Why did Jesus speak in parables?
Mark 4 :12 NLT
"so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: 'When they see what I do, they will learn nothing. When they hear what I say, they will not understand. Otherwise, they will turn to me and be forgiven.'"
Dear brethren, God has a plan for the entire existence, which has been put into motion from the very beginning. A big part of that plan is the reconciliation of mankind to Himself through His "Son". I say "Son" because this very term has confused many.
The entire mystery boils down to the identity of the person being referred to as the "Son" of God.
From the earliest recorded portions of scripture, there have always been attempts by men to rewrite history.
Adam denied responsibility for the disobedience in Eden. Cain denied knowledge of his brother's whereabouts. Without an alternative witness, they could have distorted the facts of what happened in more favorable light to themselves.
In the old testament, many details seem to be absent. Many other nuggets of information have been obfuscated.
By who?
When the prophets spoke, it was often in confusing prose. Why? Was it more diabolical obfuscation, or like Christ said above, an attempt to shield the truth from unwanted eyes?
We know the Scriptures have been severally manipulated, with books being added and omitted to serve unclear purposes, and which have purported to render its validity suspect.
However, for some reason, a key theme has not been removed. That there is a Creator of all things, and that He is Love. Also still present in the scriptures is the enduring desire to reconcile mankind to Himself.
Hebrews 1:1-2 New Living Translation (NLT)
"Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe."
The most confusing portions of the modern Bible are those books which the prophets wrote, or the Words of Christ Himself. This is deliberate. You cannot distort what you do not understand.
All sorts of messages abound in the Bible. Several paths to death are there, as well as the path to Life .
However the pathway to Life can only be illuminated by the Spirit of Life himself. Christ's representative who has been mandated to guide us into all truth. Merely reading the scripture without illumination by the Holy Spirit can never lead to Truth. Part of the reason is because so much revision has taken place!
However, because Christ who was crucified has risen, because He is alive, He is able to lead us away from lies to the truth.
Christ the Son of God, is also the Word of God. The Scriptures are nothing but a static text. But the Word of God is alive. Only He can guide us to truth!
