There are seven parables in the heart of the Gospel according to Matthew. Jesus presents the parables and, it seems, that the entire grand story of redemption and the world itself can be found in them! It is amazing how Jesus presents the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven in these parables. You can watch the previous episode here; or you can request a chart that I believe will help you to understand the mysteries of all seven parables here.

But I would like to tell you another parable that demonstrates the message of the Matthew 13 parables in a nutshell.

I once read the story about a caterpillar named Stripe. He became bored with just crawling around in a field. One day, when he was looking off into the distance, he saw a pillar of caterpillars climbing into the sky.

He thought, “Maybe that’s what caterpillars are supposed to do – climb caterpillar pillars.” He got on the caterpillar pillar and started to climb up. The only way to do that was to step on other caterpillars’ heads, so he kept pushing his way up.

On his way up, he stepped on the head of a little yellow caterpillar that was very pretty. He said to her, “Maybe it would be better not to climb this caterpillar pillar, but to go back to the field and just live happily together.” The two of them worked their way down the caterpillar pillar into the field. After a while, Stripe said, “I’m going to go back up the caterpillar pillar and see what’s up there.” She said, I can’t go back up that,” so Stripe left her.

Lonely, the pretty yellow caterpillar was crawling around in a field when she saw a caterpillar spinning a cocoon. She asked, “Why are you doing that?” The caterpillar said, “Because I’m going to die.” She said, “Why do you want to die?” “Because if I die, I will be born again as a butterfly,” he replied.

She thought about that for a long time. Finally, she decided she’d be willing to die and be born as a butterfly. She realized that if she did that, she wouldn’t have to climb the caterpillar pillar; she could fly over the top and look down to see what was up there. She spun a cocoon and died, and became born as a butterfly.

She flew over to the caterpillar pillar and found Stripe, very close to the top of the pillar. But a caterpillar underneath him pushed him off, making him fall of the pillar. But before Stripe could hit the ground, she rescued him. Later on, Stripe spun a cocoon and became a butterfly too.

What does that story say? It says that if you’re willing to spiritually die, you can be born again as a Christian. That is the message of the parables. If you accept what Jesus did for you – if you accept His sacrifice and listen to Him – you are a part of His kingdom.

The Kingdom is precious, hidden, personally appropriated, joyous, and entered from different circumstances. But always the price is to abandon one’s self to receive the supreme sovereignty of Jesus Christ who left all that He had to save you!

On next week’s study, we’ll take a look through six more parables of Matthew 13. To prepare, we take a look through a few of those parables and find a surprising theme they all share.

Then a balloon was filled with a very small amount of air and passed over the flame as before. This one took a little longer to pop and didn’t send shredded balloon pieces flying, but it was still not able to withstand the heat. Finally, a balloon filled with water was held over the flame in the same manner as the others had been, but with strikingly different results. This balloon didn’t pop. Because of the substance it held, it stood fast.

This illustration reminded me of something we studied recently on CrossConnection. In Matthew 12 we explored servanthood and what humility really means. Jesus was the perfect example of humility. He was divinity, yet He sought to serve rather than seeking the recognition of men.

Even people who strive to be righteous and follow God are not able to do so in their own strength. Our pious acts of self-denial and ritual, are not bringing us closer to God, but rather creating barriers.

As Sergio commented during the last program: “The key is that strength doesn’t come from us, humility helps get us out of the way so that we can truly be a temple of the Holy Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 6:19 says: “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” (NKJV)

Just as Herod’s temple was cleansed and renewed, yet didn’t contain the Spirit of God, our acts of selflessness are never going to be enough. It’s not about what we’re not doing, or what we aren’t filled with. It’s about Who we’re filled with, about who is dwelling in us and how that is reflected in our lives. It’s not just about not doing the wrong things, it’s about being filled with the right things. We need to be filled with the Spirit rather than thinking ourselves to be holy because of our actions.

