For generations people have been building bridges to make that which had previously been inaccessible become accessible. There are physical bridges which help people get from one location to another, and there are relational bridges that can provide access to the heart of another person. Through the bridge of love, we connect to others, learn who they are, and reveal ourselves.
In a similar way, the Father in His love built a bridge to Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ. The Scriptures state that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. The Son is our bridge to the Father. (Jn. 3:16-17; 14:9-10; 2 Cor. 5:18-19)
Jesus built bridges to the Father for those who followed Him and listened to His teaching. He often did this through the use of parables. Brad H. Young wrote the following in his book The Parables, Jewish Tradition and Christian Interpretation. 1
The reality of God is revealed in the word-pictures of a parable. Jesus and the rabbis of old taught about God by using concrete illustrations that reach the heart through imagination. They challenged the mind on the highest intellectual level by using simple stories that made common sense out of the complexities of religious faith and human experience… In the creative genius of the parable teacher’s imagination, the listener is catching glimpses of the divine character.
Jesus’ parables make up about one third of His recorded teaching. They are some of the most memorable aspects of what Jesus taught, including the Ten Talents, the Good Samaritan, and the Prodigal Son. These parables are available for us to learn about our Father and traverse into His heart. Let us continually take advantage of the bridges that God through Christ has made available for us.
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1. Brad Young, The Parables, Jewish Tradition and Christian Interpretation (Peabody Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 1998), 3 – 5.
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