbord of teachings they got that day!

And then the disciples were like – hmmm, what does that all mean? – pulling Jesus aside and saying – can you help us out here???  – and that is what we are to do too – ask Jesus when we don’t understand – ask for the deeper meaning or the simple explanation.

Jesus DID answer  – and this probably blew their minds!!!!!!!!  Jesus came to fulfil the past prophesies and teach the next – which essentially also confirmed old testament prophesies about the end of the evil in the world: “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” Matthew 13:37-43

So – yes – Jesus was saying in this lesson that not only does God know what is going on, He also has a plan – and there is a process that we will be OK at the end of times by listening to Him – to God – and staying devoted to Him.

When the Lord says: “Wait until Heaven to even the score”, He means it. He means both: ‘Wait!’ and ‘LET ME DO IT, not you.’ 

Know that evil has always existed in the world and just live the best you can anyway.

We do call out the injustices in the world now – but we could/should WAIT until God’s judgement and know that evil will be taken care of. (And KNOWthe harvest of heaven might be soon, right around the corner!). Therefore devoted people, even if bereft by evil, taken down by evil, will be taken care of. Jesus SPECIFICALLY says “At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn”.

Jesus HIMSELF and God’s Angels will sort it all out. Jesus HIMSELF will divide the goats and sheep. 

It is always good advice to DO THE BEST YOU CAN, even in trying times. You can still BEAR FRUIT and BLOOM WELL – even if weeds and wackiness wrestle with you for water. 

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I remember a stained glass depiction in a church window and of course the scripture – “I am the Bread of Life” – yes – for this we hunger and we are nourished.  Like drinking in Jesus as Living Water – we will absorb His Wisdom and His courage and His ability to be humble and do what needs to be done – to serve means we take on a servant role and help where we can knowing God is with us.

I want to finish with a story from the book of Daniel – not a parable but a real occurrence – a story were the schooled people of Jesus’s time would have been reminded – that God is always with us – and we are to withstand evil things – and know that He will protect us.  We often have to go into the world bereft with evil – to work on things in the world that need attending to… BUT KNOW THAT GOD IS WITH US.

This story abbreviated: The Fourth Man in the Furnace – [the evil king asked his advisors, “Didn’t we throw three men into the fire, bound firmly with ropes?” In reply they told the king, “Yes, your majesty.” – “Look!” he told them, “I see four men walking untied and unharmed in the middle of the fire, and the appearance of the fourth resembles a divine being.” Then the king approached the opening of the blazing fire furnace. He shouted out their names: servants of the Most High God, come out and come here!” – those men had no effect on their bodies—not a hair on their head was singed, their clothes were not burned, and they did not smell of fire. The king spoke up and announced: “Blessed be the God of these men! He sent his angel to deliver his servants who trusted in him. They disobeyed the king’s command and were willing to risk their lives in order not to serve or worship any god except their own God.]

We  have the power of prayer to help navigate our lives in the midst of the weed planted by the evil one – and keep growing – we can stand in the fire to be devoted to the right things – and can pray for each other and especially for our children – especially as we pray over our encouragement to the world and our messages –  because others also have to navigate the tough parts of this world…

We can be good seed planters… like the rocks of encouragement… Just like another parable of a mustard seed which grows big – our small acts can and will grow into the richness of the Kingdom – the mustard seed is “the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” Our actions speak louder than words and help bring Peace in the moment.

May we always take these parables, like going “back to school” – requiring us to think – to keep the Kingdom coming! Be the Salt and Light – Trust in the Lord – Bear Fruit!!!

Amen

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8 NKJV