Mark 4:34
But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
Jesus had a tendency to take great spiritual truths and put them into the common man’s understanding. He spoke of sowing seeds when He wanted to reveal a truth about the reception of the gospel message (Mark 4:3-9). He spoke of household items when He wanted to reveal a truth about being a witness (Mark 4:21-22). He spoke of grain growing when He wanted to reveal something about the end of time (Mark 4:26-29), and He spoke of a mustard seed growing up into a great tree when He wanted to reveal something about the advancement of the Kingdom of God on earth (Mark 4:30-32).
Parables were heavenly truths in an earthly light, but because of their heavenly nature, there were many who had no ear to hear them. In fact, these parables were as much to hide these truths from one crowd as they were to reveal them to another. What determined their ability to understand them was not their keen eye for the things of nature but the “eye of faith” that first of all believed in who Christ was. Notice who was granted exposition of these parables: “He expounded all things unto His disciples.”
So it is today. We have many professors in this hour who are studying the sayings of Jesus but have never put their faith in who He is—the Son of God, the root of David, the Messiah, the Resurrected Lord. Not only are disciples those who have believed in who He is, but they have also surrendered their lives to Him. Remember, to be a disciple of Christ means to take up your cross and follow Him, to kiss mother and father and brother and business goodbye, and to set sail with the King of kings, bidding this world and its attachments farewell. These are those spoken of in our verse: “His disciples.” These are still those who are granted access into the private fellowship that few in the world enjoy.
Jesus still has a habit of speaking to people through the everyday things in our lives. The rising of the sun declares His glories, and by night the stars show forth His majesty. The birds have been commissioned by Him to teach us lessons about faith and trust, the ants have been sent forth to teach us about hard work, and the lilies are clothed in the finest apparel to show us the beauties of a life that trusts the Creator. Yet so many are blind to all the illustrations around them, deaf to the sermons the birds sing in their ear day by day. They look at the stars and think of man’s efforts to reach them, they look at the sun and never have a thought for the God who made it to bless them with light and life. They are those who have no ear to hear.
Then there are His disciples—those who have trusted in Him and surrendered their will to His. Day by day, by His Spirit, in our private times, He pulls us to the side and shows us what He has been revealing to us all along. He preached to us on our morning commute with some scene that unfolded before us. He preached to us as the sun was rising or as the stars came out. And now, as we sit to contemplate the day, He is with us, expounding the truths that He set before us this day.
David knew what it was to have a scene from everyday life expounded to him: “The Lord is my shepherd.” Paul knew what it was to have a scenario from his everyday life expounded to him: “I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ.” Do you know what it is to have the Holy Spirit teach you a heavenly truth in an earthly light? If not, it may be that you are not a disciple. Either you have never known Him, or you aren’t living for Him.
The Bible says, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Whatever you are constantly thinking of will be what you see in everything around you. They say here in Africa, “To a carpenter, every tool is a hammer.” To a carnal mind, everything is carnal—it’s just the same old sunrise that starts the daily grind, or the same old plow you’ve been walking behind every day. But to the spiritual mind, the heavens declare His glory, and the plow isn’t just a farming implement but an opportunity to glorify God.
Are you a disciple? Do you have an ear to hear what the Spirit sayeth? If so, is there any private time in your life? Or have you become so busy that there is no quiet time for Him to speak to you? He not only set the example in our text but promised that His Spirit would come and lead us into all truth. Today, trust in who He is, surrender your life to Him, and this evening, as you sit to rehearse the day’s events, listen for His still, small voice. He is still expounding all things to His disciples.
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