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The Gospel of Mark
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BIBLE STUDY MARK 4:1-41 REVIEW: The first part of chapter 3 was the fifth and final story of a series highlighting the growing opposition to Jesus’ ministry from the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath, even though it was “work” – because this was in keeping with the spirit of why God gave us the Sabbath in the first place – to be something that was for our good rather than to be a burden that would hurt us! The next part of the chapter was a “Transitional Summary” of Jesus’ healing ministry – which both highlighted his healings and his growing fame AND also served as an “editorial interlude” by Mark between two major sections in his gospel story. Next was a section in which Jesus chooses his Twelve Apostles – a group who would be especially close to him and would also then be sent out with his authority to proclaim his message and to cast out demons. The final part of chapter 3 was a section showing Jesus in conflict from two fronts – from the scribes and also even from his own family. The scribes by now were so unalterably opposed to Jesus that they will not admit that his casting out of demons could be of God – but they rather attribute Jesus’ healings to Beelzebul, the prince of demons. Jesus replies that Satan cannot be opposed to himself; and also accuses his opponents of “blaspheming against the Holy Spirit” - because by their hardness of heart they are refusing to let the Spirit change their minds (i.e. lead them to repentance) concerning Jesus’ ministry. Jesus also found himself in conflict with members of his own family – who were trying to “restrain” him because of what others were saying. His family may have thought that they had Jesus’ best interests in mind, but they were listening to other people rather than listening to God. Jesus makes it clear that his true family were those who listen to and do God’s will. ABOUT PARABLES: The vast majority of the fourth chapter of Mark’s gospel (vs. 1-34) consists of various teachings of Jesus in parables. According to William Barclay in this Daily Study Bible Commentary, a parable is literally something thrown beside something else – that is, a comparison. It is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Why did Jesus teach in parables? According to Barclay, he used this method for at least four reasons:
CHAPTER 4:1-9 “The Parable of the Sower” “Again he began to teach beside the sea. Such a very large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the sea and sat there, while the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. He began to teach them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundred-fold.” And he said, “Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” We will hold off looking at the interpretation of this parable until we come to the interpretation that Mark gives in vs. 13-20. There are, however, two points that need to be emphasized – first, that the “tone” of this parable is NOT pessimistic but is rather optimistic! Too often people understand this parable as saying that only 25% of the ground will grow any grain – but in fact the good soil is presumably most of the field. A second point is that we need to keep sowing! During my (Pastor George) experiences in visiting people door-to-door as a Mission Developer in Pensacola, FL and New Albany (Columbus), OH – I was told to expect that over time one out of every ten households I contacted would be interested in receiving more information about the new congregation I was developing – and that one of every ten of those households would eventually become an active part of the new congregation. Those figures turned out to be quite accurate in both ministries! I learned to understand that if I did my job of visiting households (“sowing”) God would certainly grant a harvest! CHAPTER 4:10-12 “The Mystery of the Kingdom” “When he was alone, those who were around him along with the twelve asked him about the parables. And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything comes in parables; in order that ‘they may indeed look, but not perceive, and may indeed listen, but not understand; so that they may not turn again and be forgiven.” The scene suddenly changes from Jesus teaching the crowd on the shore from a boat to his being alone with the twelve and other of his followers. Mark has them asking about the parables, although only the Parable of the Sower has been recounted so far in his gospel. The word translated as “secret” in the NRSV can also be translated as “mystery” – and “mystery” is probably more correct. The word “musterion” in Greek, however, does not necessarily mean something that is complicated, mysterious, or hard to understand. It can also mean something that is quite unintelligible to a person who has not been initiated into its meaning, but is perfectly understandable to a person who has been so initiated. There were a number of so-called Mystery Religions in the pagan world of Jesus’ time. A common feature of these religions was that candidates needed to advance into different levels of understanding and relationships with their gods. Distinctions or ranks between the various levels were emphasized among their adherents. Using this understanding, Jesus is makes a distinction between those on the “inside” and those “outside” in their ability to understand the “mystery” of the kingdom of God. However, he does not do this in