The Ministry of Jesus in Galilee
Mark 1:16—8:30
A New King (1:16—3:6).
Kingdom is Near (1:15)
Popularity (1:16-45).
Conflict (2:1—3:6).
Jewish Leaders Reject Him (3:6)
A New Kingdom (3:7—6:6)
Kingdom Has Small Beginnings (4:3)
Continued Conflict (3:7-35).
Parables (4:1-34).
Parable of the Sower (4:1-9).
Parable of the Sower Interpreted (4:10-20).
Jesus is asked why He speaks in parables (4:10-12).
Understanding this parable was fundamental to understanding all the others (4:13).
Meanings (4:14-20):
(4:14) Seed is word (of God) – seed can only produce after its kind. There is the book by Thomas B. Warren, The Bible Only Makes Christians Only. If your seed is the Bible, then you produce Christians. If your seed is Tradition, you produce whatever originated that Tradition, e.g. Catholics. If your seed is the word of John Wesley, you produce Wesleyans or Methodists (though they are going far from Wesley’s teachings today). The seed of the kingdom is just a word, small and seemingly insignificant, but can blossom into something greater (4:26-32).
(4:15) Wayside soil – word goes in one ear and out the other.
(4:16-17) Stony soil – word hasn’t been able to take root. They enjoy the good news for a time, but when they encounter the least bit resistance they falter. So much for OSAS.
(4:18-19) Thorny soil – word must compete with other cares, as the seed must compete with thorns. Ultimately the thorns win, just as the cares, distractions, and desires of this world lose to the word.
(4:20) Good soil – it’s not that the good soil doesn’t have a good root to start with or that there isn’t competition, it’s that the good soil allows time for roots to form and doesn’t let the competition take precedent. These are honest and good hearts, and the bounty is astounding (30-fold, 60-fold, 100-fold).
Parable of the Lamp (4:21-25).
It is likely this is a continuation of what Jesus is telling to “those around Him with the twelve” (4:10).
An explanation follows each parable/illustration (v. 22 follows v. 21 & v. 25 follows v. 24).
Later it is evident He was speaking to the crowds again, assuming all this takes places in chronological order (4:33).
It seems to, as these parables are spoken on the same day as when Jesus identifies His family (Matt. 13:1) and when He goes out to sea later (4:35).
A lamp’s prominence (4:21-23).
This reminds me of the kids’ song about this little light of mine: “Hide it under a bushel, NO! I’m gonna let it shine.”
Clearly, if you want a lamp to be useful, you put it in a prominent place to illuminate as much of the room as possible—likely someplace high. We often put lights in the ceiling or high up on a wall.
Jesus, in context, is talking about that which is obscured by teaching in parables. All will be revealed, and was at the completion of the canon (1 Cor. 13:9-10, 12; Eph. 4:13).
Does that mean we know everything? No, but it does mean we know everything we need to know (i.e. interpret OT through lens of NT).
Same measure returned (4:24-25).
The Twelve and those with them were told to take heed to what He said.
They were given much, listening to Jesus’ teachings and even His explanations. Much was expected of them.
To those of us who have the ability to learn and study, much is required of us that of those who cannot do so as easily.
We have access to so many manuscripts, so many translations, so many online study resources. In today’s age, we have been given so much, therefore much more is required of us.
Of course, not everyone has the same access to these resources, and not everyone is as technologically savvy as others when it comes to online resources and other software.
Whatever the case, we must make use of what we have for the glory of the kingdom!
But if you do not use what you’ve been given, it will be taken from you.
Recall the Parable of the Talents (Matt. 25:14-30).
