Imagine a boy in first century Palestine coming home and his mother asked him, “Where have you been, Shlomo?” “I was listening to the new teacher from Nazareth?” “Oh, what did he teach?” “He said that the kingdom of God was like a planted seed that grew and eventually became ripe for harvest.” “That’s it? What else did he teach?” “Well, he said the kingdom was like a mustard seed that became a big bush.” Probably that mother was expecting a teacher to provide some answers for young Shlomo to memorize. But Jesus didn’t teach like that. His lessons were designed so that the learner could apply them to the circumstances in their life. The lessons of faith need individual involvement and personal discernment.
