Mark 4: Parables but Understanding from the Lord!

Mark 4

The Parable of the Sower

 ¹ Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. ² He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: ³ “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. ⁴ As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. ⁵ Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. ⁶ But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. ⁷ Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. ⁸ Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”

 ⁹ Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

 ¹⁰ When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. ¹¹ He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables 

The Parable of the Growing Seed

 ²⁶ He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. ²⁷ Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. ²⁸ All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. ²⁹ As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

 ³³ With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. ³⁴ He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

Jesus Calms the Storm

 ³⁹ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

 ⁴⁰ He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Daniel’s Thoughts:

The seed can be seen as the gospel – the word of God the good news. The seed is spread everywhere by God and through us his followers. But, Jesus knows not all will respond to the seed to the word of the gospel. Yet he still spreads the seed abundantly and without judging the soil.

As Jesus shares the good news he speaks in parables. Yet not even Jesus’ disciples understand. That is comforting, because often I don’t understand and I am sure I miss a lot of the truth God has for me. But the Spirit will speak the truth and reveal the living word to us as we read and ask.

For example the parable about the growing seed did not make sense to me and I am not sure that it does now. But as I looked back an understanding that came to me was that God is at work in us and in the world in ways we don’t understand. I have been really confused and going through hard times recently. I have been doing ministry but not seeing the fruit right away. But God is still at work and is using this to change my heart and teach me to trust in him even when I don’t understand.

For I am still a man of little faith. But I do believe, I only ask that Lord you would help my unbelief. I am trying to seek you.

Daniel’s Prayer:

Lord

You are our God of abundance.

You spread your word and love all over the world

In the hearts of all people

I pray that people would become good soil

That there would be a harvest.

That we your church would spread the seed and reap the harvest

All for you and your glory

Yet I do not understand your will and plan

All of your creating is for your glory

I do not understand how some people

Can choose not to follow you

God even in my lack of understanding

I want to follow you.

Open my heart.

Speak to me through your Spirit

Reveal your truth and will

And follow you

Through it all help me to trust you Lord!

Amen