Preaching through Mark: week 4

Mark 4:1-9

“And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land. And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine, Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: and it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: but when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred. And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

These fields show that we need to be ready to hear the word. God must make our hearts able e to hear the word. There are a few types of hearts represented here: those who are born again (they can hear and believe ) and those who are dead (can not believe). If you are born again, you will hear the word of God and follow it. The sign that you are born again is that you have repented and believed. Those who are not born again “ Many that have heard Christ himself preach in their streets, will hereafter be bidden to depart from him; those therefore who place all their religion in hearing, as if that alone would save them, do but deceive themselves, and build their hope upon the sand”1. We must act on the Word that is preached. Faith without works is dead [Jam. 2].

Mark 4:10-20

And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? The sower soweth the word. And these are they by the wayside, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred. 

Again, the word of God will bring forth friut. The Word and sacraments are the means by which God works in our hearts. This is why frequent partaking of communion is important-it is a means of grace. “The means of grace are God’s appointed instruments by which the Holy Spirit enables believers to receive Christ and the benefits of redemption”2. God has promised to be present wherever the means of grace [sacraments, preaching, worship etc] are being used.  

Mark 4:21-25

And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick? For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.

The word must be proclaimed to all. It is the light of truth which leads to faith. We do not know who God will enlighten, so the word is for all. 

Mark 4:26-34

And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come. And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: but when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it. And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

The word grows. Of course, we begin with the basic gospel [Jesus died for me and rose again ] but we grow into complex theological issues. We are to learn the system of doctrine. Theolgy is for all believers; this blog seeks to bring theology to the common person.

Mark 4:35-41

 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Jesus brings peace. He cures our storms and fills us. We are to trust him in hard times to carry us.

Application:

We are to obey the word to know The Word. the scriptures are the “testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation” 3. They led us to christ.

Hymn of response:

Speak The Word Lord

Lord – New Hinsons

Speak the word Lord my ears long to hear you,

Speak the word Lord my heart aches to know. 

Speak the word Lord I will be what you have me to be 

Speak the word Lord and your servant will go. 

Now there has been times that I complained, 

as life rubbed against the grain and I recall those times you took me to my knees. 

But there is onething I can do so I still give this Thanks to You that you Lord who took my cross to Calvary

Speak the word Lord my ears long to hear you,

Speak the word Lord my heart aches to know.

Speak the word Lord I will be what you have me to be. 

Speak the word Lord and your servant will go

Works Cited 

1. Henry, Matthew. “Complete Commentary on Mark 4”. “Matthew Henry Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible”. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/mhm/mark-4.html. 1706.
2. Batzig, N. T. (2020, May 15). What Is a Means of Grace? Tabletalk. https://tabletalkmagazine.com/article/2020/06/what-is-a-means-of-grace/. (Accessed: 22. May, 2021)
3. Baptist Faith and Message, art. I. 2000].