Lesson 9: The Parables of Jesus
- Introduction
- Story about George Frideric Handel and Bob Coughlin
- Purpose of music and its connection to serving others
- Connection to the mission of Jesus
- Purpose of Jesus’ Parables
- Earthly stories with heavenly meanings
- Designed to provoke thought, evoke truth, cloak mystery, and invoke action
- Point 1: Provoke Thought
- Parables were intentionally provocative, sparking deep reflection
- Amusing vs. thought-provoking: Jesus’ stories required meditation
- Example: Parable of the Tenants (Mark 12:1-12)
- Summary of the story
- Message about evil tenants and the son
- Jesus’ reference to Psalm 118:2-3 and its significance
- Point 2: Evoke Truth
- Jesus’ parables were intended to awaken truth about God’s kingdom
- Shift in understanding of the kingdom of God
- Illustration: Art Museum example
- Advice to study parables deeply, like digging for treasure
- Example: Parable of the Tenants in context with Isaiah 5
- Connection between the two stories
- Lesson about unfaithful leadership in God’s vineyard
- Point 3: Cloak Mystery
- Jesus used parables to reveal truth to receptive listeners, while concealing it from the hostile ones
- Reference to Mark 4:11-12: The secret of the kingdom of God
- Parables reveal the hearts of men
- Example: The Parable of the Sower
- Point 4: Invoke Action
- Parables should lead to action
- Example: The Parable of the Tenants teaches us to be humble hearers of God’s word
- Application: Stewardship of our lives, families, and responsibilities
- Call to be doers of the word, not just hearers
- Conclusion
- George Handel’s quote about his music’s purpose: to make people better, not just entertain
- The connection between Handel’s music and the kingdom of God (Revelation 11:15)
- Final prayer: Seeking to be better and recognize our role as tenants under the King of Kings