the great paradoxes in Mark is that Peter, the one first called (1:16-17) who stands at the head of the Twelve (3:16), in his final appearance in the Gospel, goes "outside," where he denies that he ever knew Jesus (14:68-71).
             When read in this light, Jesus' explanation of the intent behind His parables becomes consistent with our general understanding of His ministry in the rest of the Gospels. Having dealt with this important problem, we may move on to a general consideration of the function of the parables in the Gospels as a whole.
             In attempting to discover the function of the parables, we must first situate them in the context in which they were delivered. This is a particularly significant point for, as Biblical scholars have noted, modern Christians see Christ - through the eyes of the Apostles
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