Laws
Publishing
MARK: AN OVERVIEW
CHAPTER FOUR
JIM LAWS
|
In keeping with Mark's emphasis of the action and power of the perfect servant of God, Mark presents the continual activity of Jesus in the fourth chapter. Here one reads of Jesus taking his message to the seashore, and under the open sky he delivers, what has come to be called, the parable of the sower (vv. 1-9). He explains the parable for them (vv. 10-20). He goes on to give a number of short sermons (vv. 21-25). He follows that with the parable of the seed growing secretly (vv. 26-29), and then the parable of the mustard seed (vv30-34). The chapter ends with the exciting scene of Jesus, as he calms the great storm at sea (vv. 35-41), another example of his divine power. |
|
Jesus tells his disciples the parable about a farmer sowing his seed in the field and how that the seed fell on different types of soil. This parable has been called, by so many, the parable of the sower. It helps us to understand the need of preaching and teaching the word of God to others, and what often will happen when that is done. For example, as Jesus said, some of the seed would fall on "wayside soil," that is, soil by the side of the road. His lesson went on to tell of seed that fell on stony ground; other seed fell on ground, where thorn bushes grew choking out the growth the seeds produced. There was seed, however, that fell on good ground and produced a great deal. The Lord's explanation of the parable makes plain what his point and purpose were (vv. 13-20), that being, to explain the different hearts on which the word of God will come into contact. Some hearts, as the wayside soil describes, will reject the message of the gospel, while other hearts, such as the stony ground, will receive it. However, even though they accept the truth right away, they do not remain faithful to it and soon fall away from it. Jesus goes on to say that there are hearts that receive or accept the truth of the gospel, but due to the problems of life fall away from it. Still there are hearts that both receive it and remain faithful to it by producing fruit. I have often thought that this parable should be renamed. The emphasis of the parable is not necessarily on the sower, as it is on the different hearts that men possess. Perhaps, a better name for it would be the parable of the human heart (Read Matthew 13:1-23; and Luke 8:4-15). Our Lord's point and purpose is clear: we must hear the word and reject everything else (v. 24). We need to listen with a view toward eternity (Luke 8:18), as what we hear and how we hear will determine our eternity. |
|
The parable of the growing seed, which is unique to Mark's account, reveals more about the kingdom, though the parable itself does not identify the seed as the word of God, which has already been done by Jesus in the parable of the sower (v. 14). The farmer may see that the seed is planted; that it sprouts, yet the growth of the plant is really beyond the comprehension of the sower. As Jesus taught in the parable, it is a gradual growth, that is step by step (v. 28). First, one sees the blade, then the head, and then the full grain, and eventually a harvest takes place (vs. 29). So it is with the kingdom of God; it grows by virtue of the word of God being planted. This is similar to what one observes of the farmer sowing his grain. The kingdom of God continues to grow and to develop. Compare this with what was said in the parable of the sower. There the responsibility is placed upon the individual. In other words, the seed did not grow, unless it fell on good soil. Each individual must hear the word of God, and out of obedient faith obey it's commands. Yet, the parable of the growing plant emphasizes the power that is in the seed itself. For those who sow must have faith in the power of the seed to produce, and so it is with the word of God. All those who preach and teach God's word have faith and confidence in God's word to produce the fruit, if the soil is right. May we never lose faith in the power of the word of God. It contains the power of spiritual life and continued spiritual growth, when it is planted in the soil of a good heart. The word of God is powerful seed; it is the means by which one is born again (1 Peter 1:22-25). It causes us to grow spiritually (1 Peter 2:1-2). When its precepts are followed, it saves our souls (James 1:21). Hebrews 4:12 states, "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." |
|
In the last section of the chapter Jesus is asleep,
as a storm arises on the |
|
Mark's statement in verse 41 expresses his purpose clearly in that he wants his readers to see what the disciples were seeing, that being, that Jesus was not a mere man, but was, indeed, the Christ, the Son of God. The miraculous power of Christ on this occasion, as well as, others amply proves this point.
|
MARK 