May 21, 2023
Evening Service

Chapter 3 Review

·        Jesus healed the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath

·        Pharisees begin plans to destroy Jesus

o   They see Him healing and casting out demons, but yet can’t see Him for Who He is.

·        Jesus selects the Twelve

·        Jesus explains the unpardonable sin against the Holy Spirit

·        New relationships in Christ begin

Mar 3:35 For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother."

 

Mar 4:1-9 And again He began to teach by the sea. And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea.  (2)  Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching: (3) "Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow.  (4)  And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it.  (5)  Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth.  (6)  But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away.  (7)  And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop.  (8)  But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."  (9)  And He said to them, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

·        Notice the scene:  Jesus sat in a boat facing the shore teaching the multitudes.  He always used nature, which most understand, to teach spiritual truths that are hard to understand.  A picture of how all nature and natural things point to Christ and His Truth.

·        Seeds planted in four different soils with three failing to grow and produce fruit but one flourishing.

·        Verse 10, begins “when they were alone” meaning this was not the multitude but the select few to hear the true meaning.  He first explains that before the meaning of the parable

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Mar 4:10-12 But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable.  (11)  And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, (12) so that 'SEEING THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND HEARING THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND; LEST THEY SHOULD TURN, AND THEIR SINS BE FORGIVEN THEM.' " (Isa. 6:9-10)

·        Jesus explains that there are certain ones that are chosen to “know the mystery of the kingdom of God.”  Others, “those who are outside, all things come in parables,” were not chosen to understand the mystery but were blinded.  He quotes Isaiah here that though they see and hear the same things they cannot understand it “lest they should turn and their sins be forgiven.” 

·        God chose to blind many of the Jewish people of Who He was and why He had come.  God’s design to fulfill His purpose.  Be grateful you are not blinded walking in the dark, but see in the True Light!

·        The parable explained:

 

 Mar 4:13-20 And He said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?  (14)  The sower sows the word.  (15)  And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.  (16)  These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; (17) and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble.  (18)  Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, (19) and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.  (20)  But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."

·        Four types of soil and four reactions to the Gospel message.

·        The “wayside soil” is hard and the seed does not penetrate it and the birds come and eat it.  This resembles the heart that hears the gospel message, but is hard and does not allow the Word to penetrate.  Satan then takes the seeds away.

·        The “stony soil” had a thin layer of dirt that covered a bed of rock.  The seed gets planted, but can grow no roots so it quickly withers away.  This resembles the one who hear the message and accept it, but when trouble comes they abandon their small faith because of no roots.  They never really fully engaged and surrendered their heart.

·        The “thorny soil” sprouts up but is quickly choked out by the surrounding thorn bushes keeping them from receiving the sunshine, or digging deep roots into the soil.  These are like those who hear the Word, accept it but quickly allow the cares of the world around them to choke out their faith.

·        The “good soil” allows the seed to take root and flourish pushing their roots deep to nourish them for the entire season.  They produce fruit, “some thirty, sixty or one hundred fold!”  This is the soil we want to be in!  We have heard the Word, received for ourselves, and dig in our roots deeply to sustain us for the long haul.  We are “in it to win it!”  We are not hearers only but doers as we produce fruit, some “thirty, sixty and one hundred fold.”  Lord use me to produce a hundred fold for You!

·        From this we learn, not all will accept the gospel message, actually only a small amount 1 out 4 do so.  Be thankful you are in good soil and dig your roots deep into Him!

·        Jesus moves right into three other parables.

 

Mar 4:21-25 Also He said to them, "Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand?  (22)  For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.  (23)  If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."  (24)  Then He said to them, "Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.  (25)  For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him."

·        Who lights a lantern and then cover it up?  The light of the gospel is meant to be shared and shone brightly to all the world.

·        We are held responsible for what we hear and put into practice.  The more we use and share our knowledge, the more that will be given to us.  Also, the more that will be required of us.  If we are hearer only, then even that will be taken from us.

·        Now the parable of the growing seed.

 

Mar 4:26-29 And He said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, (27) and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how.  (28)  For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head.  (29)  But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come."

·        Our job is not to know how this all works, but only to trust that it does and faithfully do our part by faith.  Plant the seeds, it is God that chooses how it will grow.

·        1Co 3:6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.

 

Mar 4:30-34 Then He said, "To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it?  (31)  It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; (32) but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade."  (33)  And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it.  (34)  But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.

·        Jesus begins building His kingdom with only twelve men; a small group much like the size of a mustard seed.  The kingdom began to grow and has continued its growth for over 2000 years.  Now the church is a worldwide group of believers that are following Jesus.

 

·         We are a part of something bigger than us and can be a fertilizer spurring growth or on that slows and deters growth.  It is our choice to our part no matter how small it seems.

·        This chapter ends with another miracle that we can learn from.

 

Mar 4:35-41On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side."  (36)  Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him.  (37)  And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.  (38)  But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"  (39)  Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.  (40)  But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"  (41)  And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"

·        Here Jesus’ humanity and deity are on display.  His body is so tired He is able to sleep in this boat during a storm.  His deity is shown as the “wind and the sea obey Him!”

·        Think for a moment what it was like in that boat.  Winds blowing and waves tossing them about.  The noise and the stress level had to both be at an intense level.  So much so that they awakened Jesus almost scolding Him for not recognizing their plight.

·        Then He speaks, and immediate calm, “and there was a great calm.”  Have you ever felt that when you are in the midst of one of life’s storms and Jesus enters the picture?  A great calm fills the air in His presence.  He alone can command the wind and the sea to “be still,” and He alone can do the same in our storms of life!  “Peace be still!”  He speaks and everything changes!

·        This miracle was an eye opener for the disciples.  It was one thing to see the sick healed, the lame walk, and even the dead arise, but to command the wind and the sea is another level of power!

·        What if Jesus asked us that question?  “Why are you so fearful?  How is it that you have no faith?”  He would then look in our eyes and say “Trust Me!”  Let’s all allow Jesus to calm our storms.

 

Heavenly Father, increase our faith to see You as the One who is Ruler over everything, nothing is beyond Your control.