4 parables of the Kingdom… vs. 21-34

• 1^st – Parable of the Lamp stand… vs. 21-22
  • Is a lamp put under a bed…
    • If you light a lamp in a dark room – you don’t hide it under a basket – or under a bed
    • If you did it would not be able to give off light – not to mention the fire hazard…
    • The purpose of a lamp is to give light to the room – so put out in the open for all to see
  • Nothing hidden that will not be revealed – secret that will not come to light…
    • Jesus was teaching in parables – truths that only the disciples understood
    • But they were not to be kept a secret– they were truth/light everyone needed to hear
    • What was given as a secret – hidden in parables – they were to put out for all to see!
    • Those who understand – know the truth – have the opportunity – obligation to share it
    • We know we need Jesus for salvation – we know the reason for trials in life
    • We understand true riches is contentment – and life is about knowing Jesus
    • We know what most of the world is in the dark about – we are called to tell them!
      
• 2^nd – Parable of the Measure… vs. 23-25
  • If anyone has ears to hear…
    • It is not a question of having ears – we all have ears…
    • It is a question of are we willing to use our ears to listen – are we paying attention…
    • Too often are ears are open – to all the wrong things – and closed to the right ones
  • So Jesus warns… ‘Be careful what you hear’…
    • Be careful what you allow your ears to hear – what you spend you time listening to…
    • Philippians 4:8 – “Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
    • We choose daily what we fill our minds with – by choosing what we listen to…
    • Do we fill our heads and hearts with this world – or with God’s Word
  • Because with what measure you use – it will be measured back to you…
    • This idea of ‘measure’ is an interesting one – it carries the idea of a ‘balance/scales’…
    • The same balance you use in relating to others – is how they will relate to you…
    • In Matthew it is used in regards to judging others…
      • Matthew 7:2  “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”
      • They way we treat others – judge or forgive – is how they tend to treat us – ‘balance’
    • In Luke it is used in regards to giving to others…
      • Luke 6:38 – “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
      • The way we give – or don’t give – to others is how they tend to give to us – ‘balance’
    • But here in Mark it is used in regards to our relationship with God…
      • Mark 4:24 – “With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.”
      • The more we hear the Word of God – the more understanding we will be given
      • As we take the time to read the Bible – go to Bible studies – we learn about Jesus
      • You don’t learn advanced mathematics or chemistry in your 1^st year of school
      • In the same way you don’t learn everything about Jesus/Word in a day
      • The more we learn – the more we are able to learn – the more we understand God!
    • But the one does not hear – even what he ‘thinks’ he has – will be taken away…
      • Luke 8:18 – “For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”
      • Those who do not learn about God – do not take the time to listen to the Word
      • Even those things they think they have – will be taken away from them…
      • What is it that we think is more important than listening to the Lord – His Word
      • It is only our relationship with Jesus that’s eternal – everything else is temporary
      • Riches / possessions / popularity  – we might think we have them but they don’t last
        
• 3^rd – Parable of the Growing grain… vs. 26-29
  • A Man who scatters seed on the ground…
    • Very similar imagery to the Parable of the Seed and the Sower
    • We know the Seed – is the Word of God / the Soil – is the hearts of men…
    • The seed is scattered – suggesting it is liberally applied to every kind of soil…
    • So a man (anyone who shares Jesus) – going out telling everyone about the Good News!
  • The man does not know how the seed grows…
    • He sleeps by night – rises by day ~ speaking of the passing of time…
    • The man has no part in the growing process – the growth is a complete mystery to him
    • How does a small seed – over time – become tubo / mais / buko – we don’t know
    • The bottom line is a seed grows into a plant – because God designed them that way
    • So it is not about the one who sows the seed – all the credit goes to God!
    • I Corinthians 3:7 – “So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase!”
  • The seed grows automatically…
    • By itself – automatos – only used 2 times in the New Testament – Acts 12:10
    • From a blade – to a head – to the full head of grain – ready to the harvested
    • Talk to 10 people and they will give you 10 different ‘tips’ to help a plant grow…
    • The truth is all a plant needs is the sun/soil/water – give them that and they’ll grow…
    • Like with plants we are often caught up in the ideas of men on how to grow in the Lord
    • If we give so much money, pray so many times, or follow certain rules…
    • All the believer (soil) needs is the Word (seed) and Jesus (sun) with Spirit (water)
    • When the believer has all of these things – they automatically grow in the Lord!
      
