Words

1. Why did Jesus often hide His message in metaphors, parables and paradoxes?

He wanted to improve people's thinking and remembering. When we encounter a truth in one of these forms our first reaction is to puzzle out what it means. Once we have discovered that, the truth is much easier to remember. For example, Jesus explained the paradox of life through death by pointing to the grain of wheat. When it germinates new life sprouts from its death. Likewise, Jesus died so that we can have eternal life. Just by visualizing the seed, we immediately understand and remember the truth that we received eternal life through Christ's death.

2. Why did Jesus speak gently with some people and harshly to others?

When Jesus reached out to the sinner and the afflicted He was gentle and forgiving, making it easy for them to grab the rope He was casting out to them. When He addressed the false religion of the Pharisees He was harsh in His warnings, and when He spelled out the demands for true discipleship He was strict with His disciples.