Why Jesus Used Parables | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Gospel of Mark Bible Study Series)

Please turn your attention with me in the word of God to the

gospel of Mark and chapter chapter 4.

Mark 4. And as you're there.

We'll begin in verse 10 together.

Mark 4:10. And when he was alone, those

Mark 4:10

around him with the 12 asked him about the parables.

And he said to them to you, has been given the secret of the

kingdom of God. But for those outside,

everything is in Parables. So that they may indeed see.

But not perceive and may indeed here, but not understand.

Less, they should turn and be forgiven.

Lord, this is A text that we need.

Great help with and we ask that in this moment, we would sense

your nearness. And that the anointing that you

promised. And first John 2, Would be

realized in each of us and that we would be taught by the spirit

of God himself. Who is the author of this book

Lori? Pray that there would be a

special touch from you upon the delivery of this word, but also

Lord, a touch on the hearts that every ear would indeed hear what

you have to say. Lord, we recognize that this

moment, as we read and break down your word, it is your

voice. It is your voice.

Therefore let not the transmission be corrupted by the

flesh by man's opinion. Let It Be pure and let it be

unfiltered and may the name of the Lord Jesus Christ be exalted

in the faithfulness not just of the speaking but of the hearing

as well. In Jesus name, amen.

This afternoon's message has one, simple goal and that goal

is to answer a very straightforward question.

That question is, why did Jesus speak in Parables?

Why did Jesus speak in Parables? Now, it could be that some of

you hearing that question respond internally with is that

even important? Do we really need to know why

Jesus spoke in parables? We have enough of a challenge to

understand the meaning of some of his Parables letter known the

reason for them but whether or not we believe it is an

important inquiry. The holy spirit makes it so

clear that it is necessary to know why.

Jesus at a certain point in his ministry began to emphasize his

teaching in the format of Parables.

And before we get one other allegorical lesson from the

mouth of the Savior, the Holy Spirit stops us and he records

and preserves a In between Jesus and his disciples around that

very question. So clearly it must mean

something. And when you combine Mark, what

we just read with Matthews version.

What we have here as a scene is that, at some point Jesus was

alone and the disciples, his closest group approached him.

And in Matthew 13 10, they asked the very pointed question.

Why do you speak to them? In parables.

And the Lord answers that question is partly motivated by

the fact that they lacked understanding themselves, but

was also a question of concern Jesus.

As you know, in the past four weeks, we've been discovering

just finished teaching about the parable of the sower. but what

Jesus did was, he gave the parable and stopped before

giving an explanation And so you have these disciples who are

part of this ministry, that might be thinking to themselves.

If this continues, this not might be very good because the

audience might perceive this and say, this is incomplete, this is

unclear or this is even confusing.

And so you have these men who are looking out for their

teacher leaning in and saying Lord, why are you doing this?

You already, you already stopped before giving an answer to these

meanings of this riddle. Is this going to continue?

And listen, what seems strange to the disciples was in fact a

strategy. From the Lord.

There was something so rich behind this method, Jesus knew

exactly what he was doing when he starts speaking in Parables,

even though his disciples did not know the purpose yet.

And here's what I want to tell you.

At this point before, even getting to the answer to the

question, the attitude of these disciples, whether you want to

admit it or not is very common among Disciples of Jesus today.

What do I mean by that even today?

Intimate followers of Jesus Christ can find themselves.

Elves asking why when they try to understand the ways of God,

why, why are you doing it this way?

Why are you doing it that way? Why are you not doing it this

way? And so, we find ourselves in the

very same place as these men, but, perhaps with different

predicaments, but here's what's fascinating.

Even with that question, you and I had the freedom to come to the

Lord and ask because the Lord is willing and able to give

Revelation for that immediate situation to bring whether it's

relief or wisdom, he can answer like, he answered with his

disciples. I'll tell you why you cry out to

me and I will reveal it to you, but is that always the case?

No, oftentimes, the answer comes much later in life.

And God allows something that we know as Providence to play out.

And as time goes on, the pieces will fill the missing areas of

our understanding and complete the puzzle down the road.

I think of Joseph Joseph who had a dream and not knowing how this

was going to transpire now is, in a position of power after

many years, and he can look back in retrospect and see the

puzzles that had to be placed for him to arrive where he

arrived. Left.

