The Bible Course Sample

Parables, Miracles, and the Cost – the call of Jesus 

Reflect  

Jesus was a master teacher and a master storyteller. He knew how powerful stories were, and he made a habit of telling them. Jesus knew stories can get past people’s defenses and open them to a new world. The parable was his way of communicating to the open-minded and simultaneously concealing truth from the closed-minded. Will we let the stories of Jesus open us up or close us off to his central message – the kingdom of God today?  

What do the parables of Luke 18.1–14 teach us about the nature of the kingdom?  

The values of the people of Jesus’ day and our own often find their opposite in what God’s kingdom is like. The kingdom of God is where insiders are outsiders, and outsiders are insiders. Jesus teaches us through a story that we should never give up on prayer because God is close to the hurting and the lowly, and he is concerned with justice.  

Jesus also reveals through a story what true religion is. It’s not about the external but the internal. Unless our hearts come to rely wholly on the mercy of God (verse 13), then we will remain on the outside. Humility is the entry point to entering the beautiful new world of the kingdom of God. This is so different from the values our world preaches.  

What do we learn about the call of Jesus in the experience of the rich young ruler?   

What’s the rich young ruler asking of Jesus? He’s ultimately asking, ‘What do I need to do to find real life?’ Jesus’ response? ‘Sell all your possessions.’ Why does he ask this? Because Jesus knew the young man loved his possessions more than he loved God – he’d trade eternal life for the immediate satisfaction of wealth. We all make similar trades.  

The disciples are baffled. ‘Who then can be saved?’ they ask.  

Jesus’ response is: ‘What is impossible with man is possible with God.’ 

Jesus makes the impossible possible.  

Jesus came for the people who traded away life with God for lesser things.  

Jesus came for the rebels.  

Jesus came for the young rulers.  

Jesus came for you and for me.  

The call of Jesus is clear – he says, ‘Come to me. Let me make the impossible possible for you.’  

Have you responded to the call?  

Respond 

‘For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.’ What difference could this teaching make to your day today?