Mark 4

Mark 4 provides us with 41 verses of more parables! Surprised? You shouldn’t be. By now we know that Jesus uses parables to make sure people understand the meaning and do not just recite back what is told to them; it is only with understanding, that we can truly grow in our faith.

 The crowds were large, but Jesus continued to teach. Teaching from a boat on the lake to the crowd on the shore, we learn of the parable of the Sower.   “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.  But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.  Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain.  Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”

“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

The disciples ask about the parable to which we learn:

The Farmer in the parable is sowing the word of God. The scenarios are metaphors for people whom with the word is shared. Some will hear the word, but Satan will come and take away the word before it ever has a chance to grow. Some people, as on the rocky path, will hear the word and delight in it, but because their faith is so new and they do not continue to water themselves with the word, will quicky allow the word to fade out due to the lack of “root. Others, whom are among the thorns, will hear the word and their faith will grow; however, they will allow their worries, deceitfulness of wealth, and other desires to overcome their faith.  Lastly, those with good soil (surrounded by their brothers and sisters in Christ), will hear the word, accept it, water it, and allow it to grow – The crop can then multiply as they begin to share the word.

Next we learn of the lamp on the stand. Essentially, the message here is to let your light shine…you know the song… “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine!”  When we are filled with God’s love, and we know the Lord, it is his will that we share that love with those around us. Whether we are planting seeds, or watering those growing in their faith.

The parable of the mustard seed seems to be one that everyone knows…but do we understand it? The parable states that the kingdom of God begins as the smallest of seeds. Maybe someone shares just a glimpse into how their faith has changed their life… but as we continue to surround ourselves (part of God’s Kingdom) with others who are also watering and nurturing their faith, those tiny, smallest seeds, can grow into something much bigger.

We end chapter four with the story of Jesus calming the storm. In this story, Jesus and his disciples were out on the lake, when a severe storm brings rain and wind, and nearly sinks the boat. Throughout the storm Jesus is sleeping. The disciples wake him and question about whether or not he cares if the drown. Jesus stands, “Quiet! Be Still!”. The storm ends and the lake is calm.  Jesus rebukes them about their faith “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Even the Wind and the Waves obey him!

How many of us turn to God when we are scared? We have situations we cannot control and we pray for God to “Calm the storm”.  From this lesson, we are reminded, that in the midst of the storm, if you have faith, God is with you, and you are safe. That can sometimes be so much easier to say or write, than to put into action. To put full faith into someone we cannot tangibly see, feel, or hear. But I am here to tell you, God is real. And there will come a day, when we all stand face to face with him and receive our judgement. The gate to Heaven is narrow. If you do not know God’s Love, I encourage you to reach out – to me, to a local pastor, to a friend who is a believer. It’s not too late – but there will come a time when it is.

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