The majority of sincere Christians assume that the three-and-a-half-year ministry of Jesus was to convert as many people as possible. But, if carefully analyzing Scriptures, the mission of Jesus was not focused on converting everyone. The miracles, including healing and the profound knowledge of Scriptures, revealed Jesus as the Messiah—according to the Hebrew prophesies.
Such prophecies were obsessed with establishing God’s Kingdom, on the entire planet earth. The ruled people would have no choice over the one ruling over them. To the multitudes, Jesus preached in parables for the following reasons:
“And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. And he said to them, ‘To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, so that ‘they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven’” (Mark 4:10-12) (ESV).
Apparently, Jesus states that the secret of God’s Kingdom cannot be revealed to outsiders, but only to those of the inner circle. The specific purpose of parable usage, was for the reason that outsiders should not understand.
As the same yesterday, today and forever, Jesus continues to hide that secret, to the majority. Nothing is plainer than that—unless the reader wants to misdirect the intended meaning, for something else. The most significant factor is that Jesus is the Messiah, whose mission is to save humanity.
But, the folly is in assuming that the secrecy in God’s Kingdom could simply be understood by everybody. While the intention of this article is to reveal the secret, the outsiders will continue to remain occluded. Even if plain, the outsiders can never understand the secret of God’s Kingdom.
I cannot be guilty of condescension—as revealing the guarded secret. Nevertheless, the only one who reveals remains to be Jesus. The blinding factor grips those who Jesus chooses not to reveal the secret. The majority of people in this world get obsessed with profiles and credentials of those that Jesus is using—thereby, failing to comprehend.
This article answers the simple question on why Jesus sought to occlude His message to the general public. The revelation cannot be accessed by people who Jesus does not intend that they should understand. But, if Jesus desires to save the entire humanity, why does He appear as discriminative?
This answer is important, because without it, Christianity gets invalidated. There were many people who followed Jesus, on reason that they had received value from Him. The majority of them had observed their loved ones being healed of physical ailments, such as blindness and other diseases. However, their love of Jesus is different from those forsaking everything to follow Him:
“Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:25-33) (ESV).
The entire gospel is premised on this particular Scripture. Those attempting to follow Jesus, assume being sincere. But the difference lies in their attachment to Jesus. They are only driven by the advantages derived from Him. What Jesus said is not parabolic—though totally confusing to pretenders.
Jesus said a fact that can only be understood by those of the inner circle. There is no physical advantage in following Jesus—although most people assume that there is advantage. Leaving everything to follow Christ is not different from death. Indeed, the majority cannot be willing to forsake everything to follow Christ.
There are many factors that keep such people away from accessing information—as not intended for them. But the composite truth remains in that Jesus enables those, to whom revelation is intended. This exposes the entire Christian community, as known to fill the entire globe, today.
A great number of those subscribing to Christianity, feel proud of being Christians. Those people would dogmatically assert to how much they love Jesus—as assuming to be His true followers. They compare their actions to those who do not believe in Jesus.
As sponsored by Jesus, the secret of the Kingdom is not accessible to billions of the internet users. What is published on this website cannot be consumed by the majority of such random readers. Nevertheless, I will not be evasive in stating what is intended for the inner circle, on this website.
The prerogative to enable those whom Jesus is calling, cannot be mine. This is why it may not even be possible for me to convince my own wife and children, to understand, for instance. The parents of Jesus are not recorded as having been among the inner circle of those who followed Jesus.
The only one accorded the ability to reveal the secret of God’s Kingdom is Jesus. He can use the most charismatic preacher to shake the entire nation. But those that Jesus does not intend for their comprehension of the secret of the Kingdom, will remain blind.
Jesus can also use those considered as unintelligent, or unacceptable of society. Yet enabling those of His inner circle to comprehend the secret of the Kingdom. That secret of the Kingdom lies in one factor—as revealed by John the Baptism:
“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’” (John 1:29) (ESV).
The majority cannot understand what the sin of the world comprises. I used to assume that everyone knew. But after taking an analytical observation, I realized that the majority of the people do not know what the sin of the world entails.
Ironically, most of those committed to diligent service in their denominations, get firmly established into the sin of the world. The more comfortable they are, the more confused they become. These are the people, popularly regarded as true Christians, but disqualified by Jesus:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (Matthew 7:21-23) (ESV)
Another factor that serves to enlighten, is that those of the inner circle are not necessarily from a single nation. Ordinarily, Christianity is assumed to be a Western religion. But those of the inner circle may not necessarily have anything to do with the West. They diversely come from the entire world:
“And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’ But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.
“But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:1-14) (ESV).
