Mark 4 - Even the Wind and the Waves Listen to Jesus!

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The Parable of the Sower

Jesus' favorite teaching method was parables. Parables take an earthly analogy, which illustrates a spiritual reality. The word "parable" in the Greek literally means "to throw alongside", or to make comparisons between two or more ideas. The parable of the Sower is one of the most popular parables Jesus taught. 

As we have seen the crowds came from far and wide to witness and experience Jesus' healing miracles. Now the people were pressing in on him, so he pushed out onto the Sea of Galilee and began to teach them about the kingdom of God. 

In this parable a farmer sowed seed, and three of soil conditions kept the seed from multiplying and bearing fruit. The three conditions were the hard path, which did not receive the seed at all. The shallow soil, which received the seed but it never took root. Though it sprung up it quickly it had no root so when the sun scorched the plant it withered quickly.  In the third scenario, the seed took root, but the thorns choked out its growth. Finally, in the last situation the seed took root and went deep into the soil to be enriched with its nutrients. The result was the seed reproduced 30, 60, a hundred times over. 

So the question is what does this have to do with the spiritual life? And what was it about the good soil that made it produce so much fruit through a single seed?

Unfortunately for the crowd Jesus offered no explanation. But when he took the disciples aside, he explained why he taught in parables. He gives a fairly puzzling explanation. He says, 

The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, “They may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’”

So the disciples are given the secret to understanding the parables, but those on the outside will never understand or else they might be forgiven. So the question is, "Doesn't Jesus want everyone to be forgiven?" What gives? 

In the Bible, a mystery isn’t something you can’t figure out. It is something that you would not know unless God revealed it to you. In the Biblical sense of the idea, you may know exactly what a mystery is, yet it is still a mystery because you would not have known unless God revealed it. - Guzik

In the Bible, a mystery isn’t something you can’t figure out. It is something that you would not know unless God revealed it to you. In the Biblical sense of the idea, you may know exactly what a mystery is, yet it is still a mystery because you would not have known unless God revealed it. Guzik

You might say Jesus taught these mysterious parables so as to weed out those who weren't even interested in the truth. The parable rewarded the seeker. As we know God is a God who rewards those who seek. 

"Those who seek will find!" Matthew 7:7

Then, Jesus took the time to work through each type of soil and explained in spiritual terms why this soil condition prevented the seed from bearing spiritual fruit. First of all he equates the seed with the Word of God. 

Hardened Path = Those hear God's Word but Satan immediately snatches it up. I.e. It never takes root. 

Rocky Soil =  God's Word initially takes root, but it doesn't produce fruit because the soil is shallow. It may bear fruit initially, but when trouble or persecution comes their way because of God's Word, they quickly fall away.

Thorny Soil = God's Word takes root but the thorns choke it out. The thorns are the worries of this world, the deceptiveness of wealth, and other desires this world offers. 

Good Soil = God's Word falls on the good soil and takes root. The key to this soil is the person who received the good seed, heard God's word and accepted it. The result this person is multiplied 30, 60, 100 times over. 

Note: the productivity of the person, as Jesus explains this parable, is directly related to what they did with the word.  How did they respond? It is the one who hears and accepts the Word who bears fruit. 

James says it another way, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do."

Whether you hear God's Word at church, learn about it in a bible study, or study it on your own, what are you doing with God's Word? Are you applying it to your life? This is the key to being a productive fruit-bearing Christian. 

A Lamp on a Stand

Jesus said the purpose of a lamp is to shine. Therefore it would make no sense to put it under a bed or under a bowl. No, you put it on a stand. In the same God's Word is not meant to be hidden but made known. 

By its very nature, light is meant to be revealed. Truth is the same way, and God promises that it will be revealed. (Guzik)

Jesus then says, "With the measure you use it will be measured to you." Basically he is saying that how you respond to God's Word will determine how more will be revealed to you. But, if you do nothing with God's Word it will be taken from you. 

This is why it is important to take heed what you hear. God will respond to us as we have responded to Him and His word.

When we hear the word of God, and receive it with gladness, more will be given to us from God’s spiritual riches.

More will be given: More what? More desire to hear. More understanding of what you hear. More personal possession of the blessings you hear about. (Guzik)

The Parable of the Growing Seed

Jesus continues with the analogy of a seed, which represents the Word of God. The next two parables will begin with, "This is what the kingdom of God is like".

In this case the, farmers sows the seed and no matter what the man does day or night the seed grows and is eventually harvested. The point is that the farmer is not the one who makes the seed grow into grain.

It is like the verses, "God's Word never returns to him void!" (Isaiah 55:11) God's Word has power in itself. It does not get its power from how we preach it or teach it. We just need to be faithful to deliver God's unadulterated Word.

How exactly the seed grows is a mystery to the farmer. Though it grows by a process he cannot see nor fully account for, he has faith in the growing process. So it is with the Kingdom of God: we work in partnership with God, yet the real work is left up to Him – we trust in a process we cannot see nor fully account for. (Guzik)

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

God's kingdom is like a mustard seed. Though it is the smallest of seeds, it grows so big it provides branches for birds to nest in. This shows this exponential growth of God's kingdom. It can start out very small but make a huge impact. 

Here might be an example. I share the gospel with a friend and he becomes a Christian. It might seem insignificant, but he becomes a missionary and goes to a country where God's Word has never been heard. Many who are unbelievers come to faith in Christ. From that country many other missionary are raised up to go to other "unreached people groups". In the end millions of people are reached for Christ through me sharing with just one person. This is why we can never underestimate what God can do in and through us every day. It might be a kind or encouraging word, a helping hand, or a generous gift. 

Jesus Calms the Storm

Mark 4 ends with Jesus doing a supernatural miracle. At the end of a long day of ministry, Jesus tells the disciples to sail over the other side of the lake. Like often happened on the Sea of Galilee, a storm suddenly and furiously came upon them. 

The Sea of Galilee is well known for its sudden, violent storms. The severity of this storm is shown by the reaction of the disciples (we are perishing). Several of the disciples were experienced fishermen on this very lake, and they were frightened and feared perishing in this storm.

Meanwhile Jesus is taking a nap in the boat. The disciples are offended that Jesus doesn't even care if they die. Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and the waves by saying, 

"Quiet! Be still!”

Jesus literally told the storm to be quiet. And the storm listened. The lake became completely calm. Jesus mildly rebukes the disciples and asks them why they had such little faith. It seems a little harsh. I mean who among us would not have been equally freaked out!

Meanwhile though the disciples had seen many things, but they hadn't seen the Creation obey him. It was a clear sign that Jesus was Lord even over Creation, just like he was there before the world came into being. 

In the span of a few moments, the disciples saw both the complete humanity of Jesus and the fullness of His deity. They saw Jesus for who He is: truly man and truly God. 

Where are the storms happening in your life right now? Does it seem as though Jesus is asleep oblivious to what is happening? How can knowing he has the power to calm the wind and waves help you to have faith that this too will pass? In time things will calm down.