This week we begin a summer series entitled, Tell Me A Story. “Tell me a Story” is a simple way to reference Jesus' use of parables to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson.
I think my favorite stories come from ordinary people who stumble across something valuable.
Like the woman who bought a small dish for $3 at a garage sale in NY and it turns out to be from the Ming dynasty. It would sell at Sotheby's a few years later for 2.2 million.
Or the English businessman, Andy Fields on holiday in Las Vegas who purchases a badly framed original Gertrude Stein drawing for $5, from an estate of the former babysitter for Andy Warhol. The frame would contain a signed sketch of Andy’s in the back of the frame worth over 2 million.
Or finally, Rick Norsigian of Fresno california who bought two boxes of photo negatives at a garage sale for $45. As it turns out, the negatives are from Ansel Adams and experts believe the collection is worth $200 Million. Don’t you love a good story!
Jesus told 36 different short stories in the gospels. Telling stories is one of the most powerful means that leaders have to influence, teach, and inspire.
What makes storytelling so effective for learning? For starters, storytelling forges connections among people, and between people and ideas. Stories convey the culture, history, and values that unite people.
Today I will relay three stories that come from Matthew’s gospel in the 13th chapter. On one incredible day, Jesus would share seven interrelated parables as well as an eighth unrelated one to a primarily Jewish audience. Jesus was trying to emphasize what we should value in this life. Many would hear the story and not understand. Others would hear and be amazed. Still others would hear them and change their lives to reflect this new understanding
These were not ordinary parables. Jesus would call them the “The mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.” A mystery is a spiritual truth understood only by divine revelation. It is a sacred secret known only to those on the inside who listen, learn and obey. So let me begin by sharing two short stories...
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
The first time you hear these two stories, some with a more acute sense of justice may get stuck on the fact the man who found the treasure on someone else's land or in a market and then bought it. How is that fair or right? You are not alone. In fact, in the mid rash, an ancient Jewish commentary on part of the Hebrew scriptures, attached to the biblical text, from the 3rd century, also questions this. However, the Jewish scholars believed a person can’t be wronged if they are willing participants in the sale. That is, if they agreed on the fair price for the field or the pearl, they were not manipulated or deceived so no wrong took place.
The term field in this scripture is often used to signify a nation. In this case the nation of Israel. The parable points to treasure found within the nation - salvation. God paid a heavy price for us. He became a man. Imagine for one moment being God. Everything you ever wanted you could have and create. But you decided to give it all up for a group of people who may or may not recognize you. That's who Jesus is. It’s God in the form of man. He came as a baby, lived, died and rose for you and all who align themselves with Him. He did it joyfully.
The second parable offers a second symbol we need to unpack before getting to the meaning. The pearl is used as a symbol for the Torah, or as many now believe, God’s written revelation to His people. In seeking God’s revelation, it’s natural to surrender all of what we thought we knew or valued for the greater purpose of life.
Jesus would validate this in a number of other conversations with the disciples. Of the 96 verses about giving up everything and following Jesus, the one that always sticks out to me is from Luke 18: 28-30:
And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”
Let me be clear: We don’t need to renounce all our possessions to obtain life with God. Jesus urges us to make the kingdom of God our highest priority. If any possession or ambition is more important than a person’s commitment to follow Jesus, then Jesus may not be Lord of their life.
Now I know the natural tendency is to say I give it all to Jesus when in a gathering like this. However, as you review your lists of your three greatest: possessions, relationships and accomplishments, I’d like for you to reflect and be honest with yourself, do your answers reflect the heart of God.
I was reading Matthew 15:18-19 this week, Jesus had just offended the Pharisees and the boys were a little taken aback. So they asked Jesus why he ripped the pharisees when asked why the boys didn’t wash their hands before eating. He said it's not what you put in your body that makes you unclean, it's what's in your heart. Your heart, your thoughts, directs your steps.
Following God is the most important aspect of this life. It is not wealth, power, or prestige. It is not: fame, fortune or fortress. It's recognizing God’s love for humanity and the value to Him of those who choose to respond to His love. To reinforce this Jesus shares a third story.
47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore.
He then adds a reminder of what happens to those who chose otherwise:
Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
51 “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked. “Yes,” they replied.
52 He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”
The last two verses really are best understood when you realize the first audience was Jewish, understood the imagery, the symbolism and the nuances. The verses help the listeners to tie together the Old Testament promises with the New Testament fulfillment. But most importantly, they emphasize the idea:
The most valuable aspect of life is A relationship with God, His Son Jesus and His Holy Spirit. More important than fame, fortune, power of prestige.
Does your life reflect that? If you asked the one person closest to you, what would they say your highest value is?
