Chapter 4


Wonders Upon Wonders


By
The Man Who Saw God Face To Face
Raphael Okechukwu Nweze

Life In Spirit And In Truth
        “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free,” John 8:42
Parable Of An Empty Bag
        The kingdom of heaven is like a child who went to market and bought an empty bag. And when he got home, he found the bag full of all kinds of good things in abundance.
The Parable Of A Pebble And Bird
        The kingdom of heaven is like a child who found a pebble. He stepped on the pebble to know what it is, and the pebble became a bird that carried the child up to the sky. Then the child became a golden eagle and king of the birds.
The Parable Of Intoxication
        The kingdom of heaven is like children whom their teacher gave a health drink. Each took a cup, became intoxicated and staggered, and the teacher said. “Why are you intoxicated? I expected each of you to drink an ocean and remain quiet!”

The Parable Of Butterfly
        A group of anxious students wanted their teacher to compare heaven and earth, so that they can know which one is better.
        The teacher said, “Men of the world in their everyday business engagements are like intoxicated and staggering drunkards chasing uncountable butterflies.”
        The students said, “You have told us about the children of the world. Now tell us about children of God”.
        The teacher replied, “Children of God are like full grown trees in the midst of an ocean. The butterflies come and perch and leave not”.
        The students said, “Chasing a butterfly and the butterfly coming by itself are the same thing”.
        “No,” responded the teacher, “Some butterflies are butterflies, while some butterflies are not butterflies”.

The Parable Of Mirror Image
        The kingdom of heaven is like a person who looked into a mirror, only to find his real self inside the mirror.

The Parable Of The Ocean
        (Warning: Do not jump into the ocean.) The kingdom of heaven is like a person running for his dear life. When he had no alternative, he jumped into the ocean, only to discover that himself is the ocean.

Parable Of The Lost Treasure
        The kingdom of heaven is like a foolish man who sold his treasure. When he became wise, he went back and bought the treasure by paying the price hundred fold. And when he had recovered it, he became full of exceeding joyfulness and gladness.

Parable Of Falsehood
        The kingdom of God is like a prophet who found people crying. He asked them, “Why are you crying?”
        “No,” they replied. “We are not crying; we are only laughing”.
        So, the prophet said, “Then, tell me why you are laughing”.
       And they said, “We have just finished laughing. Now, we are crying”.

Parable Of Silver And Gold
        This world surprises me. When you give them silver, they say, “We want gold”.
        Then you bring gold, and they say, “We have enough silver”.
        A wise man wanted to outwit them by bringing them both silver and gold, and they say, “A grain of sand is greater than the vast sky”

Parable Of The Worlds Apart
        “Why does the life of a saint appear different?” some religious students asked a mystic. “And why does his personality seem so serene and bright?”
        “The world is like a long winding river, full of dirt,” replied the mystic. “The worldly people move in it and are stained by it. But, the saint walks on the water”.
        “Is this a proverb, or a statement of reality?” asked one of the students.
        “It is first a statement of reality,” replied the mystic, “and also a proverb. You will understand this when you find God and know what you are”.
        “We are human beings,” answered all the students in unison.
        “No,” replied the mystic. “You are babies still in the womb of ignorance”.

What Is An Ignorant Teacher Like?
        He is like a mad man teaching children Mathematics, while the children are busy laughing at him.