order to exclude people but simply to emphasize that understanding the “mystery” comes through being in a relationship with him! Those who listen to him as disciples will understand things about God’s kingdom that those who reject him (such as the scribes and Pharisees) will never understand! The scripture quoted is Isaiah 6:9-10. On the face of it, it seems that God is telling Isaiah to present his message in an obscure way so that people would not understand it and repent – and it also seems that Jesus by using this passage is saying the same thing about his parables. There is, however, a subtle difference between the Hebrew and the Greek Septuagint versions of this verse: the Greek version stresses that the people fail to understand simply because they refuse to understand. Mark and Luke (Lk. 8:10) use the Hebrew version of this passage, but Matthew (Mt. 13:14-15) uses the Greek version – which is almost certainly the one that Jesus had in mind. Jesus was NOT trying to keep people from understanding his teaching, but is simply acknowledging that some people will refuse to listen to and understand the meanings of his parables. This certainly is still so with many people today – they know Jesus’ teachings but refuse to take them to heart in their lives. (However, they will at least remember his stories!) CHAPTER 4:13-20 “Explanation of the Parable of the Sower” “And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. These are the ones on the path where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, they immediately receive it with joy. But they have no root, and endure only for a while; then, when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. And others are those sown among the thorns: these are the ones who hear the word, but the cares of the world, and the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it yields nothing. And these are the ones sown on the good soil: they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty and sixty and a hundred-fold.” In this interpretation, Jesus explains about the four types of soil which represent four categories of hearers. Some are like the soil of the path, which is compacted into a rock-hard surface. They refuse to let the word of God penetrate into their hearts and lives – Jesus attributes this to the direct activity of Satan. (Perhaps he had in mind the scribes and Pharisees in the previous chapter who had closed their minds to the meanings of his teachings and healings and were therefore “blaspheming the Holy Spirit” (Mk. 3:29). Other hearers of the word are like the rocky soil. This does not mean soil full of rocks, but rather refers to a very thin layer of soil on top of an impenetrable layer of rock. Seed sown in such soil would germinate, and then wither because its roots could not grow deep and find moisture. Some who hear the word receive it enthusiastically, but their long-term commitment is very shallow. They will fall away whenever things get difficult. Still other hearers of the word are like the soil full of thorns. When too many other things and priorities compete for their attention and loyalty, the word of God’s kingdom has a hard time growing and making a real difference in their lives. But finally, there are hearers of the word who are like the good soil – so that the word of the kingdom will bear much fruit for God! As noted previously, this soil actually comprises the vast majority of the field where the seed is being sown – not just 25%! Also, we should note that the huge yields of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred-fold mean that in the end the sowing was worthwhile many times over! Some seed may indeed be lost, but overall the kingdom of God is growing and producing fruit throughout the world in a wonderful and even fantastic way! CHAPTER 4:21-25 “How to Use Teachings about the Kingdom” “He said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand? For there is nothing hidden, except to be disclosed; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you. For those who have, more will be given; and from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.” This section is comprised of four sayings that, in the gospels of Matthew and Luke, are scattered in different places. Mark groups them together here because they all speak to the common theme of how we, as hearers of the word, should use the teachings we have received. The first saying about the lamp emphasizes that we as the receivers of God’s word should also be transmitters. The truths that we have received should also be proclaimed and shared with others. To hide them or keep them private would be as contrary to God’s purposes as putting a lamp under a basket or bed! The second saying emphasizes that there is no “secret knowledge” of the kingdom that should be guarded by or kept for a few. (This was different from the usual practice of mystery religions and Gnostic cults of that era – or of sects such as the Mormon Church (their “Temple Ceremony”) of today.) All teaching is meant to be shared with as many people as possible! The third and fourth sayings emphasize that growth of God’s kingdom in a person’s life is a shared endeavor. What we get out of something in large measure depends upon what we give! William Barclay in his Daily Study Bible commentary says that this is true of study, of worship, and in personal relationships. The more we give of ourselves in these areas, the more blessings we will likely receive. But if we do not give of our time and effort in these