Mk. 4:1-34 JESUS SPEAKS IN PARABLES
A. Recently, hearing about the trial of John Allen Muhammad, has
seemed to be a mysterious case to me.
1. He had not only won the chance to represent himself as his
own defense and lawyer - but I read that he is out to prove to the nation
that he had nothing to do with these crimes. Now, it sounds as if he
will be getting some lawyers to represent him.
2. I believe that there is strong evidence that this man and his
18 year old friend Lee Malvo not only killed about 10 people, but
injured and terrorized many people. It does not appear that he has any
guilt or sorrow for what He has done.
3. What has happened to the moral conscience of people in our
country? What a mystery this is!
4. Jesus spoke in parables, but as He spoke, the mystery and
the secrecy of the Messiah, as the Son of God, was not revealed to
everyone who heard Him.
I. THE MYSTERY OF THE KINGDOM.
A. In this chapter we read four to five different parables that Jesus
tells. Except for the ones told in 3:23ff, and in 12:1-9; these are the
only parables of Jesus recorded by Mark
1. Matthew and Luke record many parables of Jesus. John
does not record any. In Matthew, Mark and Luke, we find some 35
parables of Jesus recorded for us.
2. The first parable we read in Mark, is that of the sower and
his seed. In the midst of this parable, we find probably some of the
most difficult verses in the New Testament to fully understand.
3. READ 4:11-12. At times you get the feeling that Jesus
spoke in parables, so that the people would not understand, because if
they did understand, they might repent of their sins and be converted to
Christianity.
4. Now, this goes totally against what any evangelical preacher
should be saying, Sunday School teachers, and parents training their
kids in Godly homes.
5. So I should ask the question, “Did Jesus use parables
deliberately to give an unclear message of the truth of the Gospel?”
Before I try to answer that, let’s look at some other suggestions to try
to understand this text of Jesus.
B. The parable of the sower and the seed is a familiar story to us.
Verses 13-20 are pretty clear. But in vss. 21-25 we have another
parable of the lamp and of the measure.
1. READ 4:24. That is also a difficult verse to understand.
For now, let’s keep moving on. Verse 26-29 is a not so familiar
parable, and we find it only in Mark. READ 26-29.
2. Now, almost everything that takes place in Mark is also
found in Matthew and Luke - but this one is only found in Mark. That
seed grows secretly.
3. It grows, and one day it comes out of the ground, sprouts
and grows. This mysterious growth and certain harvest, is just like the
Kingdom of God!
4. In verses 30-32, we have the parable of the mustard seed.
Now we are back in familiar territory. It is so tiny, but it can produce a
huge tree - large enough for birds of the air to rest in it’s branches, and
to make their nests.
C. Let’s take note of several things here. Jesus is teaching in Parables,
and in verse 2-3 remind us of that; “He taught them many things by
parables, and in His teaching said: Listen! A farmer went out to sow
his seed.”
1. In verse 10, Jesus is speaking probably just with His
disciples. In verse 13 Jesus says, “Do you understand this parable?
How then will you understand any parable?” Then in vss. 33-34 it
says, “With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as
much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them
without using a parable. But when He was alone with His own
disciples, He explained everything.”
2. Here we see that Jesus did make a point to explain all the
parables He used to His own disciples.
3. The word, “parabole” means to cast along side. Literally, it
means putting a story alongside a truth, or clothing the truth with a
story. Maybe you have heard this before. A parable is, “an earthly
story with a heavenly meaning.”
4. Jesus is taking pictures of the Kingdom, manifesting it on
earth, for here and now. Jesus came to announce that the Kingdom
was here, in our midst.
II. THE GROWTH OF THE KINGDOM.
A. A second major theme takes us back to verses 11-12. “The secret
of the Kingdom of God has been given to you.” What is it, that Jesus
teaching His disciples? The Kingdom of God!
1. Verse 26, Jesus says, “This is what the Kingdom of God is
like. A man scatters seed on the ground.” Verse 30, “What shall we
say (or compare) the Kingdom of God is like; or what parable shall we
use to describe it?” Jesus is teaching parables of the Kingdom of God.
2. What do we learn from these parables? What do they tell us about the nature of God’s Kingdom? Notice this: Willard Swartly says it well. All four of these parables portray a small beginning, but envision also a big, surprise harvest at the end.
3. Small and tiny seeds of grain; a tiny mustard seed grows
into a huge harvest field of wheat; or into a large tree. The grain that is
in the ground begins to grow while the farmer is sleeping, or doing
some other kind of work. But it bursts out of the ground, announcing
it is alive, and finally makes for a harvest.
4. Whatever is hidden, will one day come out. Like a lamp is
not to be hidden under a bush. Something is very important, though it
is secretive - it is happening in and through the life of Jesus!
5. One day it will all be out in the open, and we will see it and
fully understand it. But now, it is not fully revealed. The seed from
the sower fell on the path, rocky ground, the thorns. But the seed that
fell on the good ground produced its fruit, producing 30, 60, and even
100 fold.
6. The point from that parable is this: Even though there is
opposition for good growth, the growth of the Kingdom is certain -
even though it had a very small beginning!
7. The people on the whole did not fully understand Christ’s
teachings in parables. The Pharisees had no idea who really was in
their midst. Something was going on. And one day it would reach a
world for Christ all over the globe.
8. The seed of the Word of God has taken root in us, and we
are a part of the growth of the Kingdom of God.