Just as we saw with the balloon demonstration, no matter how hard we try to empty ourselves, we will not be able to reflect God or withstand the trials we face without being filled with God’s Spirit. John 1:14 says: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” Jesus dwelt among us and now desires to dwell in us through His Spirit. Let us ask Him fill us today.

Editor’s Note: The following post is from Constantine Kulakov. He is a student at Washington Adventist University. We are pleased to welcome him as a contributor to the Cross Connection website.

There is only one instance that records Jesus as writing. It is the story of the woman caught in adultery. With an onslaught of questions aimed to corner Him, Jesus stooped down and wrote in the sand. The woman was forgiven. The wind blew the words into nothingness. And to this day, we do not know what our Christ wrote in that Palestinian sand.

Thus, from very early on, we realize that Christ stresses the Spirit over the Letter. This is dramatized in the story of the Samaritan woman: “But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth… For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23). And “So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven” (Matthew 12:31). This is because “the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:6).

At this time of international, partisan, and inter-religious hostility, when clashing ideologies and agendas are rampant, it is time that we reflect on the consequences of the Spirit of God. Instead of advancing with the weapons of stronger religious ideologies and words, it is time that we are reborn of the Spirit, living according to this Spirit with our actions and not just our words. Again, Jesus was not just a preacher, but a living sacrifice Himself. Paul writes, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Colossians 2:6-7).

But this demands a radical humility. Christ tells in the Gospel of John, “The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit” (John 3:8). Thus, the time is ripe that we approach the stranger (whether they are of a different subculture, political party or religion) knowing they may be responding to the Spirit of God more than we are. For it is as wind. Paul writes, “Even the Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts” (Romans 2:14)

Now as ever, we are in an age of prejudice through words. We are prepared to isolate ourselves from other cultures, political bodies, and religious bodies based on words, and most dangerously, in the name of God. We want to feel we posses more truth, more God, limiting God and each other with words so as to build ourselves up. But fortunately, God is beyond all words. He is Spirit, like wind. And nothing can separate Him from His love for all of humanity. “Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:11-21).“God is Spirit” (John 4:23). And like wind, He blows wherever He wants. If we fully reflect on these words before we advance to our “enemy,” whether they are an enemy soldier, a person of a rival faith, a church member with differing views, let us remind ourselves that the Spirit of God may dwell in them because the Law is “written in their hearts” (Romans 2:14). Our duty is to, as a community of different cultures, political parties and religions, call each other to reflect this Spirit of God more fully, not just by our words, but by the example of our actions.

Remember, we may never know what our Christ wrote in that Palestinian sand. But we do know that Christ, demonstrated, by his actions, as James Londis said, that the “path to power is through weakness, the path to glorify is through humility, the path to life is through death.”

• Its digits add up to 7. Like 61 (6+1=7) or 232 (2+3+2=7).
• It has two digits. Like 12 or 95.
• It’s a perfect square–that is, it equals a number times itself. Like 9 (3×3) or 100 (10×10).
• It’s less than 20.

Can you figure it out?

Notice, each relation helps us figure out what this mystery number is. Similarly, Jesus gave us relations between himself and historical entities to help us understand who he is. Thus Matthew 12 presents three statements describing Jesus as “greater than…”

Greater than the temple

The context: Jesus’ disciples have been accused of unlawful activity on the Sabbath. Granted, they had just plucked some grain for a snack, but the Pharisees construed it as harvesting and hence a form of work. Jesus replies:

“Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? I tell you, something greater than the temple is here.” (Matt. 12:5,6)

He’s referring to the fact that priests had work to perform on Sabbath; namely, they handled Sabbath sacrifices (see Numbers 28:9). The Pharisees had accepted that this was necessary temple work, similar to how present day churches need pastors to preach on Sabbath. If the work is necessary for the temple–the site of divinity among humanity–of course it was appropriate.

Hence Jesus defends his disciples by explaining he is greater than the temple. Christ is the true site where divinity intersects humanity, so let his disciples work!

Greater than Jonah

Asked for a sign, Jesus responds.