areas, we will lose the kingdom’s blessings – and end up with no understanding, no faith, and no relationships with either God or God’s people. CHAPTER 4:26-29 “Parable of the Self-Growing Seed” “He also said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.” This is the one parable that is found only in Mark. It’s central point is the assure people that God’s kingdom (God’s reign) is growing even when we cannot see it. Ultimately, the growth of the kingdom does NOT depend upon human effort but is all the work of God. As Martin Luther writes in his Small Catechism about the Lord’s Prayer petition “Thy kingdom come..” – “God’s kingdom comes indeed without our praying for it, but we ask in this prayer that it may come also to us.” The question is not whether or not the kingdom will come – there will be a harvest! – but whether or not we will be a part of it! CHAPTER 4:30-32 “Parable of the Mustard Seed” He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” This parable is not so much about the mustard seed as it is about the mustard plant. Mark calls it a shrub, which is more correct than the “tree” that Matthew and Luke call it in their gospels (Mt. 13:32, Lk. 13:19). The mustard plant is actually a WEED that often grows (to a height of about 3 to 6 feet) despite the best efforts of farmers to eradicate it. Jesus with this parable is not only emphasizing the growth of God’s kingdom from small beginnings, but is also emphasizing that the Kingdom will keep on growing and spreading despite opposition from those who would try to keep it from doing so. Jesus in Mark’s version of this parable is engaging in a bit of “comic irony”. Most Jews were very familiar with the description of God’s kingdom as being like a tall cedar tree (see Dan. 4:12, 21 and Ezek. 17:23; 31:6) in whose branches the birds of the air would find refuge to make their nests. Jesus, however, says that the kingdom of God is more like a mustard plant – a weed – that keeps on growing and spreading, and that the birds of the air can make their nests in its shade (the branches could not support them)! CHAPTER 4:33-34 “Wise teaching” “With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.” In a way this repeats what Jesus had said earlier in verses 10-12, but with a different emphasis. According to this section, the reason Jesus taught in parables in order to match the abilities and readiness of his hearers to receive his message. It is St. Paul telling his readers in 1 Cor. 3:1-2 that he “could not speak to (them) as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ…with milk, not solid food, for (they) were not ready for solid food.” Most of Jesus’ hearers were not ready to hear his kingdom message plainly, so he gave them his message in parables for them to consider. But to those who were ready to pay attention and grow, Jesus would explain everything plainly. So it is for people today. Are WE ready to hear – really hear- Jesus’ kingdom message?! CHAPTER 4:35-41 “The Storm on the Sea” “On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” This passage begins a series of mighty deeds that Jesus does as he moves beyond the boundaries of Galilee to Gentile territory on the other side of the sea (lake). Perhaps Mark has arranged his gospel in this way to show that the kingdom of God through Jesus is not confined to the expected Jewish areas, but is rather spreading into the entire world. The brief mention of “other boats” perhaps is Mark’s way of reminding his readers that Jesus’ followers consisted of more than just the Twelve (see vs. 10). The Sea of Galilee was and still is notorious for its sudden windstorms. The lake is more than 600 feet below sea level. Winds would funnel down through the Jordan River valley between the mountains to the north of the lake, thus significantly increasing their velocity. In a matter of just a few minutes, the conditions could change from calm to gale force winds – even if the sky remained clear. Mark’s account of this windstorm is almost a paraphrase of Psalm 107:23-32. The “demons” of nature stirred up the storm, but Jesus “casts out” these demons just as earlier he had cast out the unclean spirit of the man in the synagogue in Mk 1:23-26. Indeed, the words he addresses both to the demon then and to the wind and sea in this passage are almost identical. Two basic points are being stressed by Mark in this passage. First, he shows Jesus’ peace in the midst of turmoil. He trusted in his Heavenly Father to take care of him, come what may. Secondly, this passage is yet another example of Jesus’ authority even over the forces of nature – the same authority and power that Yahweh himself showed in Psalm 107:29. Jesus’ question to his disciples about their fear and lack of faith reinforce these points. They do not need to be afraid because he is with them – and he has the authority and power of God himself. In response, the disciples are “filled with awe” (literally, “with a great fear”) as they begin to realize in a new way who Jesus truly is! Mark’s original readers in Rome during the time of Nero would have understood this passage as having much to say to them. As they faced the “storms” of persecution, they could remember that their Lord was with them just as he was with his disciples in the boat – and thereby receive his peace even in the midst of the worst of whatever they had to endure. -------------------- George R. Karres, Pella Lutheran Church 418 W. Main Street Sidney, MT 59270
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