So they could, they can be immediate answers.

That can be prolonged answers, or delayed answers rather.

And then there can be no answer at least in this lifetime and

believer. You got to be willing to accept

that. You have to be willing to accept

the fact that God doesn't owe us answers to every question and

there are many reasons for that and let me present to you one

strong possibility to why the Lord may not give you the answer

to the why Because the disciples were not the only Servants of

God who had that pressing question.

And my mind goes to a prophet. A prophet that is not a major

one Prophet that is not a common one, in our conversations or

even in our teachings. But an important one nonetheless

because he had a question. And his question was answered in

a way that I believe is extremely insightful for all of

us habakkuk. And habbakuk 12.

We see this Prophet, this man of God, inquire of his God who is

our God and in habakkuk 12, we read.

Oh Lord. How long shall I cry for help

and you will not hear or cry to you violence, and you will not

save verse 3. Why there it is why do you make

me see iniquity? And why do you idly look at

wrong? Destruction and violence are

before me strife, and contention arise.

So the law is paralyzed and Justice, never go.

As fourth for the wicked surround the righteous so

Justice Goes Forth. Perverted that's how the book

starts. It's this man of God who is

righteous, who is observing the events of his day?

And he is wondering, where is God in all of this?

You can ask that on a global scale and you can ask that in

your own personal World. Why, where is your intervention

and all this? Why are you silent?

Why are you not aware all these pressing questions and what's

amazing is, how God answers him. We see here in verse 5.

Look among the Nations and And see wonder and be astounded for.

I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if

told God's answer, Is something I believe most of us in you need

to take into our hearts and lock it there.

First, when the prophet was wondering where God was and why

he was not intervening in the chaos around him, the Lord

assured him, that he was actually at work.

He's been at work, he's always at work and so with all the

things that he was seeing God says, hey, would you look back

up and look at the nation's and see, ya can consider all the

turmoil in the nation's consider the rise and fall of Kingdoms,

consider the spiritual Thickness, that is abounding in

society, consider all of it, consider all and realize.

I'm at work realize that my hand is in it realize that I am

orchestrating it, realize that there is a goal here.

Though, you may not immediately perceive it and that same truth

applies today. God is not less aware or less

active in our world. Then he, then he was, then he is

still completely Sovereign supervising, every Stitch of our

universe. But it's the second part I can

stay there, but it's the second part that humbles me.

Because he finishes his thought, at least in this verse by

saying, not only am I presently involved.

But all of this is leading to something.

So astounding, so beyond so powerful.

That if I were to disclose it to you, you would have trouble

believing it. And what he meant by that was,

this is leading all of these shifts in the world is leading

to me. Raising up a foreign Nation,

that's going to come after the nation of Israel and pulled them

out into Exile, which was something unfathomable for the

Jew in habakkuk today, Actually look at verse 12 and you see the

response of God's answer and the man can't believe it God was,

right? I'm just going to give you a

glimpse of it and you're not going to believe any goes.

Well We're Not Gonna Die your holy Your Righteous.

And I was meditating on that. And you know, I came to mine.

It makes me wonder if some of the answers that you and I are

desperate looking for our answers that you're not even

prepared to believe. Paul says, in Romans, 11:33 that

God's judgments they are unsearchable and his ways are

inscrutable. You know what that means?

There is a category of God's ways that are defined by your

mind being absolutely staggered. If you just took a glimpse of

it, there are Waters. So deep in the ways of God that

for you to try to swim and explore.

What? Actually, make you drowned.

In your understanding. There's just something that you

can't cross when it comes to God's ways and that shouldn't

frustrate you or I that should cause us to worship.

See what Paul says that its judgments are in searchable, and

his ways are inscrutable. That wasn't him saying, well

just too bad, that was him, exploding and doxology,

exploding and worship in the middle of his writing.

That's what makes God God. And he can't help, but just even

in his writing spillover with praise with that thought.

And we've limited God's ways to philosophical debate and trying

to understand him with great frustration instead of it

humbling us, and bring us to our knees as a God.

You are God, I am a creature. I was made from dust.

I'm borrowing your air. I humbly receive your ways.

And the Bible reveals that if you were to just get a peek at

the intricacies of God's methods, if your heart is right,

it will erupt your your soul to Magnify Him and love him.