B. Let’s go back to the thought of the secrecy of the Kingdom. “To
you has been given the secret of the Kingdom, (or the mystery of the
Kingdom in KJV).
1. READ vs. 27. Like the farmer - while he sleeps, the crop
grows, and all of a sudden reveals that it is there!
2. Another secret is a word that keeps being repeated over and
over, and like a secret - you probably did not even realize that. Or
maybe some of you already discovered that.
3. Did you discover that word? The word is “hear” or “listen”
or “pay attention”. When the parables are being spoken, are we
listening and paying attention? Are we hearing and understanding?
Isn’t Jesus expecting some kind of response from us?
4. Verse 3. “Listen, a farmer went out to sow his seed.”
Verses 9 and 23 exhort us to listen. He who has ears to hear, let him
hear.” Verse 12. “...so that they may hear...but never understand...”
5. In verses 14-20; four times the soil is compared to what?
To the kinds of hearing in the people - (15 - path; 16 - rocks; 18 -
thorns; 20 -good soil).
6. Verse 24 says, “Consider carefully what you hear...with the
measure you use, it will be measured to you.” I do not believe this
verse is speaking of money or material goods. It is referring to
hearing, and paying attention. To the extent in which you listen,
understand, and apply it, it will be given to you.
7. Those who do that, will receive even more. Those who do
not listen, does not understand, or continues to reject Christ’s
teachings; it will be taken away.
8. Finally in verse 33, we read, “With many similar parables,
Jesus spoke the Word to them as much as they could understand.”
9. The key words are hearing and understanding. To the one
who hears, more will be given to him. That is the point that Jesus is
making here.
C. Jesus also calls the 12 disciples. Jesus appoints the 12. Why does
Jesus do this? So that they might be with Him. Jesus will train them
to become not only His disciples, but great leaders.
1. Christ’s teaching for hearing and understanding is not just
for the crowds; but Jesus will explain things in much greater detail to
the 12, spending a lot of time with just the 12.
III. THE SECRET OF THE KINGDOM.
A. Any Detectives out there? Shall we investigate more closely the
meaning of the secret of the kingdom?
1. Take a look at vss. 11-12. “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.” (Quoted from Isa. 6:9-10).
2. These are difficult verses to understand. We may ask, “Did
Jesus use parable to keep the people from understanding, repenting,
and becoming a part of the Kingdom?”
B. In our investigation, there are a number of explanations that could
be looked at. Probably the best one, or most reliable one is this.
1. We must remember that many of the Jews refused to accept
Jesus’ Messianic Kingdom. In verse 11, it refers to “those outside”
referring to the Jewish crowds. But to a few and to Christ’s disciples,
the secret of the Kingdom was given.
2. After all, it would be Christ’s disciples who would be the
bearers of this new Kingdom to all nations. This included the Gentiles
who would hear the Word, and bear fruit - some 30, 60, and 100 fold.
3. “To you is given the secret of the Kingdom.” Secrecy is at
the heart of this Gospel drama. Jesus, as the Son of God - His identity
remains a secret. Jesus does mighty works, and tells the people not to
tell anyone.
4. READ Mk. 1:21-28; 32-34, 40-45. What does Jesus do?
Jesus immediately hushes the unclean spirit in the synagogue. In 1:34,
He does not permit the demons to speak. In 1:44 after healing the
leper, Jesus says, “Don’t tell anyone!”
5. Is it possible that the answer is more deeply embedded in
the nature of Christ’s ministry, and the different responses He received
from others? Mark states that the demons wanted to announce who
Jesus was, and Jesus would not let them do that!
6. There are more incidents like these that we find in Mark.
After Jesus and the 3 disciples come down from the mount of
Transfiguration, Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone until after
His death and resurrection who He was. (READ Mark 9:9-10).
7. It appears that the Truth about this Jesus could not be
fully understood until after His death and His resurrection.
8. Again we see, in the presence of Jesus, that the demons; and
at the Mount of Transfiguration, the heavenly voices want to cry out,
and to proclaim who this Jesus really is, but so many do not accept it,
or understand it.
CONCLUSION
A. Who is this Jesus?? Who is He anyway?? He speaks in Parables.
Yet, isn’t He telling everybody everything? Do you not perceive? Do
you not understand?
1. Who is this Jesus?? Who is this Man anyway? In the
drama of this Gospel, Heaven knows, and hell knows; but the humans
on earth don’t know.
2. We know, because these voices are telling us. But the
disciples and the crowds are struggling with understanding the
absolute truth of the identity of this Man!
3. Today, even though we may know the answer to that
question, still, do we really understand? And as Jesus’ followers and
disciples today, in 2003; do we really understand as much as Jesus
wants us to??
4. “Jesus, help me to understand. Open my eyes, and my
heart; that I may know you more!”
PRAYER!
JESUS SPEAKS IN PARABLES
Mark. 4:1-34
INTRODUCTION: A Mysterious Court Case!
I. THE MYSTERY OF THE KINGDOM.
II. THE GROWTH OF THE KINGDOM.
All four of these parables portray a ___________ beginning, but
envision also a big, _____________ _____________ at the end.
Even though there is opposition for good growth, the growth of the
Kingdom is certain - even though it had a ____________ __________
beginning!
Two key words are __________________ and __________________.
To the one who hears, more will be given to him. That is the point that
Jesus is making here.
III. THE SECRET OF THE KINGDOM.
CONCLUSION:
