Bible Study - Everything (2) - JESUS Teaches - Mark 4:1-9 - December 10, 2017

Bible Study – Everything (2) – JESUS Teaches – December 10, 2017

This lesson two (2) in our series entitled “JESUS Changes Everything.”

Our focus scripture is Mark 4:1-9.

Obeying JESUS’ teaching leads to fruitful living.

JESUS often taught using parables. What is a parable? It is an earthly example to help explain a Spiritual truth. We get to study one such parable in our lesson, “The Parable of the Sower” sowing seeds.

JESUS used agrarian examples because people could relate. Even today, we can relate to the examples HE taught over 2000 years ago.

JESUS was on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. There was a very large crowd of people gathered and HE used that opportunity to teach them about sowing truth in their lives and the lives of others.

Truth is always truth and is like a seed. A seed has all it needs to reproduce and bear a product suitable for its intended purpose. What the seed needs is the proper environment to sprout. A major ingredient needed for the seed to sprout and grow is the condition and preparation of the soil. The environment is also a factor.

Some Bible scholars state that in the time period of JESUS, farmers sowed the seed and then plowed the ground to cover the seeds. Whereas today, the farmer prepares the ground and then plants the seeds.

I heard a report in the last few days that our soil has lost much of its nutrients so that the products produced do not provide the level of nutrients needed for good health. Many farmers are rebuilding their soil but it will take years. Sadly, this is a picture of the Spiritual health of the world we live in today. We have compromised so much that the truth in GOD’S Word is covered over and has lost its Spiritual nutrients.

Pray that GOD will restore the nutritive value of GOD’S Word in the world.

JESUS used common items or occurrences in the form of a story or parables to illustrate Spiritual truths that help explain the nature, coming, and completion of the Kingdom of GOD. These truths were broadcast to the general audience and fell upon their ears. How they responded to these truths was dependent upon the attitude of their hearts.

As mentioned earlier, a parable carries the idea of the story relating a Spiritual truth or a common known occurrence which is parallel to the Spiritual truth. There is the need to glean the truth from the example. 

JESUS had performed miracles such as turning water into wine. Not just wine but the best wine. He had cured the sick, cured physical ailments, raised the dead, and the list goes on. JESUS performed miracles to reveal and confirm that HE is GOD. The most important reason was to get those who heard HIS message to think about what HE was teaching. JESUS was to prepare those who heard to know and understand the reason HE came to earth. HE was establishing the Kingdom of GOD and paying, in full, the price for sin and its consequence, eternal death.

JESUS was born a human, yet HE was GOD. He was truth. HE taught so that those who listened and heard the truth would put HIS teachings into action both then and following HIS death, burial, resurrection and beyond.

These parables bless and teach us today. They are timeless.

Let’s read Mark 4:1-2a:

The Parable of the Sower

1 Again He began to teach by the sea, and a very large crowd gathered around Him. So He got into a boat on the sea and sat down, while the whole crowd was on the shore facing the sea. 

2 He taught them many things in parables

JESUS was teaching by the Sea of Galilee possibly near Capernaum. JESUS got into a boat and sat down to teach the large crowd that had gathered. Rabbi’s generally taught seated.

HE taught them Spiritual truths using parables. In our study, HE used the parable of seeds and the sower. In other parables, HE referred to fishing nets, sheep, coins, barns, etc.

Often, when we hear a story or parable, it may lie dormant until we begin to seek truth and then a Spiritual light turns on in our minds and darkness is dispelled and we see truth. It is the Holy Spirit Who illumines our hearts and minds. It is a joyous/overwhelming moment when truth is revealed.

Let’s read Mark 4:2b-7:

and in His teaching He said to them: 

3"Listen! Consider the sower who went out to sow. 

4 As he sowed, this occurred: Some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 

5 Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn't have much soil, and it sprang up right away, since it didn't have deep soil. 

6When the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it didn't have a root, it withered. 

7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it didn't produce a crop.

