So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” - John 10:24

Be honest.  How many times, while reading the gospels have you also wished that Jesus would just come out and say it:

“Hi, I’m Jesus, I’m part of the Trinity, co-equal and one with God the Father and the Holy Spirit.  I’m the promised Messiah, the Christ. This is how it all fits in with Old Testament prophecy and this how I can help you…”

This seemingly would help you and me in many ways. Debates about Jesus’ divinity would be so much more simple and systematic theology would be a breeze. Right?

This is not what the scriptures afford us, however. So often his accusers insult him and ask him directly “Who are you then?” and Jesus responds with cryptic word plays or statements that can be taken in multiple ways.

Example from John 10 [paraphrasing]:
Jesus: I and the Father are one.
Crowd: *picking up stones* You just said you’re God!
Jesus: Doesn’t Psalms say “you are gods”?
Crowd: Doh!

This happens many other places in the gospels. Jesus constantly frames his truths in parables and obscure biblical refrences.

The obvious question is….why? Why would He do this? Is there a rhyme to His reason? Does He simply have a knack for riddles? Is he protecting Himself (i.e., is He afraid of the consequences of speaking plainly?)

Jesus answers these questions for his disciples (and us) in Matthew 13:

This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:

‘You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive.
For this people’s heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed,
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.’

But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.

Contrary to what you may have been told, Jesus did not come to make the gospel simple or easy. He came to reveal God’s truth to those who were honestly seeking, honestly listening, honestly trying to discern the truth.

He provided die hard skeptics just enough rope to hang themselves, while giving those with open hearts the keys to the kingdom of God.

This is confirmed elsewhere as Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a pearl, a treasure buried in a field, etc.  God has provided us with everything we need to find Him. Likewise, the wicked have everything they want to avoid Him.

I will close with this beautiful passage from 1 Corinthians:

Where is the one who is wise?
Where is the scribe?
Where is the debater of this age?
Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.