Same Message Different Outcome

10-6-2009
Same Message Different Outcome

When getting my psychology degree in college we used to look at pictures with the question attached; what do you see? It was very interesting because depending on how you looked at the picture you would see a totally different object. For example, two people would look at the same exact picture yet one person would see a lady while the other person would see a bird. What’s even crazier is it’s just a black and white picture. It’s not 3D or even in color; just a simple picture with two totally different messages.

Jesus spoke in parables so that his followers would hear a different message than those that weren’t following him. He wanted all those thought genuinely sought him to hear the message he was preaching, while those that didn’t have any desire to follow him wouldn’t understand. Although he wanted everyone to hear the good news, there were some that simply didn’t have the purity to follow, therefore the parables were nothing more than stories to this group. Those that were hungry to have a relationship with Christ were able to be fed through the parables, and at the same time Jesus’ enemies couldn’t find a stronghold.

Matthew 13:10-17 says the following:
“10The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?”11He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 13This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 14In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: " 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.'16But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

What picture do you see? In other words, genuinely look for Christ and seek his council? Those that truly seek Christ will find him. The world looks different in the eyes of a follower of Christ!

Application:
1. Read Matthew 13:1-17
2. What picture do you see?