And that's what I hope you will do at the end of this message.

When you and I consider not God's prophetic timetable for

the human race. That's what Romans 11 is about,

at least for Israel and the world.

Not about his purpose in suffering, though.

That is important. But why Jesus spoke in parables?

Let me just say right off the bat, Jesus didn't teach Parables

because they were nice stories. There are actually two reasons

why Jesus did this. Two simple reasons.

And so when anybody asks you, if your discipling somebody and

they say why did Jesus speak in Parables?

You can give them these two answers because they are

scripture as you will see. And the first one might be

shocking to you. So, lean in.

Why did Jesus do this? Primary reason Parables were an

instrument of judgment. Against the unbeliever.

I know you didn't hear that in Sunday School, But Parables were

an instrument of judgment against the unbeliever.

This may sound odd because the common understanding as you just

heard is that Parables were engaging in illustrative stories

to help make sense of spiritual truth.

That's not what Jesus said. When the question was asked, he

answered to you, it's been given the secret of the kingdom of

God, but for those who are outside, Those who are not a

part of my fold, those who are not a part of me.

For those who are outside, I speak to them intentionally With

parables. In other words, by using

analogies, by using allegories void of explanation, the Lord

intends, you ready for this to conceal the truth and to keep

certain people in the dark? Parables, shroud the truth.

The primary function is not to make sense of Truth.

The primary purpose is actually to Vale it.

And I'm sure that is shocking to some because the Jesus, we

worship the Jesus, we know came into this world to save, he came

into this world as light. He came as a physician to heal

the sick spiritually, not just physically.

And now early in the Book of Mark, we hear something that

sounds counterintuitive. Almost almost concerning to us.

In our view of Christ. Are you saying that Jesus?

I was teaching in a manner that would bar people out.

That would keep people at a distance.

How do we make sense of this? Here's how we make sense of

this, when you and I understand this is why context is important

when you and I understand the timing of his implementation and

the audience that he was addressing.

Looking at that will put any unease to rest.

Ask yourself this question. Why are the disciples asking

this? Now, the reason why is because

they've heard him teach him preach for a while.

And at some point they perceived that the Lord now is adopting

and emphasizing his usage of these riddles that don't seem to

provide immediate clarification and so they ask why are you

doing this? Which tells me that this is

something new. This is something that is

developing this is something sudden.

They've heard Jesus speak before and yes, she's use illustrations

and examples and but it was clear.

Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.

The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

If a kingdom is divided against itself that Kingdom cannot stand

things like that. It was, it was clear.

There was a conclusion. But now Jesus just finished

sharing this story about a parable.

He gives this idea of A sower and the soils and the seed going

in and the different kind of responses and then he ends the

sermon Midway He who has ears to hear, Let Him hear and he walks

off the platform and dismisses the service.

So the disciples got said, Lord, what's going on here and he

says, listen you you I will explain it to them, I will speak

to them in Parables and I will continue to speak to them in

parables. You've been here week after

week, put up your rear view mirrors and ask yourself what

happened before this that would cause Christ to do this.

And I think there is a pivotal moment in the ministry of Jesus

Christ and that is spelled out both and Mark and in Matthew

that really blink brings clarification, scroll back to

mark three and look here at verse 22.

Mark 322. And the scribes who came down

from Jerusalem where saying he is possessed by Bells double,

and by the prince of demons, he cast out the demons.

Serious accusation. Blasphemous accusation.

And more dangerous is the fact that they made this charge at a

time when the Lord Jesus. So powerfully and clearly,

displayed and demonstrated his messiahship.

And for them to come to this conclusion, after all that these

religious leaders have witnessed is extremely concerning for the

state of their souls to say that Christ was in League with Satan,

ultimately exposed the severity of their hardened Hearts.

Remember even before this they had planned to destroy him.

Now, here's what's so significant at the same time?

They could not deny his Supernatural power.

And so all they can do is shift The Source by saying we can't

deny that he's doing this. So let's just say that he's

doing this by the energy and the activity of Satan himself. and

when the Lord heard that he was not shy to tell them and warn

them about the dangers of the damnation that they were, they

were flirting with but he didn't just warn them.

