Last night I finished Matthew and began reading Mark.
That gospel is kind of cute, because everything happens, like, immediately! Right away! Whatever happens to be happening, Jesus- or anyone else!- is just right there, Johnny on the spot.
I was curled up on the bed, reading. It was as though I were reading with Jesus, His head close to mine as we read together.
"To what shall we liken the Kingdom of God?" Jesus asked, in a musing voice, His eyes alight with the quiet pleasure of the storyteller. "Or with what parable shall we picture it?"
"To what?" I asked Him, feeling cozy and happy. "To what shall we compare it, Jesus?"
To a mustard seed, it turns out.
"...which," Jesus said to me, His voice so quietly captivating, "when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds of the earth; but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade."
I pondered this lovely image for a bit, and then we read on.
We reached the part about the man of the tombs, who begs to follow Jesus, and Jesus did not permit him.
I was lost in thought at this, thinking that, if that were me, I would have left for home just brokenly sobbing, dejected.
I saw myself stumbling around through the tombs, heading home, unable to see for my tears and wondering about why I could not come with Him.
I did not say that to you, Jesus reminded me, interrupting my thoughts with His loving humor.
Love flowed through me, releasing me from my thoughts. I took a deep breath of relief and yielded back into Jesus' loving presence.
"No," I said happily remembering. "You did not say that to me. You will always be close to me."
I was always close to him, Jesus told me, and delight and wonder filled me again.
"Of course You were!" I agreed, realizing it. "He would have left and found You living in and loving him, right in his heart, all his life."
*******
He said to them, “A lamp is not brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed, is it? Is it not [brought in] to be put on the lampstand? For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been kept secret, but that it would come to light [that is, things are hidden only temporarily, until the appropriate time comes for them to be known]. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear and heed My words.” Then He said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear. By your own standard of measurement [that is, to the extent that you study spiritual truth and apply godly wisdom] it will be measured to you [and you will be given even greater ability to respond]—and more will be given to you besides. For whoever has [a teachable heart], to him more [understanding] will be given; and whoever does not have [a yearning for truth], even what he has will be taken away from him.”
Mark 4:21-25, AMP