Mark 4

Mark 4:1

In Mark’s portrayal of Jesus as Servant, in chapters 1-3, we saw the Servant’s works. Here in chapters 4 and 5, we’ll see the Servant’s words. Although our Western belief is that “talk is cheap,” Hebrew writers and thinkers viewed words as being arrows that, when shot, would carry packets of energy that would leave a lasting impression upon the hearers. This being the case, in the first part of chapter 4, we see insight from Jesus’ words; and at the end of chapter 4 and into chapter 5, we see the impact of His words. Taking advantage of the natural acoustical properties of water, Jesus spoke from a boat offshore to the group of perhaps thousands who listened to Him on the beach.

Mark 4:2

Before explaining the meaning of the parable to His disciples, Jesus told them they were those to whom the mystery of the kingdom of God would be revealed. In the Bible, the Greek word musterion, or “mystery,” refers to a truth previously hidden but now revealed. There are a number of mysteries of which the New Testament speaks, among them the mystery of iniquity, revealed through an understanding of spiritual warfare (2Th_2:7), and the mystery of godliness, revealed in the Person of Jesus Christ (1Ti_3:16). Here, Jesus is about to reveal to the disciples the mystery of the kingdom of God… Why would Jesus want to keep anyone from being converted? The answer lies in the fact that because He could have spoken so powerfully that people would have been forced to concede to the logic of His argument and converted against their will, Jesus chose to speak in a way that would not manipulate people or force them into a decision. Because He will not force His will upon anyone intellectually, emotionally, or spiritually, Jesus spoke in parables in order that only those who wanted to hear would hear, in order that only those who wanted to see would see.

Mark 4:13

This parable is a key to understanding them all.

Mark 4:14

The sower here is one who is scattering seedwhich speaks of the Scriptures. “You’re born again not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, that is, the Word of God,” said Peter (see 1Pe_1:23). The soil upon which the seed is sown speaks of the condition of men’s heartsnot only of the hearts of four different individuals, but of the condition of our own hearts at any given time. When you read this parable, don’t think you’re automatically always the one who has the good soil and the abundant fruit. On any given day, in any given week, this can change. We don’t remain in the same spot. This parable speaks to all of us, depending upon the current condition of our hearts.

Mark 4:15

The first soil described here speaks of people who are hard-hearted. They hear the Word, and it doesn’t penetrate at all. “That’s for the birds,” they say. And the birds come and pluck it away.

Mark 4:16

This speaks not of hard hearts, but of shallow hearts. “Jesus is great!” say those with shallow commitments as they put bumper stickers on their cars. They spring up quicklybut their roots aren’t very deep. And when the sun comes out, when persecution starts coming their way, when people start making fun of them, they begin to wither because their roots are shallow.

Mark 4:18

This speaks not of a hard heart, nor a shallow heart, but of a crowded heart. The cares of the world speak primarily to the person who is poor financially, and thus, always worried about how he’ll make ends meet. The deceitfulness of riches, on the other hand, speaks of the wealthy man who mistakenly thinks his new ski boat will make him genuinely happy. If God blesses you financially, you have every right to freely receive and enjoy the blessings He’s brought to you. But don’t get caught up in thinking that if you just had one more thing, you’d really be happy. It’s simply not true.

Mark 4:20

Normally, a crop brings forth eight times the seed sown. So even thirty to one is an incredible ration. Sixty to one is astronomical. One hundred to one is miraculous. Where are you? The fact that you have made a decision to receive the Word and allow it to penetrate the soil of your spirit even as you study right now is indicative of the potential for miraculous fruit in your life.

Mark 4:21

People often use this verse to say everything you’ve done wrong, said wrong, thought wrong is going to be exposed. That’s not what’s being said here. Rather, the Lord is saying, “I don’t want people to be in the dark concerning My ways or My heart.”

Mark 4:24

Jesus isn’t saying, “Take heed what you hear.” He says, rather, “Take heed how you hear, the way you hear.” In other words, when you receive truth, if you release it to others, more will be given. If, on the other hand, you simply take in truth without allowing it to flow through you to others, you’ll begin to lose what was given to you previously, and find fresh revelation or insight no longer being given to you.

Mark 4:26

As he sows seed, a farmer doesn’t understand exactly how the seed grows. Yet one day he looks out the window and sees a crop. Keep in mind, Jesus is talking about the mystery of the effect of the Word. And, like the seed sown by the farmer, it’s inexplicable how studying the Scriptures causes the kingdom to be established within us and among us. People who are not believers think we’re crazy to come week by week to study a page or two from a book thousands of years old. Yet when we study the Word corporately and have devotions personally, something happens miraculously. We begin to look at life differently, and good fruit begins to grow. Oh, we’re not perfect. We have a long way to go. But the process has begun.

Mark 4:30

After teaching encouragingly about the kingdom, Jesus ends with a warning that the kingdom is like a mustard seed that grows to the point that birds lodge within its branches. Due to the fact that nowhere in the world now or historically has a mustard seed ever grown into a tree big enough to support birds and their nests, I believe Jesus is saying that as the kingdom grows, it will expand unnaturally in its organization and structure; that it will become bigger than it was ever intended to be, that birdsthe Biblical symbol of evilwill lodge therein. We see this in so many systems throughout church history, as complexity replaced simplicity and hierarchy swallowed liberty.

Mark 4:33

After teaching about the Word, Jesus now gives His word to the disciples that they would indeed pass over to the other side of the Sea of Galileea word Satan would soon test.

Mark 4:36

We have the tendency to think that no one faces the same temptations, challenges, or storms we do. Paul, however, tells us no temptation comes to us except that which is common to man (1Co_10:13). That is why there were with the disciples “other little ships” out on the Sea of Galilee.

Mark 4:37

Jesus had taught about His Word, and had given His word that the disciples would make it to the other side. But whether regarding a promise Jesus gave to His disciples, or one He gives to you, after teaching comes testing. Always.

Mark 4:38

If Jesus is in your boat, it can’t sink. If He’s in your life, you won’t go down. He has promised to perfect that which concerns you (Psa_138:8). And though the storm might rage, causing you to say, “Master, don’t You care that I’m perishing?” He’s not worried. He’s sleepingnot in apathy, but with great security. “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty…” Zephaniah tells us, “…He will rest in His love…” (Zep_3:17). Thus, concerning the storm you may be going through even now or perhaps will face tomorrow, the Lord is not wondering if you’re going to make it. He’s resting in His love. He knows He’s going to see you through.

Mark 4:39

The Greek word translated “be still” literally means “be muzzled.” This is the same command Jesus issued when He addressed demons, which implies that this storm was actually stirred by Satan. When Jesus thwarted Satan’s plan and calmed the storm, not only were the disciples at peace, but all of the “other little ships” were spared as well. So, too, when Jesus makes His power known by the storms He calms for us, those around us benefit as they see His faithfulness to us.

Mark 4:40

The One who calmed the storm was the One who had allowed the storm in order to teach the disciples to believe His Word.

Mark 4:41

It is not the outward circumstances we have to fear, but the inward waves of fear and faithlessness that well up within us. The Lord has given us His Word that He will never leave us or forsake us (Heb_13:5). Therefore, no matter how strong the storm might seem, no matter the force of the waves that beat upon our boat, if we love God and are called according to His purpose, all things will work together for good (Rom_8:28); He will complete that which He began in us (Php_1:6)and we can be at peace.