Listen, I argue to you today that this was the turning point

and how Jesus Christ would address and teach the general

public who are unbelieving to his message, those who have

announced their stubborn unbelief and the face of amazing

evidence. Would not just hear a warning

about blaspheme the Holy Spirit, they would now inherit a

teaching. That was veiled.

Jesus speaking to the general crowd in Parables was a response

to their gross lack of faith. You don't want to believe after

all that I've shown you after all that.

I've said so clearly to you, then here you go.

Here's some parables. Matthews version of this

confirms. What I am saying to you, if you

need a reference is Matthew 13, 15, Jesus quotes a portion of

the book of Isaiah and applies it to his reasoning and this is

what it says in that verse for this people's heart, this is so

important has grown dull. He takes that from Isaiah and he

applies it to his immediate audience.

And what he's saying is and connection to his parabolic

ministry is this people, their hearts have grown dull,

insensitive unresponsive in different to what I have to say

to them. And instead of being humbled by

The Miracles, instead of being softened by the message, they

resisted him Time. After Time, After Time, sermon

after sermon, after sermon healing, after healing, after

healing correction, after correction, after correction,

Deliverance after Deliverance, after Deliverance, until they

finally crossed the line, where the Lord says, I'm no longer

going to give to you straight forward teaching, and why would

he Why would he they already trampled on everything that he

gave them? See, this is a this is a

portrait of Jesus that many are unfamiliar with.

He is gracious, but understand that his judgments are not just

reserved for eternity, Christ can judge today.

Christ has been judging until today Christ, will judge to some

extent until the final day. And one of his judgments is when

he persistently attempts to persuade your heart and you

persistently, resist them. He meets that by finalizing,

your heart and heart and crystalizing it himself.

And if you don't believe that, this is true realize that at the

very end of this whole book, not Mark the Bible, he gives a

strong strong, strong word, that is not often quoted.

Can I show it to you? It's in revelation, 22, the very

last chapter of the hole Cannon and I want you to see a verse

That would seem a little bit awkward to our understanding of

who God is revelation. 22 verse 11.

Revelation 22:11

So we are now concluding we're coming now to the to the very

end of all that God has to say to humanity and you want to know

one of the final things that he says you ready for this.

Verse 11 of revelation 22, let the evil doers still do evil.

And the filthy still be filthy and the righteous still do,

right? And the holy still be holy.

Let the, let the evil still be evil.

You want to be filthy? Be filthy Those who are

righteous be righteous continuing.

Righteous you want to be holy stay.

Holy how do we understand is is God exhorting people to stay in

their sin. That's so contrary to the call

of repentance. What's Happening Here?

Is he encouraging people to just remain in their state of

rebellion? I believe the only way to

understand verse 11 is to connect it to verse 10.

What does he say right before this?

The angel speaks to John and he said to me, do not seal up the

words of the prophecy of this book for the time is near and

then he goes on to say, let the evil doer still do evil.

And the filthy still be filthy Etc.

Here's one of God's final instructions to the Apostle.

John John, my servant listen. You cannot afford to conceal

what I have made known to you. In what we know as the Book of

Revelation you must disclose it. You must share it.

It must be read aloud. It must be heard it must be

heralded. The app the last days message it

cannot afford to be hidden because the consequences are

Eternal and I am gracious. Enough to reveal to reveal to

every generation. What is to come so that they

could be worn and respond appropriately?

So don't seal it, reveal it expose it, let it let it shine.

And then verse 11, this is the same thought now.

But after If after hearing everything that I've said in

this book and predicted everything that I predicted in

his book and prophesied, everything after all the

descriptions of the catastrophes that are going to come to this

world. and the fate of the wicked, which is eternal

judgment and the permanent glorious Rule and reign of Jesus

Christ, if after hearing all of that, Someone still won't repent

then they might as well still be Wicked.

In other words, you know what this means, how can God warned

you more than what he warns in the Book of Revelation?

If you can't be moved to repentance after the Book of

Revelation is Harold the to you, then there's little hope for

you. Stay filthy.

You want to stay in sin. Go for it.

You want to be Wicked, go for it.

After all that you've heard stay there.

Oh, this is so boring. But it's Bible.

This is God. God is long-suffering but his

patient is not Limitless. His truth is for all people but

those who have been graced and those who have experienced

certain manifestations or Revelations have a greater

responsibility to what they heard and how they respond to it

and after reaching out and giving himself to someone who

constantly turns his back, then listen to this.

