AUGUST 31

Mark 4:33

WHAT ARE PARABLES?

“Okee-dokee-doke,”said Mom as she shut the oven door.“ Ths lime pie will be done in time for supper.” “I love lime pies,” said Heather, doodling in some flour on the table. “So does your dad,” said Mom. “Almost as much as cheesecake.”

After the cake was don, Heather, who was still looking at the table, asked. “Mom, how come Jesus talked in parables so often? Why didn’t He just say what they meant?”“ That’s a good question,”replied Mom.“Do you have any idea why?”

“Well... maybe He was making it more interesting so people would listen better,” suggested Heather. “I read some parables in Luke 15 this morning, and I found them interesting. I like stories, and they illustrate what Jesus was teaching, don’t they?”

Mom nodded. “Right,” she agreed. “I think Jesus used stories to make Bible truths easier for us to understand. Another reason might be . . . well . . .” Mom opened the refrigerator. “Here,” she said, taking out a huge lime. “How about eating this, Heather?”

“ That lime?” asked Heather in surprise. “I can’t eat a whole lime. They’re sour!”

Mom scooped up a slice of lime cake from the table. It was a nice yummy slice. “How about this? Could you eat it?” she asked.

Heather eyed it happily. “Of course!” Mom nodded and took a tiny bite. “Yes, and I think that’s kind of what a parable is like.”

“So... it’s a little story people can handle?” asked Heather.

“Exactly,”agreed Mom,“but it contains a big truth.Jesus could have told the people a lot of harsh truths in no uncertain terms - and sometimes He did. But often they listened and learned from the parables, the little stories He told.” Mom paused, then added, “Jesus sometimes used parables to give a special message to his disciples, too. He didn’t always intend for those who weren’t His followers to understand. In fact, God still has messages especially for His own children, and the Holy Spirit helps us understand them.” She smiled as she added, “And then they’re something special, like the lime pie.”

Thought: Do you enjoy stories and learn from them? The stories Jesus told illustrate truths people need to know -not only at the time He lived, but today as well.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, may I learn to enjoy the accounts and parables I