Mark 16:14-20 - Is it a parable?
An examination of the Revivalist understanding
By Drew Dixon

Part 3 - Post resurrection parables?

Jesus said a time would come when he would no longer even use parables / proverbs (John uses a slightly different Greek word for parable / proverb, but it is with a similar intent, see John 10:6). Mark 16:16-18 were Jesus words after his resurrection, so some of the following Scriptures may bear weight upon the current discussion. 

John 16:23-28

And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall show you plainly of the Father. At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.

The Scripture then continues in verse 29:-

His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.

Of course, based on its context, the above Scriptures would seem to be pointing more so to post Pentecost (amongst other things, the time when we "ask in his name" as we now do). However, it still stands that post resurrection, when the statement in Mark 16 is made, I can see no record of Jesus speaking any parables in any of the Gospels to anyone (John 21:15-19 is not a parable, see the article on Feed My Sheep). 

It would seem that in this important post resurrection time, Jesus went out of his way to explain and show things clearly, as he said he would. There is no indication he was into 'parabolising' as can be seen from the following post-resurrection Scriptures:-

Luke 24:25-32

Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scripture's the things concerning himself. And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scripture's?

Luke 24:39-48

Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them. And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things.

Both the above post resurrection verses show Christ was now speaking and showing plainly and not with parables. He took the time to explain things from the Scriptures and to get them ready for his soon departure.

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