This is not the Santa Claus version of Jesus, that we heard

of growing up. After this, after God, tries to

and attempts and gets your attention, he has every right to

move on. He has every right to move on

and find someone else whose heart will be open to the truth

who hungers for the truth, who longs to be saved.

And in fact, if you haven't been shocked yet, maybe this will

shock you ready for this one as messengers of the truth.

We are to imitate him in that to some extent.

You've heard it, right? Matthew 7:6.

Matthew 7:6

Do not give dogs. What is Holy?

And do not throw your pearls before pigs.

It's not talking about little animals.

He's talking about people who resemble animalistic behavior in

terms of their spirituality and the condition of their souls and

response to the truth, lest they trample them under foot and turn

to attack you. This is not teaching that there

are some people who are undeserving of the Gospel at

all. The Great Commission mandate is

preach, the gospel to All Creatures, but here's the

reality of it. Some creatures are more

aggressive. Than others.

More Blasphemous than others. And you and I are called to have

a level of discernment to know whether or not we continue

reaching out to that person or if we reserve the pearls of

divine revelation and bring them before someone who's see the

value of them, So, even you hear this about God, he say, yes, he

is God. And then even in this, we are

called to imitate him as faithful declares of God's

truth. Now, I can imagine how some

might still not be convinced. But what the Lord does is he

quotes. Isaiah, you heard.

In a verse 12 of Mark for let me read it to you again.

After telling him that Outsiders will be, will be referred to

Parables. He says, so that they may indeed

see, but not perceive, it may indeed here, but not understand

less, they should turn and be forgiven.

That's from Isaiah, 69, that's something that God told Isaiah

that Christ actually told Isaiah after that Throne Room Vision

where he was just absolutely moved by the Holiness of God,

And the Triune God asking Whom Shall we send.

And here's Isaiah and I'm only saying here, I am send me good.

I'm gonna send you, you're gonna be my preacher in this

generation, but you're going to preach to a crowd who will not

respond to you. Can you imagine how encouraging

that is? Hey, Pastor.

You're going to preach at a church where every single

Sunday, what you say, will not move.

One person. Sign me up.

That's an example to me about how the Lord looks for

faithfulness more than anything else.

But why is Jesus quoting from this passage?

because the ministry that Isaiah had was not of him addressing a

reasonable bunch, he was preaching before crowd, that had

already persistently rejected, God's warnings and woes And what

the Lord is doing by reaching back 700 years and applying that

context to his, he's saying I'm preaching to people who have

already heard what I had to say. And I've determined to deny me,

just like Isaiah had to preach the such a crowd.

I am preaching to that same crowd.

And so therefore, I will now address them in a veiled manner.

So, That may sound true but it may.

It may also disturb us. But be more disturbed by the

fact that after God does so much people still raise their nose

against him and turn their bags, be more disturbed by that,

please. And if you would want a

fragrance of Mercy on this, consider that even in this, what

you just heard there is a touch of Mercy.

There is a hint of Grace. There is a fragrance of beauty.

What do I mean by that? You've heard this.

Haven't you. Everyone to whom much is given

of him much will be required. Have you heard of that?

Then he goes on to say, even from there and from him to whom

they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

What's the context of that that's found in Luke chapter 12?

Luke 12 · chapter mention

The context of that in Luke 12 is Jesus teaching that there

will be various degrees of punishment that are in direct

proportion to Requirement of Revelation.

What do I mean that by that when he says too much was given much

will be required? What he's essentially saying is

I will hold a listeners to the word of God.

Accountable to the Revelation that they are received and how

they rejected it. That is a rule and God's

judgment the more light and unbeliever has the more their

judgment will increase if they deny it.

Now we in America, boast about Bible knowledge, why?

Why we're boasting about our radio stations and we're

boasting about our seminaries or boasting about the amount.

Y that's a lot of light. As good as that is, that's

dangerous. Because if you're, if you're

exposed to this light and you deny this light Christ,

according to Luke 12 will say much is required of you because

much has been given to you. Don't boast about being part of

any Ministry that preaches, the Bible Faithfully.

If you don't want to respond to it, that's dangerous stuff.

And yet, it's merciful in light of what Jesus does here with the

Pharisees and the unbelieving crowd.

