Serving the Saviour - Studies in the Gospel of Mark - 4
Spiritual Lessons
Today we are studying Mark chapter 4. We do not find many parables in the Gospel of Mark. This chapter contains the four that Mark included. Each parable is designed to encourage and challenge God's servants. The Greek word for parable is a word which means "putting things side by side", Jesus put a spiritual truth alongside a story. The story illustrates and teaches that truth.
The first parable is the well known parable of the sower. In verse 3 Jesus said, "Listen! a Farmer went out to sow his seed". It is important that we do listen to what Jesus has to say. The word here means "pay close attention". The best thing we can ever do is to take notice of the words of the Lord Jesus Christ. The sower is the servant of God. The job of the sower is to spread the message of the good news of the Gospel. You are called to sow God's word wherever He has placed you.
We will meet with various reactions. In verse 4 Jesus taught, "Some (seed) fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up". There will be those who listen to what we say, but their minds are quickly distracted by Satan and other ideas influence their thinking. We read in verse 5, "Some fell on rocky places". This soil had no root and when the sun came up it withered away. There are those who are swayed to accept Jesus Christ because of a purely emotional reaction. Then when trouble comes they fall away. Verse 7 says, "Other seed fell among thorns." The hearer receives what we say about Christ but they are so taken up with this world's cares and stresses that the spiritual life is choked. They make no spiritual progress. Verse 8 tells us, "Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, and grew and produced a crop." This is the person who listens well and regularly applies the word of God to his life. He grows into a strong and healthy believer.
Which group are you in today? Is your life shaped more by the ideas of this world? Are you ready to give up the Christian life because things are tough? Maybe you are not developing spiritually because you are burdened with care and worry about this passing life. Jesus said in verse 9, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." There is a right way to hear. You must listen to Jesus with attentiveness. You must be prepared to live out what He says with your eyes set on Him. Be single-minded in his work.
The next parable is the lamp on a stand. Jesus said in verse 21, "Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or bed? Instead, don't you put it on its stand? ". The servant of God is unashamed to shine out his Gospel light in a dark world. God has given us all we need to be saved and to know his will. Verse 22 says, "For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out in the open". God has not left us in the dark about the way of salvation. Everything needful for the soul is in the open in Christ and the Gospel. Augustine said, "The new is in the old concealed. The old is in the new revealed."
Verses 24 and 25 tell us, "Consider carefully what you hear ... with the measure you use, it will be measured to you - and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him". Either we use it or lose it! This passage teaches an important principle of spiritual growth. The more we give out to Christ and others in his service the more we receive from Him. The amount of attention you give to the Lord, and the greater your commitment to Him, will determine the level of your spiritual advancement. If you become negligent, then even what you have will be taken. You will lose it because you didn't preserve it and value it. Are you shining out? Is your testimony for Christ radiant?
The next parable is the parable of the growing seed. Jesus said in verses 26 and 27, "This is what the Kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows". You may sometimes wonder as you serve the Lord, 'is God using my witness and work for him?' Be assured God is at work in the world, and He is blessing the labours of you his servants. There is something quiet and mysterious about God's workings. Verse 29 says, "All by itself the soil produces corn-first the stalk, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear." Although his work is unseen yet we see the results of it. Then the great harvest comes. Verse 29 says, "He puts the sickle to it". God's work is finished and his purposes fulfilled. Be encouraged! God knows your work. He is using it for his glory even when it appears there are no immediate visible results.
In verses 30 to 34 we have the parable of the mustard seed.
Again, it pictures the Kingdom of God. Jesus said in verses 31 and 32, "It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade". God's kingdom began in a small way. Who could have imagined what the birth of a small baby would bring; then, twelve men. Only one hundred and twenty disciples on the day of Pentecost. Yet out of this grew the world-wide Church of Christ with millions of adherents. Multitudes have found, salvation, security, peace and hope as they "perch in its shade"! Are you resting and sheltering in Christ? Do you belong to his Kingdom?
Christ taught many truths in the form of parables. Verse 34 says, "He did not say anything to them without using a parable". But how do we come to understand parables? We read in verse 34, "When He was alone with his disciples, He explained everything." We grow in understanding by spending time alone with Christ in Bible reading and prayer.
Verses 35 to 41 record the miraculous calming of the storm by Christ. The disciples were in a boat during a bad storm. We read in verse 38, "Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion." The disciples thought the Lord was not concerned about them. They said in verse 38, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown? ". Jesus got up, and verse 39 says, " He rebuked the wind and said to the waves, 'Quiet! be still!'." The storm stopped.
We might wonder why this event is recorded at the end of chapter of parables. The reason is this: as we shine for Christ, serve Him and sow the seed we will also face storms. They will be storms of opposition, persecution, trials and problems. In it all Christ will speak peace to our hearts assuring us of his presence and help. Jesus said in Matthew 28 verse 20, "And surely 1 am with you always, to the very end of the age. Continue to serve the Lord in the strength of that promise. He will never leave you.