John Reichardt
5-30-2020
Jesus' response to his disciple's question regarding "the sign of his coming and the end of the age" is in many respects surprising, sobering, encouraging, and disturbing all at the same time. Few segments of any Gospel account cause us to, as Paul puts it, "consider the kindness and sternness of God..." (Romans 11:22). There is likely a reason for this. The "church age" or the "age of the Spirit" was at the threshold of human history (his death, burial, resurrection were imminent) when he responded regarding "the end of the age". His disciples at that point were still clueless (not their fault without the Holy Spirit living inside them) about what was coming upon the earth. They didn't have a grid of transitioning from the Old Covenant Age to the New Covenant Age to the Eternal Age. They had something else in their thinking. The early church in the nascent Age of the Spirit (and the church throughout history) would be quickly tested as to who the ultimate authority would be in their life.
Will it be the Jewish religious system (still around after his death, burial, resurrection, and ascension) or will it be Jesus? Will it be the Roman imperial state (still around after his prophesied destruction of the Jewish state in 70 AD), or will it be Jesus? Who is the real authority in all of life? Who is the real king of our lives? Who is our shepherd? Whose voice do we follow? As far as the church is concerned, Jesus is our king. We follow and obey him alone. Following his voice we end up where he calls us to be - at his side. That destination typically involves sacrificially loving others. The four parables before his death put realities and priorities on the table for all to see and grapple with.
These sayings of Jesus are disturbing on purpose. In effect, Jesus' authoritative words deliberately place the listener in a Preliminary Judgement Day so that we might meet him face to face ahead of the Transition Day and live! Live now. In the text we encounter his preeminent spiritual presence so that he might convict us of "sin and righteousness and judgement" (John 16:8). By hearing his voice in the text we are enabled to cross over from death to life (John 5:24). The recorded parable is the perfect place to visit and revisit the original speaker who spoke the parable from the beginning and continues to speak to us through those same words today. These parables are an invitation to a conversation with the first source, Jesus. The beauty of the Gospels (especially) is the opportunity it affords us to dialogue with it's original speaker by the Spirit of God. The God of encounter speaks in words that we can mercifully encounter him within repeatedly. In this regard, Bible reading and study is an utter joy. This is what happened to me when I first read these parables under the auspices of the Spirit. Upon reading these parables 40 years ago as an impressionable teenager, I was given a sobering glimpse of an undesirable future and I didn't want to be "that guy", an unfaithful steward, "moronic" bridesmaid, goat. We want to be faithful, wise, and a sheep. So, these parables are conversation starters with Jesus.
These words of Jesus give the reader a glimpse of the present ultimate reality where God encounters us in the ordinary, in the context of the grand scheme of things, and he speaks to us in heart to heart fashion before it all (literally) comes down at the End. Jesus' parables are about the End, but also about his authority then (at the End) and now. His words force the reader to accept or reject his words upon first reading/listening and repeated echoes in the mind (the parables are ear-worms) and thereby his authority as well in all of life as the Messianic King. The parables are so vivid that they not only arrest our attention but if we let them, the Master's words will master us. The beautiful thing then is that these parables are a mercy offered to the world, and should be received accordingly. We get to meet and greet our Maker way before meeting our Maker at the End. These parables constitute a prophetic second chance before we arrive at a time when need a second chance but its too late.
These parables are about then, but more so about now. The preservation of these parables are truly a mercy. This is the heart of Bible translators around the world: to preserve and promulgate the written word of God in a nation's language so that in the reading and the study of it they might encounter the Author of the text first-hand with only Jesus as the mediator. The goal of Bible translation and teaching is that we might all enter in and encounter the living Word in the written Word.
Parables have an otherworldly quality whose net transportative effect on the listener is that of listening to someone sharing a dream or vision. Parables permit the listener or reader to transcendentally enter or fall into the story to discuss invisible realities. The parable is an art form that pulls us in to speak to us personally like the quality of Isabel's art. In the judgement parables, Jesus let's us "put ourselves in the picture" (thanks Beverly for that exercise last night) of the final judgement ahead of time and where the criteria is clear and not arbitrary. The criteria of acceptance into humanity's next phase (after the transitory phase that is this one) is mercifully spelled out well in advance. God's sheep in God's flock have an ingrained personal relationship with him in this life that is naturally reflected in how we positively treat others in this life. These qualities are required in the people on Transition Day who will transition to the final state and become the reconstituted humanity in the Eternal Age. As someone has said, this life is a test for the one to come.
Our relationships in this life (with God and others) determine our continuance and participation in the next phase of human existence. Whatever all that entails (resurrection and immortality), it is designed by God and awaiting us securely as an inheritance in a heavenly lock-box. Our supernatural relationship with God is self evident in the ordinariness of life relationships. Those who love and are loved by God, love others. This criteria is simple (humble) and only appealing to the simple (humble), his sheep.
