Treasure in Plain Sight
Do You Get What Jesus Is Saying? Moving Beyond Surface-Level Faith
When we gather in church spaces, it's easy to go through the motions—seeing the visuals, hearing the music, participating in rituals—while missing the deeper spiritual reality happening all around us. Jesus is present with us, but are we truly aware of His presence, or have we become so familiar with the trappings of faith that we've stopped leaning in?
Two Responses to Jesus' Teaching
Throughout Scripture, when Jesus teaches, people respond in one of two ways: with understanding or with unbelief. This pattern continues today as we encounter His words and presence. The question is: which response characterizes your spiritual journey?
What Does Understanding Look Like?
Understanding begins with recognizing that Jesus is mysterious—so compelling and different from anyone else that we can't help but lean in closer. When the disciples encountered confusing parables, they didn't walk away frustrated. Instead, they pulled Jesus aside and asked, "Could you explain this to us? We want to understand more."
This attitude of leaning in is crucial. Mystery leads to leaning, leaning leads to learning, and learning leads to understanding. The disciples progressed from confusion to comprehension because they refused to give up when things got difficult.
Jesus Asks: "Do You Get What I'm Saying?"
After teaching through parables about seeds, wheat, nets, pearls, and treasures, Jesus asked His disciples a simple question: "Have you understood all these things?" He wasn't really talking about agricultural techniques or fishing methods—He was revealing deeper spiritual truths about the kingdom of heaven.
This same question echoes through our modern church experience. When you participate in baptism, communion, giving, or serving, Jesus asks: "Do you get what I'm saying?" These aren't just religious activities—they point to deeper spiritual realities about relationship, sacrifice, generosity, and love.
Moving Beyond Religious Activities
The Difference Between Religion and Relationship
Many people confuse religious activity with spiritual depth. When asked about their relationship with Jesus, they respond by listing church attendance, Bible reading habits, and tithing percentages. While these practices are important, they're not the relationship itself—they're the setting for the relationship.
It's like describing Valentine's Day by only talking about the restaurant, the table, and the menu while forgetting to mention whether your spouse was there. The activities matter, but they exist to facilitate something deeper.
From Listeners to Teachers
When the disciples demonstrated understanding, Jesus gave them a new role. He told them they were no longer just listeners but scribes—carriers and teachers of the message. They were to bring out both old treasures (God's previous revelations) and new treasures (how Jesus fulfilled those revelations).
Understanding always leads to sharing. When we truly grasp what Jesus is saying, we naturally want to help others discover these same treasures.
The Danger of Familiarity
When Hometown Becomes a Barrier
After teaching in parables, Jesus returned to His hometown of Nazareth. Initially, people were astonished by His wisdom and mighty works. But then familiarity kicked in: "Isn't this just the carpenter's son? We know His family. Where did He get all this?"
Their astonishment turned to offense, which led to unbelief. Jesus couldn't perform many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
Treasures Hiding in Plain Sight
The problem wasn't that Jesus lacked power or wisdom—the problem was that He had been there all along. Treasures hiding in plain sight rarely seem valuable. The townspeople had grown so accustomed to Jesus's presence that they couldn't recognize the divine treasure among them.
This same dynamic affects many believers today. Growing up in church, hearing Bible stories, and participating in Christian traditions can create a dangerous familiarity that actually hinders faith rather than fostering it.
Who Typically Rejects Jesus?
Interestingly, it's often not the openly hostile who reject Jesus—it's those most familiar with Him. In Nazareth, it wasn't evil religious leaders but neighbors, childhood friends, and family acquaintances who couldn't believe.
They rejected Him not because of disagreement with His teachings or questions about His character, but simply because He was too familiar. The idea that God had been living among them all along seemed impossible to accept.
When Familiarity Replaces Faith
For some people, the barrier to faith isn't lack of knowledge about Jesus—it's too much familiarity with a surface-level version of Him. They've heard the stories, completed the Sunday school activities, and picked up the basics, but then stopped leaning in and going deeper.
When familiarity replaces faith, astonishment dies and unbelief takes over. The solution isn't to know less about Jesus but to go deeper into who He really is beyond the familiar stories and images.
Life Application
This week, challenge yourself to move beyond surface-level Christianity. If you've been confining your faith to familiar traditions like Sunday attendance, lean in further. During worship, focus on the words you're singing and the Spirit's presence. During communion, go deeper than the ritual to contemplate Jesus's sacrifice and love.
Consider stepping into new environments for spiritual growth—join a small group, take a Bible study course, find a place to serve, or commit to regular giving. Don't keep Jesus confined to a weekend box; pursue Him throughout the week.
Most importantly, when you encounter confusing or challenging aspects of faith, don't let confusion detour you. Instead, lean in with questions: "Jesus, explain this to me. Teach me more. I want to understand." Stay planted long enough for spiritual roots to grow deep.
Questions for Reflection:
Am I responding to Jesus's teachings with understanding or unbelief?
Have I become so familiar with Christianity that I've stopped truly encountering Jesus?
What would it look like for me to lean in deeper this week rather than staying on the surface?
Where might Jesus be asking me, "Do you get what I'm saying?" in my current circumstances?
The Jesus you think you already know still has more for you. The question is: will you lean in to discover those deeper treasures, or will familiarity keep you from the faith that transforms?
