Daily Bread 2010 - Mark 4
Daily Bread 2010
Mark 4
The Parable of the Sower
1Again 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. 2He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3"Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times."
9Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
As we look at the parables in Mark 4, most of them have to do with how things grow in God’s kingdom. The parable of the sower teaches us that our job is to sow the seed, and then to expect that there will be opposition to its growth. Notice out of the four soils, only one produces fruit. And even in the soil that produces fruit, there is different amounts of productivity.
Then in this parable a few verses later, Jesus interprets the parable so the disciples will understand it. Rarely does he do this, but in Mark’s gospel there is a big emphasis on the secrets of the kingdom being given to some and not others. Of course in our culture, thanks to Oprah, there has been a lot of publicity around the concept of the “Secret”. Basically “the Secret” teaches (though there are a lot of variants on its applications and concepts) that through positive thinking there is a natural law that runs through the universe that if tapped into can produce positive results in one’s life.
But God’s Word reveals a different type of secret. The secret of how God’s kingdom grows in people like us. The difference between the bible’s version of the secret, is that it gives God credit for the growth. Also God’s kingdom grows as God’s word is sown and acted upon, not wishful thinking. Since God’s Word is truth as we broadcast (or sow) it, some will listen and some will not. It is only as God’s Spirit takes this seed and reveals it to the human heart and mind, that a person participates in God’s kingdom coming on earth as it is in heaven.
As since Jesus was the Word (seed) made flesh, and filled with the Holy Spirit, everything Jesus does and says reveals the secrets of God! In the end God has not remained hidden or secret but wants to be made known. As we have received and understood the secrets of God, we are meant to share the secret with others. As God uses us as His seed, many more will in faith receive His Word and have it planted in their hearts.
Prayer: Gracious God we thank you for revealing Yourself through Your Son, Jesus. May we continue to be that good soil that Your Word can take root in and bear much fruit. Make us aware of the things that block Your Word from our hearts. Guard our hearts from worry and anxiety, the desires of this world, and the evil one who tries to snatch away the life giving Word from our hearts and minds. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Mark 4
The Parable of the Sower
1Again 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. 2He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3"Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times."
9Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
As we look at the parables in Mark 4, most of them have to do with how things grow in God’s kingdom. The parable of the sower teaches us that our job is to sow the seed, and then to expect that there will be opposition to its growth. Notice out of the four soils, only one produces fruit. And even in the soil that produces fruit, there is different amounts of productivity.
Then in this parable a few verses later, Jesus interprets the parable so the disciples will understand it. Rarely does he do this, but in Mark’s gospel there is a big emphasis on the secrets of the kingdom being given to some and not others. Of course in our culture, thanks to Oprah, there has been a lot of publicity around the concept of the “Secret”. Basically “the Secret” teaches (though there are a lot of variants on its applications and concepts) that through positive thinking there is a natural law that runs through the universe that if tapped into can produce positive results in one’s life.
But God’s Word reveals a different type of secret. The secret of how God’s kingdom grows in people like us. The difference between the bible’s version of the secret, is that it gives God credit for the growth. Also God’s kingdom grows as God’s word is sown and acted upon, not wishful thinking. Since God’s Word is truth as we broadcast (or sow) it, some will listen and some will not. It is only as God’s Spirit takes this seed and reveals it to the human heart and mind, that a person participates in God’s kingdom coming on earth as it is in heaven.
As since Jesus was the Word (seed) made flesh, and filled with the Holy Spirit, everything Jesus does and says reveals the secrets of God! In the end God has not remained hidden or secret but wants to be made known. As we have received and understood the secrets of God, we are meant to share the secret with others. As God uses us as His seed, many more will in faith receive His Word and have it planted in their hearts.
Prayer: Gracious God we thank you for revealing Yourself through Your Son, Jesus. May we continue to be that good soil that Your Word can take root in and bear much fruit. Make us aware of the things that block Your Word from our hearts. Guard our hearts from worry and anxiety, the desires of this world, and the evil one who tries to snatch away the life giving Word from our hearts and minds. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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