Why? Because if we recognize this

rule, don't you see it? Don't you see what the Lord is

doing here? That by speaking in Parables, he

is deliberately dimming the light So, that by dimming the

light of the Revelation, he is also diminishing their judgment.

Bye-bye putting layers on the truth.

He's also in a sense, limiting what will be heaped on them?

Don't you see it? I see the heart of God in that,

and here's the heart of God in that, that he longs to save.

That he takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked.

That if he could have it, he would want everyone to come to

him. And so, even when he shares

these parables, He filters the truth, and even those who have

denied him by, not receiving the clear Revelation wouldn't

someway. Also, not receive the Judgment

that it would demand for denying it.

Perhaps this whole time, you've been wondering how complete the

answer that you just heard really is in light of the rest

of the chapter. Because if you go back to mark

for it doesn't end in verse 12. You look at Mark for 14 to 20

and you see Jesus explaining the very parable.

That you just heard was not meant to be explained to a

certain people and that thought transition has perfectly into

the second reason for why. Jesus implemented Parables, you

ready? The first one was Parables were

an instrument of judgment against the stubborn unbeliever,

but secondly, Parables were an instrument of teaching to those

who yearn for the truth. That's what you're more familiar

with, right? And that's okay.

Because Jesus looks at his people and he says to you to

you, it has been given the secret of the kingdom of God.

Unlike the other crowd when it came to the disciples these

Parables would be helpful tools. That would in fact unpacked the

truth and revealed the truth and help them remember the truth

insights about the kingdom. And the opposite is those who

could care less, they were determined to deny him no matter

what he said. But this group, they're

characterized by something else. There is an eagerness, there's a

teachability, there is a hunger, there is a longing.

I mean, it's even seen with these disciples, they're always

asking questions. And Christ honored that these

allegorical lessons carried the potential of arousing.

Holy curiosity. And listen, these Parables were

almost like doorways doorways that would lead into greater

Revelation. So, the same door that would bar

people from the truth was also the same door that could lead

into spiritual Treasures. What's the difference?

Do you have the right key in your hand?

And the key in this instance is something that is applicable

today in The Quest For Truth humility.

Humility. You see the purpose of the

parable? Really depends upon the heart.

Posture of the listener. And when it came to the

disciples and those who wanted to know the truth, Matthew Henry

summarized it so. Well he said quote, a parable is

a shell that keeps good fruit for the diligent But with holds

it, from the slothful. It's a shell that for those who

are diligent enough to crack it, to know the nutrients in it, it

will benefit them. But also it's a shell that those

who are slothful and careless and blasphemous will keep them

away. The difference is the ears to

hear. A parable is really an

invitation it probes. It provokes the honest inquire,

it causes them upon hearing what?

They just heard two now, examine their own hearts and say, I want

to know what that means. I'm hooked I can't let him walk

away without telling me, I'll persuade him, I'll sit before

and whatever it takes for me to understand.

So no this Christ would never and Christ will never withhold

the truth from those who thirst for Living Water.

It's always available. It's always available, let me

give you an example. Don't answer it.

Some of you might anyway just think about it if it slips out.

It's okay. What would you say is the most

popular bible verse ever? I heard it whispered.

John 3:16 yes. You all have thought, right?

John 3:16

Modern history, I would say, John 3:16 John, 3:6 a glorious

John 3:16

truth. But let me tell you this.

Those who know, John 3:16, I don't think many of them know in

John 3:16

what context that was given. I don't think many people, I'm

sure you do know to whom, Jesus revealed that wonderful insight

to, you know, who was Nicodemus. Christ will not withhold the

truth from anybody who desires Living Water, even if he is a

Pharisee. even if he is a Pharisee and Nicodemus was not

just any Pharisee, go to John 3 and closing to see what kind of

Pharisee was John 3 verse 1. Now there was a man of the

John 3:1

Pharisees named Nicodemus. A ruler of the Jews.

Oh, he's not just a Pharisee. He's a leader of the Pharisees

High position. Great respect.

Jesus laters, refers him as a teacher of Israel, a

sought-after Expositor of the law verse 2.

This man came to Jesus by night and said to him.

Rabbi we know that you are a teacher We know that you are a

teacher come from, God, for no one.

Can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.

