In Jesus' life when interacting with
the crowds who came for healing, and to hear
this Rabbi with authority to lift
their heads up high, to know God's rule was near..
Mark writes1 for us a summ-ar-y of some
stuff that he did and said at times like this:
The crowd that gathered round, these folk who'd come
to him now was so large (not many missed),
that he got in a boat, sat on a ledge
in it, out on the lake, while people were
along the shore beside the water’s edge.
Mark told us earlier2 the reason for
this was 'coz there were so man-y who'd come.
Kept folk from being crushed, as groups pushed in.
It helped them order up, gave space (and some
things like - they'd cool down, better list-en-in').
He taught them many things, not one or two,
by parables, analogies, and such
and in his teaching said a word (not new),
that meant to try to understand or touch
the meaning, with some action that ensued.
The hebrew word behind the Arama-
-ic one he prob'ly said, was daily used.
In prayers each eve'ning/morning they would say
this word, in quoting God's word to "his son".
It was Shema, and meant all that above,
But in the Greek of everyday life, one
might say Ἀκούετε3 yet think of "love"
of God, because "Shema" became the name
of that first, great, command they said each day.
Thus many nuances might come from same
word: listen, see and understand, obey.
Mark follows this with stories, likenesses,
that Jesus’ used about events around
but treating them as metaphors he says
"These things are like the rule of God, I've found."
He seems to see this life as picturing
the deeper things, dimensions still untapped.
He'd finish urging folk to "get" these things.
‘Your ears were meant to hear, they're not just slapped
on side of head, to hold some bling upon,
or hang some shades that make you look real cool,
so use them for their prime'ry purpose son;
or in the end, you'll really be a fool"
then Mark continues telling us his ways,
by summarizing with this statement now:
“With many similar parables he sáys
God's message to this people, so somehow
they might be hooked, and come to hear and see,
and understand, and stand under the rule
of such a one who made and loves us; we
might know that love, instead of being fooled.
Then Mark spells out his method without doubt,
and says what he has shown us just before
"He didn't say a thing to them without
a parable. But.." there was something more ..
"when he was on his own, alone with his
own students (or disciples, as they'd say,
I'd prob'ly use the word "apprentices"),
he'd help them understand - to tell, his way!"4
Mark 4: 1f & similarly Matthew - in chapter 13
Mark 3:7-10
https://bible.com/bible/156/mrk.4.3.SBLG
Mark 4:33f
Regarding Jesus' teaching to the crowds, Mark (ch 4, & similarly Matthew - in chapter 13) writes for us:
“The crowd that gathered round him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. 2 He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: "Listen! …"” (Mark 4: 1f)
Mark follows this with about 5 of Jesus’ parables (about events and happenings in everyday life around them) which finish with commands, or encouragements to listen, like: .‘Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear. (v9,26-26)’ then Mark makes this statement:
“With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.” (Mark 4:33f)