JESUS stated three types of soil in these passages and all three fail to produce a product. Then HE told about the fourth type of soil into which seed was applied. It was good soil which had been prepared to receive the Spiritual seeds sown. These seeds in good soil will produce salvation and a life of obedient, fruit bearing service. Spiritual fruit will be produced in that person’s life and in the lives of those to whom he or she ministers.

Satan is our enemy, Christian or non-Christian, and he is very active in the lives of those who are to receive salvation or those who have received salvation and desire to live in obedience to GOD. Satan does not want you to become a Christian and he will do all he can to prevent you from becoming a Christian. If you do become a Christian, he will do all he can to discourage you from living the abundant life that JESUS promised to you.

Many people have many false starts at Christian living and fail according to their or some religious institution’s idea of Christian living. They give up or allow circumstances to become a wedge between them and GOD’S power. But GOD NEVER GIVES UP ON YOU! So what does this person do? Often, these folks are trying to live the Christian life in their strength.

They need to confess their inability to live the Christian life and confess their desire to live the Christian life. The key is that GOD, through faith in JESUS, must help us to live life through HIS strength, HIS truth and the indwelling Holy Spirit.

How do I know this? I accepted JESUS as my Savior when I was about 9 years old. I was not baptized until I was in college. I tried to live the Christian life in my strength and failed. In my thirties, I tried even harder to live the so-called Christian life but failed. I thought “I” had to clean up my life. I became frustrated because I could not. The little booklet, “My Heart CHRIST’S Home” was close to being an example of my life. I had cleaned up many rooms in my life, myself, but there was one room that had all my little precious, secret things in it that I did not want to give up. I had the key to that room. JESUS came to visit and I was showing HIM my house. HE wanted to see all the rooms. I showed HIM every room except one. But, of course, HE wanted to see that room. HE asked for the key. And said HE would unlock it and clean it out for me.

I knew what I needed to do but was too stubborn to do it. One day while driving to work, I asked JESUS to take my life just like it was, the good and the bad, and for HIM to give me the strength to live the Christian life. In the twinkling of the eye or faster, HE did. Oh, there have been many ups and downs but one thing sure and certain, I am and will always know that I am GOD’S Son through faith in JESUS. The Holy Spirit is still teaching, revealing truth and building the right relationship with GOD through my faith in JESUS.   

JESUS’ disciples questioned HIM about the use of parables. What did JESUS say about the scripture we just read and what HE meant?

Let’s read Mark 4:10-19:

10 When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. 

11 He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables 

12 so that, “‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’” 

13 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 

JESUS explains the parable.

14 The farmer sows the word. 

15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 

16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 

17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 

18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 

19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 

Let’s read Mark 8-9:

8 Still others fell on good ground and produced a crop that increased 30, 60, and 100 times [what was sown]." 

9 Then He said, "Anyone who has ears to hear should listen!"

What did JESUS say about the seed sown in good soil?

Let’s read Mark 4: 20:

20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”

Notice, JESUS used the word “hear.” The physical act of hearing is different from Spiritual hearing. How does GOD speak to us? Any way HE knows we will listen and hear HIM e.g. through HIS Word, a still small voice, internal knowing and the list goes on.

When JESUS taught, hearing was step one. Understanding was step two and putting what you heard and understood into action was step three. Obedience to what the Holy Spirit reveals to each Christian prepares the Spiritual soil in their lives and, in turn, GOD uses us in the lives of others.  

All Christians are soil preparers and seed sowers by the lives we live, our actions, our testimony, studying GOD’S Word, mentoring others, prayer life and the list goes on. We nurture our friends, family and those GOD sends to us. In doing so, GOD uses us to prepare the soil of their lives to receive the seeds of truth.

Christians must keep the Spiritual soil in their lives tilled, well fertilized, watered and ready to receive the Spiritual seeds GOD sends to us through the indwelling Holy Spirit and HIS Word.

Every Christian is to study, pray, probe, be alert, be open to opportunities to obediently serve and the list goes on.

The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:6:

6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.   

GOD uses Christians to plant seeds, dig in the soil, fertilize, pull some weeds, prune, help, harvest, encourage, provide light and the list goes on. What can you add? Blessings!!!

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