First of all, who knows what Jesus said. Did he really go around talking in riddles all the time? That seems pretty annoying. Second, one needs to remember to whom he was speaking and in what context. He was trying to shake up traditional Jewish cultural and religious norms.

It’s fascinating how his teachings became so popular. I’m no historian, but I haven’t read a credible explanation for this. The embracing of Christian beliefs by the Roman emperor Constantine was certainly a turning point.