Mark 4:1-9 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Mark 4:1-9. With an open mind and a humble heart, read this passage and see what sticks out to you in this passage. Is there a verse, a phrase, or a lesson you think the Holy Spirit may be highlighting for you in this passage? After you’ve thought about the passage yourself a bit, read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
Mark 4:1 (NIV)
1 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.
On verse 1: According to many scholars, Jesus’ voice would project more clearly by sitting in a boat out on a lake than standing on the shore. This would make a difference especially when speaking to a large crowd, as Jesus often would. So church volunteers and staff who are into sound crew and sound editing, remember this: Jesus cared about good sound! Your ministry matters so much. For if the sound quality is not good, it almost doesn’t matter how good the message is or how well the band plays and sings. If Jesus was intentional about having a good sound delivery system, we should be as well.
Mark 4:2-9 (NIV)
2 He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said:
3 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.
4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.
6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain.
8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times.”
9 Then Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
On verses 2-9: Jesus was the greatest communicator to ever live and in Mark 4 we get a glimpse into why. Verse 2 says that “he taught them many things by parables”. Later Mark will say in verse 34 that Jesus “did not say anything to them without a parable.” Tomorrow we’ll unpack the meaning of Jesus’ parable about the four soils, but today let’s look at why Jesus taught using parables in the first place.
What is a parable? A parable is a short story or a word picture used to communicate a deeper truth. Jesus would often use parables to communicate what God and God’s kingdom are like by comparing them to things on earth that his listeners could relate to. By making the comparison, Jesus made it easier for the audience to understand and remember what he was talking about. It’s no coincidence that the word “parable” comes from the Greek word parabole which means “comparison”.
One reason Jesus used parables so much is because stories and pictures tend to attract people’s attention and are easier to remember. It’s for this reason that as a young preacher I was taught, “Never make a point without a picture”. The master of this was Jesus.
There’s another reason why Jesus used parables, and we’ll get to that later.
Like Jesus, may you be intentional and creative in the way you communicate what God is like to the people around you, whether it’s your family, neighbours or people you don’t know.
Lord Jesus, since You are the greatest communicator who ever lived, please give me wisdom, creativity and courage to communicate who You are to the people around me in ways that they can understand, remember and appreciate. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
copyright © 2022 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.
