Today’s Reading: Matthew 13:1-52; Mark 4:21-29, 33-34

Hello everyone! Today is just such a dreary day and I have heard that it will be like this all week. Doesn’t that seemingly suck all of the life out of you? I hope that despite this cold and blustery weather, you have a heart full of Sonshine.

Just gotta say that what Rob Vandebelt spoke about yesterday really encouraged me and I hope that it did the same for you. Quick review so that we can remember to use it this week as we read:

Why did Jesus come? He came to:

• Communicate on behalf of God (Jesus as the Word)
• Clarify (or reveal) what is true (Jesus as the Light)
• Change what is wrong (Jesus as the Lamb)
• Give reason to celebrate (Jesus, good news for everyone)

He also asked us four questions. In your reading, as you come to know Jesus better,

• are you seeing God more clearly?
• does your everyday life make more sense?
• do you see your life changing?
• are you catching the excitement?

So today we read about Jesus speaking in parables and that is all we read. I think there were 10 parables.

• Parable of the sower
• Parable of the weeds
• Parable of the lighted lamp
• Parable of the growing seed
• Parable of the mustard seed
• Parable of the yeast
• Parable of the hidden treasure
• Parable of the valuable pearl
• Parable of the net
• Parable of the treasures

Jesus said, “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.” He was referring to the teachers of the Law; their ears (and hearts) were closed to the truth.

Parable of the sower is explained in Matthew 13:18-23; Mark 4:13-20; Luke 8:11-15. Parable of the weeds is explained in Matthew 13:36-43. The rest are not explained. Although, in the majority of these parables, Jesus starts out by saying, “…the kingdom of heaven (God) is like…”

I don’t have answers for you, I’m sorry if that is what you expected. The Holy Spirit does have the answers though. Jesus said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. This is why I speak to them in parables.” Here Jesus was saying that the secrets were revealed to the disciples, but not the teachers of the Law.

We as God’s children have been given the Holy Spirit. If you do not understand what the parables or any Scripture for that matter is conveying, ask God to reveal it to you.