“For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.” (Matt. 12:40,41)

Jonah’s experience in the fish’s belly is both a historical event and a preview of what Christ would experience. Jonah records: “I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice” (Jonah 2:2).

Likewise on the cross, “Jesus cried out with a loud voice… ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” By faith, Jesus must have clung to the promise of Jonah–“and he answered me”–until he received the confirmation three days later.

But not all accepted Jesus as Messiah. Even the wicked city of Nineveh had acknowledged Jonah’s testimony; how tragic that some would fail to recognize the one greater than Jonah.

Greater than Solomon

Jesus reiterates this tragedy:

“The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.” (Matt. 12:42)

Great rulers traveled far to hear Solomon’s wisdom. But now, those present in Israel were rejecting the one who had given Solomon his wisdom.
Jesus is greater than the temple, greater than Jonah, and greater than Solomon. These relations inform us to his identity. Then we make a choice. How will we respond?

Why did Jesus refer to himself as the Son of Man instead of plainly stating that He was the Son of God? I would like to suggest that we take a closer look at the meaning of this title and try to solve this riddle together.

First of all Jesus is referred to as the “Son of Man” 82 times in the Gospels and each time it is Jesus who is using the phrase. For instance, in Matthew 12:8 Jesus says, “For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” Why didn’t he say, “For the Son of God is Lord even of the Sabbath”? In the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) Jesus did not refer to himself as the Son of God. Demons acknowledged that He was the Son of God (Mat. 8:29), his disciples stated that he was the Son of God (Mat. 14:33), Mark even starts His Gospel saying that he was the Son of God (Mark 1:1). But Jesus preferred to use the term the Son of Man. That is very peculiar.

In ancient history, kings and emperors such as Alexander the Great and others referred to themselves as Sons of God. In fact, in the time of Jesus the title “the son of the divine one” (divi filius) was associated with Roman emperors. Kings and rulers being humans were trying to prove that they have some sort of relationship with gods. But Jesus is not trying to prove a fact. He is the Son of God. Instead, he alludes to the vision of Daniel in Daniel 7:13-14:

“I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.” 

In Daniel 7 we read about 4 kingdoms that are represented by the beasts, then we read about ten horns and a little horn. All those kingdoms are temporary, but the Kingdom of the Son of Man is everlasting, it “shall not pass away” and it “shall not be destroyed.” Jesus is the King and that is why he was preaching about his kingdom. If you are his friend, you will enjoy his kingdom!

There is another, I think, very important point that should not be overlooked. Without a doubt Jesus is the Son of God. Even the central text of the Gospels tells about it, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). But Jesus is so concerned about human beings that he even wants to identify with them. Despite the fact that he is the true Son of God, he says that he is just like me, he is the son of human being. It is an amazing example of humility from the King who wants to be equal with me, so that he can save me.

I would like to conclude with a true story from John Dickson’s book Humilitas: A Lost Key to Life, Love, and Leadership: 

Three young men hopped on a bus in Detroit in the 1930s and tried to pick a fight with a lone man sitting at the back of the vehicle. They insulted him. He didn’t respond. They turned up the heat of the insults. He said nothing. Eventually, the stranger stood up.

He was bigger than they had estimated from his seated position — much bigger. He reached into his pocket, handed them his business card and walked off the bus and then on his way. As the bus drove on the young men gathered around the card to read the words: Joe Louis. Boxer. They had just tried to pick a fight with the man who would be Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World from 1937 to 1949, the number one boxer of all time, according to the International Boxing Research Organization (second on the list is Muhammad Ali).

Here is a man of immense power and skill, capable of defending his honour with a single, devastating blow. Yet, he chooses to forgo his status and hold his power for others — in this case, for some very fortunate young men…

The Son of God who is God was full of humility and a servant-like spirit. He took on human nature, He made Himself of no reputation, He referred to Himself as the Son of Man, He was not ashamed of bearing that title. He humbled Himself to the point of death. That is truly Amazing!