• 4^th – Parable of the Mustard seed… vs. 30-32
  • The mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds – yet becomes a large bush (not a tree)
  • Jesus here likens the Kingdom of Heaven to a mustard seed…
  • The first view…
    • The Church (Kingdom of Heaven) starts very small…
    • But it will grow into a large tree – much larger even than expected
    • So large Ii will give comfort and shelter to those who need it (birds of the air)
  • The second view…
    • The Church (Kingdom of Heaven) starts very small…
    • But it will grow unnaturally large – swelled by those who are not really believers
    • Satan (the birds of the air) will even be able to hide in its branches…
  • Two very different views – which is right…
    • In Matthew 13 – Jesus gives the parable of the wheat and the tares…
    • Those who are true believers (wheat) and those who pretend (tares)
    • It would appear the church becomes unnaturally large due to the tares – pretenders
    • Also we know birds represent satan from the parable of the “Seed and the Sower”
    • History shows the church flourished under persecution in the first 3 centuries
      • It was when the church became the accepted religion that things went wrong
      • Though the numbers grew – those who truly believed in Jesus declined
      • Satan found that the best way to beat the church – was to join it!
    • The question we are left to ask ourselves is – are we serious about our faith…
    •  II Corinthians 13:5 – “Examine yourselves to see if your faith is really genuine. Test yourselves. If you cannot tell that Jesus Christ is among you, it means you have failed the test.”
    • An honest assessment of our lives – make sure we are good soil with good fruit

Power over the wind and the sea… vs. 35-41

• Jesus got into the Boat – and the dicsiples followed Him…
  • Jesus told the disciples to cross over to the other side…
    • It had been a busy day – teaching / healing / rebuking leaders / parables…
    • Jesus wanted to leave the western Galilee and head over to the east side…
    • There were a number of little boats that came along – only mentioned in Mark
  • Great windstorm arose – the waves beat (Imperfect) into the boat – filling the boat!
    • The Sea of Galilee is 207 meters below sea level
    • Mount Hermon in the north is over 2,814 meters above sea level
    • The effect is there are HUGE storms that suddenly break out on the Galilee
    • This was no small storm – a bagio – certain death in a little boat ~ 26’ x 7’…
  • Yet Jesus was asleep – on a pillow…
    • Don’t you care – we are perishing…
    • The disciples questioned the concern of Jesus for them – they thought they were dead
    • But they still knew where to look in the midst of the bagio – they went to Jesus!
    • Do we do out best in hard times – be resourceful – look to our selves…
    • Or do we fall on our knees and look to Jesus – the one with all the answers!
  • Why are you fearful?  Oh you of little faith…
    • Jesus had said they were going to the other side…
      • If we look at the bagio we will be overwhelmed – fearful and unsure
      • If we listen to Jesus – then we can have perfect peace in the Bagio!
    • Jesus rebuked the wind and the waves – there was a GREAT calm
      • Even in the midst of the GREAT storms – bagio – of life…
      • As we look to Jesus we will find that there is a GREAT calm!
      • Philippians 4:7 – “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
  • Who can this be – even the wind and the sea obey Him…
    • So often we forget who created the wind and the waves – bagio
    • Our circumstances – trials – difficulties – bagios – are no surprise to God
    • They are not greater than God – and He is MORE than able to overcome them
    • More often than not He has allowed them so that we learn to cry out to Him