Did anyone in the crowd raise their hand or shout out an answer when Jesus asked, What is the kingdom of God like? And to what should we compare it?

I’ve always imagined a pin-drop atmosphere, everyone on the edge of their seat waiting for the Teacher’s answer. 

But for argument’s sake, let’s imagine the vibe was relaxed and the crowd was chatty. I still can’t picture anyone piping up with an answer. In fact, I imagine that if Jesus paused and looked around for volunteers, more than a few folks would be staring at their laps. And I’d expect a similar response today. 

The kingdom is neither easy to understand nor simple to articulate. Dallas Willard did it in 500 pages. I’m attempting to do it here in 500 words… Yesterday that felt impossible, so I gave up and took a nap!

Living under God’s governance does not require complete comprehension — that’s a relief. And yet our desire to comprehend God’s rule indicates something about our heart’s readiness to receive it. To ​“seek first the kingdom,” we must first seek to understand it, as best we can. 

Thankfully, Jesus went to great lengths to develop our picture of the kingdom with image-rich stories. The word parable means to throw something down alongside another thing. When trying to make sense of elusive spiritual realities, parallel images or stories can help us get a grip on slippery concepts.

Jesus’ kingdom parables cover a surprising number of questions that still cross our minds: Is the king a good guy? Do you have to give something up in order to come in? Does the kingdom transform you all at once, or is it a process? 

Some of Jesus’ stories highlight the wonderful ripple effects of God’s rule growing in a person’s life. Others paint the picture in reverse — when people reject God’s governance because they aren’t willing to give up doing things their own way, that choice comes at a cost.

As we soak in Jesus’ illustrations, we might be able to engage more creatively and personally with that question he asked. What kind of story would you tell to explain God’s reign coming on earth? 

How about this… The kingdom of God is like a kitchen cabinet. I had a baking cupboard that I surrendered to my daughter’s control, and she transformed it from a chaotic mess into a realm of order, beauty, and goodness. Aha! A real-life parallel that gives me a bit more insight into how God’s kingdom grows, cabinet by cabinet, as I hand over more of my life to the renovating rule of heaven. (I tell more of the cabinet story in our newest Guidepage video.)

I invite you to try your hand at crafting a parable too. If you feel like sharing, you’re welcome to reply to this email. But even if you keep it private, think of it as a spiritual practice — a way to ​“seek first the kingdom” by endeavoring to understand. 

And if you get frustrated, take a nap. At the end of the day it’s not articulating the kingdom that matters, but receiving it. So hold onto these good words from our Lord Jesus: ​“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32).