In Depth Bible Study: Mark The Servant's Gospel Lesson 4

                          Mark The Servant's Gospel 

                          Lesson 4

And again He began to teach by the sea. And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea.Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching:“Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow.And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds  of the air came and devoured it.Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth.But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away.And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no  crop.But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable.And He said to them, “To you it has been given to  know the  mystery of the kingdom of God; but to  those who are outside, all things come in parables,so that ‘Seeing they may see and not perceive, And hearing they may hear and not understand; Lest they should turn, And their sins be forgiven them.’  ”And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?The sower sows the word.And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness;and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word,and the  cares of this world,  the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word,  accept it, and bear  fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” - Mark 4:1-20 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark4:1-20&version=NKJV

Parable of the sower: the seed is the word, the soil is people's hearts. The wayside soil represents hard hearts. The stony soil represents shallow hearts. The thorny soil represents distracted hearts. 

We can help these people through prayer, encouragement, and living the faith before them. The good soil represents good and honest hearts. Let's check the soil of our own hearts and repent of hardness, shallowness, and distraction. 

Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand?For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear.  With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should  scatter seed on the ground,and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and  grow, he himself does not know how.For the earth  yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head.But when the grain ripens, immediately  he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it?It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth;but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.” - Mark 4:21-32 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark4:21-32&version=NKJV

Let our light shine. Don't hide it. The Gospel grows and flourishes. 

And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it.But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.”Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him.And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace,  be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful?  How  is it that you have no faith?”And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” - Mark 4:33-41 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark4:33-41&version=NKJV

Jesus spoke in parables. There was a storm on the sea. When the disciples found Jesus sleeping they asked if He cared about them. He calmed the storm and asked where their faith was. Before we pass harsh judgement on the disciples let's look in the mirror. How many times have we ourselves when going through hard times accused God of not caring about us? Let's repent of our distrust and ever learn on Him. 

Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes.And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains,because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him.And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him.And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.”For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!”Then He asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.”Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains.So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.”And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened.Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been  demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine.Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him.However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.”And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled. - Mark 5:1-20 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark5:1-20&version=NKJV

Jesus healed a demon possessed man who wanted to follow Him. Jesus told him to instead tell his friends the great things He had done for him. 

Service: help the hard hearted, help those who are shallow in their faith, help those who are distracted by this world's charm and delight.