The question that arises from this parable is what happens to that man, found without a wedding garment? This is compounded by what is said in verse 14… If many are called—why should only a few be chosen…? This, being a parable—the majority get tripped on the aspect of one person being found without a wedding garment. Yet only a few are chosen, among many.
Notice carefully, that the servants were sent to invite people, randomly, after the close relatives had disregarded the invitation. The diversity of those people disregards their background, or connection with the one inviting them. They may not even have any religious background, whatsoever.
The referred parable is packed with information showing that the invitees are not expected to do anything, except enjoying the provisions of the festival. Such provisions include the free wedding garment. A garment is necessary for covering nakedness. This is why people feel good and comfortable, when wearing clothes of their own choice, and driving cars of their own choice.
Such choices induce good feelings, among their fellows. But, at the bottom of it lies the hidden sense of pride. The respect that we receive from other people is what we eagerly pursue, as human beings. A person feels good when respected and treated with honor—especially when in such important occasions as esteemed wedding festivals.
But, how many people in this world are willing to downgrade themselves—as to accept being dressed by others? What occludes other people from God’s Kingdom can be likened to how difficult it can be, to assume humility. We come from a civilization that seeks to categorize people, according to rank and background. No-one wants to be degraded.
Yet, that is the only problem that brings chaos in this world. People aspire to be in positions of authority. But, God created us all in His own image. There is no-one inferior and there is no-one superior. The sin of this world that Jesus dealt with, makes it impossible to see that reality.
“Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted’” (Luke 14:7-12) (ESV).
Nevertheless, there is a special reason why Jesus does not want to reveal the secret of God’s Kingdom to those not yet ready. He does not want to expose the naïve people to the danger of being spewed by God (Revelations 3:15-16). This is what makes God’s love immeasurable.
Those repenting without counting the costs get exposed to the sin of blaspheming—implying receiving the Holy Spirit before becoming ready. Jesus said it becomes impossible for them to be redeemed, in this age or in the age to come (Matthew 12:31-32).
These parables are intended for those of the inner circle. When invited to be with those of the inner circle, one’s humility should not be questionable. The sin of the world that Jesus came to purge is associated with self-exaltation—which is pride.
The mother of John and James requested Jesus to grant that her sons remain closest to Jesus in His Kingdom. Jesus was not only unimpressed by that kind of request—but He used it to reveal what remains hidden, even in our time. The allocation of positions is God’s prerogative:
“And he said to her, ‘What do you want?’ She said to him, ‘Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.’ Jesus answered, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?’ They said to him, ‘We are able.’ He said to them, ‘You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father’” (Matthew 20:21-23) (ESV).
This is collaborated in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians:
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:4-7) (ESV).
If God empowers—from where do those ecclesiastical leaders get the authority to allocate positions in their denominations? Commonly, those esteemed clerical leaders would say God spoke to them in Spirit. But, Jesus—the author of Christianity—never allocated positions, among His disciples. He specifically instructed His disciples to always abide by the following Scripture:
“But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:8-12) (ESV).
I suppose this information cannot be appreciable among Christian structures, as known today? Chances are that the majority of those people cannot be attracted to continue reading such information? It is impossible for those not meant to be of the inner circle to understand what is said in this presentation.
Possibly, only in a few instances, has Christ’s message been accepted among groupings. But to those of the inner circle—to whom Jesus intends instruct this message—nothing can be complicated. Those people are willing to sell everything to adopt Christ’s message, as revealed on this website.
Such people do not give praises to individuals, except God alone. They are able to distinguish between what comes from God and what comes from humans. They do not consider the background of the person providing the message. They are, virtually, unselective of those God chooses to use to communicate His message.
If, even Jesus could not know those who God could choose to sit on His right hand—how can anyone of this world know? It takes only those of the inner circle to comprehend these mysteries. The rest will ever be hearing, but never understanding. Ever seeing, but never perceiving.
The work of Jesus, takes away the sin of the world—which brought humanity to the state of current sinfulness. That sin carries the idea that one is wiser than everyone else—inducing the inclination of the sin of pride. It is impossible for anyone to understand secrecy, in God’s Kingdom—though Jesus can make it possible.
Christ’s mission introduces God’s Kingdom. Everything started with Jesus Himself—followed by early disciples and those of today. God’s people are preaching this gospel into the entire world, before Christ’s second-coming (Matthew 24:14). But only those of the inner circle—willing to forsake everything—will comprehend.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, bringing reliefs to those having witnessed strings of unworkable solutions––leading to the current economic and social decay. In a simple conversational tone, most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long awaited providential oasis of hope.
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