Mark 4 When People don’t “Get It”

With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.

Mk 4.33 

"As much as they could understand;" that seems a strange phrase. It seems to me that the attitude of the American church has been that it is our responsibility to make them understand. Whatever it takes, we need to make sure we are communicating. We need to pick the right illustrations. We need to use the right words. We need to establish the right setting. We need to grab on like a pit bull and not let go until they "get it."

That results is frustration on our part and irritation on the part of those we're trying to reach/teach. If our hearers don't "get it," we assume that either we have somehow failed or they're just not willing to get it because we've made it perfectly clear. This idea of speaking in parables so they don't "get it" and speaking only "as much as they could understand" is truly foreign to us. 

Why is that? Is it because of pride, fear, not being taught correctly, or could it be that we don't really trust God in the process? After all, it's His Spirit that will convince people of the truth. Jesus said, "I will draw all men to me," not "you must draw all men to me." I sometimes wonder if at the bottom of this is a simple lack of faith on our part.