Editors note: Today's devotional is based on Mark 4:1-20! I have decided to go back to the Gospel of Mark and continue from Chapter 4 of the archives for January 2006.

Quiet Times: ( Psalm 04, Proverbs 04, and Mark 4:1-20)

Guard your affections for they influence everything else in your life. (Proverbs 4:23)

“Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge. He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: "Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times." (Mark 4:1-8, NIV)

 “Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. 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 so that," 'they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!'" (Mark 4:10-12, NIV)

“Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? The farmer sows the word. 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. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 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. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 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. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown." (Mark 4:13-20, NIV)

Observations:

I asked myself what did Jesus decide to do?

Interpretations:

I asked myself what is a parable?

I learned three things about a parable:

a.   An illustration turned into a tale.

b.   A tale elaborated on the spur of the moment by a gifted teacher.

c.   A gifted teacher who used common everyday events that made up life to make a main point.

Observation:

I asked myself what happens after Jesus tells the parable?

Let us remember that a large crowd had gathered to hear Jesus and they heard this parable.  Jesus does something very interesting after telling the parable:

 “Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." (Mark 4:9, NIV)

I asked myself what is the outcome?

No one in the large crowd asked Jesus what the parable meant except His disciples and the others around Him.

“When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables.” (Mark 4:10, NIV)

Jesus does not even answer them right away regarding the parable but makes two puzzling statements:

Observation/Interpretation/Application:

I asked myself what point was Jesus trying to get across by answering them this way?

I believe there were four reasons why Jesus spoke this way:

Reason 1: 
“It was to fulfill prophecy”

People there who knew their Scriptures would know that this was a fulfillment of prophecy given in Isaiah.

In the Book of Isaiah chapter 6, v. 9 we learn, "Go and tell this people: `Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.' (Isaiah 6:9, NIV)

Reason 2:
“It was to CONCEAL to those who were not genuinely interested in the ‘meaning of the parables’”

I believe, when Jesus spoke to large crowds with his parables he did not want to force his truth on those whose hearts were already hardened.

In v. 9, “Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." (Mark 4:9, NIV)

Jesus wants those who are there to hear Him and take to heart what is being said. Those who just hear a message may not necessarily understand what it means. A parable weeds out those who are not seriously interested in the message being given (v. 12)

“So that," 'they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding;” (Mark 4:12, NIV)

Jesus wants his message to sink into the hearts of the people. Jesus is calling each person and wants that person to take his illustration very seriously.

 If their hearts were hardened, they would not grasp what the parable meant nor ask what it meant. They would just ignore it. In that way though they see Jesus’ illustration they would not really perceive what it means and though they hear they would not really understand what it meant. So, they cannot be forgiven because they have not acted upon what Jesus has told them because there hearts have been hardened. There is a cyclical effect here.

Reason 3:
“It was to APPEAL to those genuinely interested in ‘meaning of the parables’

On the other hand if their hearts were not hardened such as the disciples and those around Him, they would be more curious about what the parable meant and ask Jesus to explain it to them. This way it would be of their free choice learning about the secrets of the Kingdom of God rather than being forced to learn it. They would have gained more understanding but also realize the cost of following Jesus.

Reason 4:
”It was to REVEAL to those genuinely interested in the ‘meaning of the parables’”

Observation:

I asked myself what is the explanation Jesus gave to the disciples?

I remember that every parable has a ‘central point or theme to it and read the explanation:

“Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? The farmer sows the word. 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. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 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. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 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. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown." (Mark 4:13-20, NIV)

Interpretation:

I asked myself what does the parable relate to?

I learned that the parable can be categorized into four types:

I also learned that many parables could overlap especially with ‘Relating to God’s Kingdom’. The one the Lord has been teaching me today has to do with God’s Kingdom and our Christian Walk.

There is no need to interpret the "Parable of the Sower" because Jesus already explained it. Interpretation is needed for parables that have not been explained.

Source: Most of the bulleted points I shared regarding parables came from the IVP Dictionary and IVP study guide on parables.

I ask you now dear friend, what do parables mean to you?

Dear friend, parables have a central theme and meaning. Even this parable has a central theme and meaning, especially our walk with the Lord. We can learn a lot about parables by interpreting them the right way. To do that we need the help of the Lord as we allow Him to guide us and lead us.

May we understand the parables Jesus gives us and apply them to our own lives.

I focused today on parables and their implications! Tommorrow, I hope to look at the “Parable of the Sower” more thoroughly to see its implications for our own lives in the 21^st century and how it relates to the U.S.C v.s Texas Rose Bowl Championship game!

To be continued......

“People Are Revealed Almighty’s Beautiful Lessons Emancipating Souls!” (P.A.R.A.B.L.E.S)/”What do parables mean to you?”

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much for helping me learn about parables and why you speak in parables. Thank you for the parables you have taught. Help us to learn what you would have us learn from each parable. Thank you Jesus! Thank you that you hear us and answer us. Please forgive us our sin and help us Oh Lord for the glory and honor of your Name. Teach us your ways Oh Lord and help us to learn from you. Cleanse us with your cleansing blood and we will be clean again, wash us and we will be whiter than snow. Thank you so much Jesus. Thank you for your mercy and your grace. Thank you for being my Lord and Personal Savior. You know the times I have messed up and the times I would mess up and you still chose me to be your child. Thank you so much Jesus. I love you Jesus. Thank you for dying for my sin and coming back to life to save me. Thank you that you have heard our prayer and answered us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

You can pray this prayer with me to offer yourself to Jesus!

Dear Jesus, thank you for being born in Bethlehem in a stable. You had a humble beginning even though you are the King of kings and Lord of lords. I am so sorry for my sins and confess all of them to you. Please Jesus forgive me of my sin and set me free from any bondage I am in. I turn myself over to you and offer myself as a present to you this New Year. Thank you for dying for my sin and coming back to life to save me. I do not know all I want to know about you but I want to start my journey with you and learn from you as I feed upon you and draw my nourishment from you. Help me please Jesus. Thank you so much Jesus. Thank you for saving us and being there for us. Please come Jesus into my heart and make my heart your home. Live in me Jesus and I will live for you and I will serve you the rest of the days of my life. Thank you Jesus you have heard my prayer and answered me. Thank you for being my Lord and Personal Savior. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Help me in my journey with you Oh Lord. Thank you Jesus! Amen!

Friend, if you have prayed this prayer and meant it in your heart, you are a new creation in Christ and all old things are passed away and everything has become new! You may feel something or may not but don’t base it on feelings but base your new life in Christ on the promises of our Savior who will never leave you nor forsake you! Amen!

Spend time in His word and let the Lord speak to you! Start out in the Gospel of Mark which are also the devotionals I have been going through before the Christmas Devotionals and hope to continue in them. Learn from Jesus through study and prayer. Also find yourself a fellowship you can be part of where you can be part of a community of believers to supplement your own walk with the Lord. Let it be a Bible-believing and Bible-breathing church! Believe in Bible Live Eternally!

Feel free to email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com if you want to meet to study the Bible, pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My number is 412-720-4579

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

Love in Christ,
Ramesh

Next Devotional:
"What kind of F.O.O.T.B.A.L.L receiver will you be?"

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