Mark 4 – Quarterlife study
This week we are in the fourth chapter of Mark. We are
introduced here to some of Jesus’s parables. Jesus said nothing to the crowds
without speaking in parables (Mark 4:34). In the last chapter, we got a glimpse
into Jesus ministry style. He had compassion for the crowds, and he would
preach to them, but he never gave himself fully to them. He explains this to
his disciples by quoting Isaiah (Isaiah 6:9-10). “…they may be ever seeing but
never perceiving, ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might
turn and be forgiven” (Mark 4:12). This is a surprising pronouncement, because
it appears as if Jesus doesn’t want these people to be saved. Why wouldn’t he
want to restore these people to a relationship with him? Isn’t that the reason
he came?
I think the rest of this chapter helps to make it
understandable. Remember that Jesus had an inner circle. He explains everything
to them (Mark 4:34). Then he says to this to them: “Whatever is hidden is meant
to be made known, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the
open” (Mark 4:22). “What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is
whispered in your ears, proclaim from the rooftops” (Matt. 10:27). Jesus is
committing the gospel to them. He intends to send them out to build the church
(Matt. 28:18). They will make known to the world everything he taught and
explained in secret.
Now let’s examine the first parable in this chapter in this
light. This is often called the parable of the sower. The sower throws out seed
on several types of ground, and we see what grows. Jesus explains the that seed
is the word of God and the soil is our hearts. The point of the sowing is to
produce fruit. This parable gives us insight into several conditions of the
human heart. The main obstacle to producing fruit is the condition of the soil.
The only thing that can be done is to work the soil. I
believe that this is what Jesus was doing with the crowds here. He was preparing
their hearts to be ready to receive the gospel when the apostles went out to
preach after his resurrection. He is tilling the soil of their hearts. He
performs miracles. He preaches repentance. Just like John the Baptist preached:
“repent for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matt. 3:2). His was the voice
of one crying, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight” (Mark 1:3).
Get your heart right so that you will be able to receive what God is doing. This
word still speaks to us today. I would encourage you to prepare your own heart,
so that you don’t miss what God wants to do in your life.
Let’s take a closer look at this parable of the sower and
consider how we can apply it to our lives. Jesus explains things to the
disciples in verses 13-20. He describes four types of soil: the hard soil, the
rocky soil, the thorny soil, and the good soil.
1.
The Hard Soil
The first place the seed falls is on the hard soil. This is
the dirt on the path. It has been trampled, beaten down, packed tight. Life has
made the heart hard. In these hearts, the word does not even take root. I am
reminded of the Pharisees in the last chapter whose hearts were so hard they
could not be moved to faith by Jesus miracles or his compassion. There are
people out there who have been trampled by life, beaten down so far that they
don’t have an opening in their hearts. These people hear the word and
immediately reject it. Jesus tells us that Satan comes and steals the word. We
should be careful of our hearts that we don’t become callus to his word.
2.
The Rocky Soil
The second type of soil is the rocky soil. These people
receive the word immediately with joy. Life starts to grow in their hearts, but
then trouble or persecution comes, and they fall away. This indicates why
spiritual maturity is so important. Without roots, a Christian cannot last. We
need to be constantly growing deeper in our faith.
Trouble will come. Jesus told us that. “In this world you
will have trouble…” (John 16:3). It is a fact of life, for the believer and
unbeliever alike. But the rest of Jesus’s statement makes the difference: “but
take heart, I have overcome the world.” He is with us to help us through the
trouble. He came to this earth and endured suffering to endure it with
us. The only way to endure, to stand firm, is to have a deep intimate
connection with Jesus. If that doesn’t happen, you will be overcome.
3.
The Thorny Soil
The third type of soil produces plants that live but fail to
produce. Sadly, I think this describes too many Christians today. Professing to
follow God, but with fruit to show in their lives. Jesus explains just what
causes this fruitlessness to occur. There are three things that will bring
fruitlessness in our lives, the cares of life, the deceitfulness of wealth, or
the desires for other things.
The first is the cares of this life. There are the daily
concerns in life that threaten to eat up all our time and concentration. These
are things that need to be done. Providing for our families, taking care of
kids, doing school or work, all the things that make life work. But it is easy
to let these things take over our lives. We can miss our lives trying to juggle
all the pieces. Consider for a moment how you measure success. Is it measured by
your career? Family? The places you’ve been or the fun you’ve had? We need to
be careful when we measure success by earthly things because it leads us to get
our priorities mixed up. True success is a right relationship with God. The problem comes when we get things out of
order. When don’t give the proper place to the things of God our spiritual life
suffers. These cares choke us when we put them before God.
The second thorn Jesus calls the deceitfulness of riches.
Again, this is about our definition of success. The deceit here is the false
promise that money will make you happy. If you just can get financially secure,
your problems will be over. That is a false dream. Certainly, you need to work,
and we need money to survive, but that is not what life is all about. Jesus
told us, “a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke
12:15). Defining success by your wealth is a good way to choke your life. Your
possessions will end up possessing you. The only true security is found in
trusting God. As Jesus said, “you cannot serve God and money" (Matt. 6:24).
The third thorn that chokes our life is the desire for other
things. The question we need to ask is, what do I really want? What is
competing with God for your attention? Jesus wants our hearts. I’ve heard it said
that if you want to know what is most important to you, then show me what you
spend you time on. God wants to be our greatest desire. David said, “As the
deer pants for water, so my soul longs for you.” Like a creature dying of
thirst, let us be desperate for a drink of his living water.
God wants to fulfil all your desires in him. “Delight
yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm
37:4). He will satisfy all our desires, but the first requirement is that we
delight ourselves in him. The word delight is related to the Hebrew word for
delicacy. It is like a finely crafted work of art. It indicates not just
enjoyment of him, but a surrender to him. “…and he will give you the desires of
your heart.” When we have made him our delight, when we have yielded to him,
and aligned our desires with his, then we will be fulfilled. That is true
success. That is when we will see fruit in our lives. All the desires of our
heart will be met, because they line up with His.
4.
The Good Soil
The final soil Jesus speaks of is the good soil. This is a
Christian life that produces fruit. It is the life in which we see the evidence
of the work of the Spirit: Love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control (Eph. 5:22). It is the life that reproduces
itself, sharing the gospel with others. We know from agriculture that the fruit
also contains seeds. Changed lives should result in the spread of the gospel.
Each generation produces another.
And, Jesus tells us, the fruit is produced in varying
degrees. Some soils produce thirty, some sixty, some one hundred times as much
as was sown. Fruitfulness is based on the condition of the heart. Some lives
are more effective than others. We would be wise to ask ourselves why.
I would like to encourage you, take some time to cultivate the
garden of your heart this week. Spend some time with God. Let the Holy Spirit
work the soil of your heart and produce fruit in your life.
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