Unless God is with him. Have you ever wondered why Jesus

revealed? One of the most powerful verses

and all of history? Why Jesus did it with a

Pharisee? That is the last group of people

that I would think Jesus would even have a long honest

conversation with. And yet, here we are.

But before even that look at some of the details about him at

what point did he come? He came by Night?

Some say, well he's being smart here, he wants to find Jesus

when he is not being aggressively pursued a

surrounded by a crowd. I suggest that when you consider

Nicodemus in the whole Gospel of John, where your he's mentioned,

three times that he came at night for much different

purpose. He's afraid He's afraid, he

didn't want to be caught with this controversial Rabbi from

Nazareth. So let me come in the Blackness

of night and let me hide myself and pursue him and hopefully

he'll be willing to speak with me and Jesus knowing all things

I'm sure new igy Nicodemus came by night and you know what

blesses me about this. He's still willing to meet with

him. He's still willing to sit with

him even though an Essence in our estimation, he was a coward.

And he had this worried about being seen by his companions and

his fellow Pharisees. Yet Christ is patient enough to

embrace, Nicodemus it with Nicodemus and meet Nicodemus

where he is at. Have you ever considered the

Great Lengths that Christ is willing to go to meet us?

Where we are at? You go to John 3.

You see, Nicodemus, coming by Night, fear of the other

Pharisees, crawling his way to the truth, embodied in the

person of Christ, then you go. To John chapter 4.

John 4 · chapter mention

And here's Jesus. Now meeting with a woman at a

particular time of the day. And her arrival at the well in

that specific slot of time in the afternoon was also for a

reason because of her shameful reputation, perhaps wanting to

avoid the public scorn or even the deaths, there's of other

woman who would come to the well she comes when it was the least

beneficial time to be able to work hard to get some water and

yet Christ meets her there. He's willing to meet us. even in

the place, where Not praiseworthy, not honorable, at

least fully to him and Jesus was willing to converse with this

man without condemnation but when you look at the darkness,

it wasn't just physical, it was spiritual.

It wasn't just, this man's visit.

It was this man's perception of who Jesus was, he comes up to

the Lord and he says, Rabbi. We know that you are a teacher.

Come from God, Nicodemus, she's much more than that.

He's much more than a teacher. He's much more than a teacher

who can perform some miracles from time to time and already in

our introduction of him. We can perceive that this man is

falling short. He's coming in a sneaky way and

he's Limited in his view of who God is.

But look at this. This guy's a candidate for

rebuke. This guy's a candidate for

rejection. This guy's a candidate for

Christ to say, I'm not wasting my time with you.

You're coming at me at night. Why don't you be a man improve

yourself? Come to me when it's harder to

come to me. Nothing of the sort.

It's with this man that Jesus unveil some of the most glorious

and precious gospel truths that we can share with anybody and

they can understand why why? I'll give you two reasons why?

Look back at how he addresses Jesus.

He says, we know that you are a teacher come from, God for no

one. Can do these signs that you do

unless God is with him. What was the popular Pharisee

opinion about how Jesus could do miracles?

Yeah, he's doing it by the power of Beelzebub.

All this guy is demonic and he's empowered by the prince of

demons. You know what Nicodemus has as a

Pharisee This can't be done. Unless God is with you.

This can't happen unless God is with you.

You know what I learned from Nick and this part of the Bible,

I see an honest man. I see an honest, man.

A man who's not willing to be swayed by popular opinion.

A man who is willing to see what it is and to be able to call it

as it is and say this has to be from God.

And I see that Jesus answers in the way that he does because of

this man's honesty. Remember the Pharisees when they

came to Jesus and they asked him by what Authority do you do

these things? And he goes I love the Lord in

this part of the Bible. Matthew because look I'll answer

a question to you first asked mine.

John's baptism, was it from heaven or made up by man?

These they call back that we say this is going to happen.

We say that that's going to happen.

We don't know. And the Lord looks Amigos.

I can't help you. Neither will I reveal to you by?

What Authority? I do these things.

Jesus can't work with dishonest people.

Jesus doesn't, Jesus doesn't do counseling with dishonest

people. That's in any counseling,

discipleship context. One of the first things I always

say is just be honest with me, just be honest with me, I can't

work with you. If you're dishonest with me or

dishonest with yourself or dishonest about the situation,

be honest. Where do I get that from?

