Mark 4:30 And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?

Do you find it strange that Jesus would say this in the middle of three parables which compare earthly things with the kingdom? Think of this then, the kingdom itself is an image of an earthly thing. These things have been given so that we can in some way relate to something we have nothing to compare it with in the world.

Isaiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

At the time of this saying in Isaiah the heavens were only that which could be seen with the human eye. They had no way of knowing at that time the scope and vastness of God’s creation. Now we see endless space that is so far reaching that the size of it boggles the best of minds. God’s Word is still true, it just got bigger in scope and complexity.

Yet compare we do, because we desire to understand and we can only relate to things we can see, touch and investigate. Paul tells us in Romans 8 that our present sufferings are not worthy to be compared to the glory to come. Suffering is something we can relate to because it is a human experience. Glory on the other hand is the essence of who God is in power and performance.

If you consider these two things to be true in God’s word, why do we continue to try and understand that which is incomprehensible in human terms?

Because it makes us feel better.

And so since these things make us feel better, Jesus spoke in parables and explained them to His disciples so that we all could be comforted.