photo by Erik Johansson
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Jesus seems to like metaphors and analogies, parables and stories… He used this phrase, “The Kingdom of God is like…” leading us to envision a world that is not our own. It is in these metaphors we can find the type of person we are to be, for the “Kingdom of God” is not meant to be an otherworldly place but a condition that resides in our hearts directing our hands and our feet. The Lord’s Prayer sums this up when it says, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.” This language prods us to take up the cause – to bring here to Earth the Kingdom of God, so that we may partake in the glory of God that resides in Heaven, in the present. It is a persuasive verb “Kingdom come and thy will be done”
This type of language should effect us – it should move us to action not apathy. In the Gospels Jesus uses multiple metaphors to help our mind wrap around the revolutionary call to be disciples of Christ – who in following Jesus, are Kingdom instigators and peace makers. Using metaphor, Jesus spins and flips the Messiah paradigm of the day – showing them a counter cultural way to establish Kingdom, not by force of hand, but by force of will.
Good Shepherd
John 10:1-18
Great Physician
Matthew 9:10-13
Mark 2:15-17
Luke 5:29-32
Growing Seed
Mark 4:26-29
Hidden Treasure (also a Fairy Tale)
Mattew 13:44
Householder
Matthew 13:52
Leaven
Matthew 13:33
Luke 13:20-21
Mustard Seed
Matthew 13:31-32
Mark 4:30-32
Luke 13:18-19
Net of Fish (also a Fairy Tale)
Matthew 13:47-50
Pearl of Great Price (also a Fairy Tale)
Matthew 13:45-46
Tares in Field
Matthew 13:24-30; 13:36-43
Two Debtors
Luke 7:41-43
Two Sons
Matthew 21:28-32
Vine and Branches (also a Fairy Tale)
Luke 15:1-17
Watching Servants
Luke 12:35-40
What do you think? Are there any that I am missing?
*The fourth of four posts on parables… parables as tragedy, comedy, fairy tale, and metaphor.
