How Do You Hear the Word?

Last time we looked at different responses to Jesus, and we saw that Mark's point was to show us that we cannot look to others to see how we should respond to Jesus.

Instead Mark says that we should listen to Jesus. Don't worry about what others think (Jesus' own relatives thought that he was nuts). Yyou are to listen to Jesus: “whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

Now Mark takes us to the next question. How do you listen to Jesus?

Many people claim that Jesus spoke in parables in order to make things clear. He told stories, they say, in order to illustrate the truth more clearly.

If that were true, then it is very unfortunate that his disciples did not learn well from their master! Because none of the apostles use parables in their teaching! The epistles contain straightforward teaching and exposition.

But of course, Jesus himself makes it perfectly clear why he speaks in parables. The parables are designed to make his teaching murky.

Why does Jesus keep hiding his identity and teaching? Why is this “messianic secret” so important?