Last Updated on June 26, 2018 by OCF Communications

The advice came from a master barbecue competitor when asked about the secret to winning with pulled pork.

Honey muscle is a small, tender, and very tasty portion of the pork shoulder. It’s not easy to recognize, but if found and liberally distributed within the sample submitted for competition, a high score is very likely.

Jesus taught often through parables. Every listener could garner solid adages for life. Yet there was a special category of those Jesus taught who received the deep and rich gems that would transform them and enable them in fruitful service to the Master. They were the true disciples; they were not the casual followers.

Immediately after recording four successive parables we read, “With many such parables He spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to His own disciples He explained everything” (Mark 4:33-34, ESV). They were treated to the “honey muscle” of the parable, those deeper and power-filled truths.

Footnote: Jesus gave eight clear marks of the true disciple. They set a high bar indeed.