The Living Parable: Witnessing Divine Love in Action (02/18/'24)

The Living Parable: Witnessing Divine Love in Action In the living tapestry of moments, where actions weave patterns more vivid than words, the followers of Jesus beheld a spectacle of deeds that spoke louder than any parable. Amidst the throng of life’s theater, they stood as privileged witnesses to the unfolding of divine narratives, not through veiled stories but through the clarity of action. The question arose, not from confusion, but from a place of deep seeking, a desire to understand the contrast between the spoken parable and the lived example. They observed, in the tangible expressions of love, healing, and compassion, a language beyond words, a sermon delivered through the hands and feet of the Divine. Jesus, in His walk among them, did not rely on parables to convey the essence of His message to those closest to Him. For them, the parable was lived out in real-time, each miracle a verse, each act of kindness a metaphor, each gesture of forgiveness a lesson more potent than the most intricately woven story. The disciples’ inquiry was a reflection of their journey from hearing to seeing, from pondering parables to witnessing the Word made flesh. In their privileged position, they were afforded a glimpse into the heart of the kingdom, not as a riddle to be solved but as a reality to be experienced. This is the crux of their unique journey with Jesus: a transition from the abstract to the concrete, from the theoretical to the practical. In the very life of Jesus, they found the answers to their deepest questions, not shrouded in mystery but revealed in the day-to-day walking, talking, and breaking of bread. Thus, the reason behind their question becomes clear: a yearning to bridge the gap between the spoken word and the living Word, to understand not just with the mind but with the heart and soul, the full dimension of what it means to follow in the footsteps of the one who spoke the universe into being and yet chose to walk among them, a living parable of divine love in action. -Pastor Steven G. Lee (February 18, 2024)