Day Two Mark 4:1-9
4 Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore. 2 He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:
3 “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. 4 As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. 5 Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. 8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” 9 Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” – Mark 4:1-9 (NLT)
Discover
1. What primary job does Jesus continue to do, according to verses 1-2?
2. What two-fold purpose would teaching from a boat have served?
3. What does Jesus want for the crowds according to verse 9?
Respond
Jesus didn’t intentionally make His teaching difficult to understand. But He did want people to think, listen, and desire to know Him more. Imagine Jesus teaching and then eagerly watching for those who wanted to lean in and learn more from Him. And then imagine His disappointment when people simply walked away, not desiring more. When it comes to spending time being with Jesus and knowing Him more, which camp do you fall in? Pray now and ask God to give you ears to hear, listen, and understand His Word. Pray for a desire and ability to know Him more.
For Further Reading: Are the Parables of Jesus Confusing on Purpose?
*TPCC does not necessarily endorse all For Further Reading/Learning sources. They are simply meant to be a helpful tool.