Jesus used metaphors drawn from nature and stories to teach people about who He was, who God was, and what the kingdom of God was about. His teaching style is fascinating to study. Jesus was very different from what his listeners conceptualized God to be. He did not use lofty language and grand proclamations in his preaching and teaching. He stayed away from intellectual arguments. His simple lessons were ones people could relate to, taught in stories all could understand, and most importantly, spoke to the conditions of their hearts.
In two of the gospels, writers Matthew and Luke narrate Jesus’ efforts to encourage his followers to think about lilies, how they grow. Without much effort on their part, lilies appear resplendent and beautiful in the world. To the Jewish people of the dusty province of Galilee, King Solomon was legendary. Stories of King Solomon’s fame, his achievements, his wealth and gold, his lavish lifestyle, his numerous wives and children, and his poetry and godly wisdom surely took root in their imaginations as they were passed down through the generations. King Solomon, larger than life, would have been culturally embedded in their minds and hearts as the epitome of human splendor and majestic glory. He was greater than all the kings in the earth in both possessions and wisdom.
Within this common understanding, Jesus says a startling thing. A simple, yet unique flower possesses a beauty that far surpasses the splendor and wisdom of Israel’s greatest king. Jesus tells the crowd that God dresses the lily with so much beauty it outshines the full array of Solomon’s glory.
Jesus’ message is timeless, speaking powerfully into lives over the centuries. These ancient words remind his followers today to consider the lilies. How they grow. And how they do not have to work to burst out in shimmering color. And the reason for that.
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Into the fray
I don’t know what you think of Paul, the last of the Apostles. He can be quite a polarizing figure. Once a prominent, powerful Jew, using his ruthless power to quell the “rebellion” of followers of the Way…then dramatically changed into a follower of the Way. And Paul was not just a simple follower of
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My Right Arm
Have you ever had a moment when you are reading something – say, the Bible – and an image or a word jumps out at you, vividly? (I hope it’s happened to you, because, it happened to me. And it’s a cool experience. Read on.) The image that impressed me was an arm. Yes, a
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It’s Not About Me??!
But now, sadly, “it’s not about me” is losing its zip. Partly because it’s been used too often or too glibly.
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Lessons in Gardening: John 15
OK, it’s mid-August. I wish my daylilies looked like this picture. But unfortunately that is not the case. It’s been a hot and dry summer, not a lot of rain, and much of my perennial garden reflects these inhospitable growing conditions – brown, dusty plants in the garden instead of colorful, vibrant, flowering stalks. In
Consider the Lilies 
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