I get that from my Lord. I get that from the Council of

counselors Christ. But here's here is Nicodemus and

he's honest, hey, this has to be connected to God.

This can't be this can't be what they're saying.

But it's not just his honesty. Because when you look at the

rest of the chapter Nicodemus, only says a few more things.

And what's astounding, is, every single thing that he says from

this point on is in the form of a question.

Look at verse 4 Nicodemus said to him.

How can a man be born when he is old?

Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?

That's two questions, Jesus explains.

And they come down to verse 9 Nicodemus said to him, how can

these things be So here's a man who not only approaches Jesus.

Honestly, here's a man who also approaches Jesus with hunger.

I think these are sincere questions, he's not mocking,

he's not scorning, he's genuinely trying to understand.

I don't understand how this all works Born Again.

Does a man go back into his mother's womb and come back out.

What are you speaking about? The wind blows where, how can

these things be and Christ perceiving?

This man's hunger, says, I can work with this.

And he reels him in, and he stays with him and he teaches, I

mean, he gives them more examples from the Old Testament

and he just unpacks the Gospel Mission, the gospel message.

Christ is looking for people who are honest and hungry.

Miracles can take place. When that happens.

And when he speaks with this kind of vocabulary, when he

looks at metaphors and he brings up allegories and all these

things, they are an invitation to the honest and the hungry.

I want to know what that means. I want to know if he's speaking

about me, I want to know if he's speaking about my soul.

I want to know if he's speaking. I want to know what this is, and

for those kind of people Secrets can be revealed.

Can be made known. And so you heard why Jesus spoke

in Parables and few short weeks, we're going to see how this is

not just applicable. To Salvation. that if we as a

people want greater revelation Christ is going to look at what

we're doing with our current revelation.

That's a very important truth. Let me end on a interesting

thought. It's not directly connected but

here's a nugget for you. Great debate about what happened

to Nicodemus. Two other times, you appears in

John. But this thought came that the

last appearance of Nicodemus in the Book of John and I want you

to see it and then we will end Is Nicodemus going to be in

heaven? What did Nicodemus end up doing

with the Revelation that he received?

Well, here's a clue. John 19.

Verse 38, our Lord was crucified. and a man inquired of

his body, so that Unknowingly would fulfill prophecy because

he would put the savior in a tomb.

The tomb of a rich man, as Isaiah 53 says, and John 1938,

we are introduced to that man after these things Joseph of

Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for the fear

of the Jews asked, pilate that he may take away the body of

Jesus and pilate gave him permission.

So he came and took away his body.

All I know about this man from John.

Is that he was a disciple of Jesus, the Holy Spirit.

Would not say that unless it was true.

He was a true disciple of Jesus but I learned something else.

He was a secret disciple. He feared the Jews and I don't

know what the reason for the fear was clearly, it was some

form of persecution. But he here fearing the Jews

comes privately to Pilot when everything is settled and as a

Midnight Mission wants to honor Christ even in his death and

bring him a proper burial. Now here's what's so

interesting. If this man, we are told feared

the Jews then. Why is the next verse?

There. verse 39, Nicodemus also I thought you were afraid of the

Jews. Why are you bringing or allowing

the leader of one of the leaders of the Pharisee party?

To join you to honor Christ in this way unless you have no

reason to fear Nicodemus. Why?

Because maybe he was a disciple of Jesus, too.

Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you

for this morsel of Truth, this afternoon Lord.

It is our desire to know all that your word has to say.

And our prayer is that the answer to the question?

Why did your son used parables? I would have been satisfied this

afternoon. Laura.

See that you are a just God. And that you hold those

accountable who treat the truth, with contempt, who are

determined, no matter what, to destroy the message.

And even the person of Jesus Christ, we see that you use

Parables as an act of divine judgment against those who are

settled in their unbelief below. We also see that it is a

double-edged sword for it. Invites the honest and the

hungry to know what you have to say.

And Lord our prayer as application to this message is

that we would be a people who would continually hunger and

continually be honest. Before you and before your word.

That's our desire. Lord, as we stand to Worship,

You may come from a heart that has been awakened by the wisdom

of God by the love of God, by the Holiness of God.

For you are worthy. Of all honor and praise in Jesus

name, we pray. Amen, let's Stand Together,

shall we?