What Jesus Did

[Jesus continued,] "Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand."
Then he added, "Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given — and you will receive even more."

—Mark 4:23-24 NLT

Key Thought​

If yesterday's message that one day we will be able to understand all the truth about the Kingdom was intended to comfort us, today's message is meant to motivate us. We must earnestly, attentively, pursue the truth of...

 

Then Jesus asked [the apostles], "Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine. For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light."

—Mark 4:21-22 NLT

Key Thought​

Confusion is one of the more frustrating states of mind. Not seeing clearly, not being able to perceive fully, or not being able to understand leaves us...

 

[Concluding the explanation of his parable, Jesus said,] "And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God's word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!"

—Mark 4:20 NLT

Key Thought​

Jesus wants us to be productive in our service to his kingdom. In fact, he is working in the lives of those who are fully yielded to him to bring about a great harvest. Like a small seed growing into a majestic plant...

 

[Continuing the explanation of his parable, Jesus said,] "The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God's word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced."

—Mark 4:18-19 NLT

Key Thought​

I hate thorns. Spending part of my time growing up in ###, I had to deal with all sorts of spiny cactus-like plants. Thorns seem to grow better in semi-arid...

 

[Continuing the explanation of his parable, Jesus said,] "The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don't have deep roots, they don't last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God's word."

—Mark 4:16-17 NLT

Key Thought​

So many of us can get excited about new things, especially new spiritual undertakings. Unfortunately, when the going gets tough, we can...

 

[Continuing the explanation of his parable, Jesus said,] "The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away."

—Mark 4:15 NLT

Key Thought​

Our efforts to share the Good News of the Kingdom of God don't happen in a vacuum. We must realize that Satan is an active adversary. He opposes and seeks to dilute, distort, and derail every effort made to advance the Kingdom of God in people's hearts. Let's not forget...

 

[Explaining his parable, Jesus said,] "The farmer plants seed by taking God's word to others."

—Mark 4:14 NLT

Key Thought​

Jesus explains his parable of the soils. One key component is the farmer in the story. The farmer is the person who shares God's message, the Good News from God, with others. The question we need to ask ourselves is this: Are we farmers?

Today's Prayer​

Father, help me be more effective as a farmer in your Kingdom. Help me see and use opportunities...

 

After some time Paul said to Barnabas, "Let's go back and visit each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are doing." Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along ###. But Paul disagreed strongly, since ### had deserted them in ### and had not continued with them in their work. Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took ### with him and sailed for ###. Paul chose ###, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s...

 

[Jesus replied to the disciples,] "You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:

'When they see what I do,
they will learn nothing.
When they hear what I say,
they will not understand.
Otherwise, they will turn to me
and be forgiven.'"

Then Jesus said to them, "If you can't understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables?"...

 

Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant.
He replied, "You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, ..."

—Mark 4:10-11 NLT

Key Thought​

Why would Jesus conceal his message from outsiders? First, they couldn't understand it properly. If his disciples had a hard time understanding Jesus, then how would those...