Parables and Miracles Flashcards
(9 cards)
what is a parable
Parable is a story, that has a cutting edge to it and presents a vivid image that stays in the memory. It is used to teach, because they usually have a strong moral message.
what is a miracle
Miracle is an act which only God can perform, usually superseding natural laws.
parables
Parables are meant to be open ended so as to engender doubt in the hearer’s mind. In turn this doubt should fuel active reflection on what this parable means for me at this point in time and what it says about the reign of God at work in creation.
the nature of parables
Jesus always began with the familiar, He drew from the everyday fabric of life. In doing so He highlighted the fact that nothing is outside the realm of God. The sacred is to be found in the profane.
Their depth did not stop at familiar, the parables Jesus preached were never meant to be pleasant little stories.
what did the Palestinians think of the parables
To the first century Palestinian’s ears however these parables were challenging and uncomfortable. Jesus would take the listener along a journey and just at that point where the listener could predict the direction in which the story would go, Jesus would turn the story completely on its head. It disturbs the listener because inherent to the parable is the implied challenge to view your own life in light of the story.
interpreting parables
Providing an interpretation of a parable is like explaining the punchline of a joke. Like symbol, parables speak to different people in differing ways within different circumstances. However, because the context of the parables is so dependent on the cultural and social circumstances in which they were first spoke, an understanding of those circumstances is vital to gain a full understanding of the depth of the parable.
three stage pattern
Advent; what people expect
Reversal of Expectation; what Jesus says
New vision and action; how people must change
three fold structure
Miracles have a three-fold structure:
problem –> action –> reaction
This helps us to understand the purpose and meaning of miracle stories.
