Parables in Mark 4

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I am excited to read the parables in chapter four of Mark, especially in the sequence one to another. It begins with Jesus pushing out into the lake because there were so many people on the shore and crowding around him. From there he taught several parables.

The Parable of the Sower is about the farmer who scattered his seed (God’s Word) in many places. The birds ate up the seeds that fell in the path. The seeds that fell in rocky places grew at first but dried up because of the rocky soil and plants with shallow roots. The seeds that fell among the thorns made plants that were choked out by the worries of this world making them unfruitful, while the seeds that fell on good soil produced a crop. I often feel discouraged with my own life and the seemingly lack of fruitfulness and order. But as I continued to read the other parables, I felt more encouraged.

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The Twelve Disciples

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Mark named the Twelve Disciples in Chapter 3 of the Gospel he wrote and also defined Jesus plan for this group. In Mark 3:14-15 we learn that Jesus appointed the twelve so that (1) they might be with him, (2) that he might send them out to preach, and (3) to have authority to drive out demons.

Mark then named the Twelve Disciples that Jesus appointed. Some of the disciples went by more than one name, so I did a little research and included their other names well. The first name in the list below came from Mark 3:16. Perhaps the added information will save some confusion as you read the rest of the New Testament. If you’re not already following a Bible reading plan you may wish to follow the “5x5x5 New Testament Bible Reading Plan” by Navigators with me.

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Mark 1:16-18

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I’ll not plan to post about every chapter in the New Testament this year. But every now and then there may be something that I truly want to share about what I read. One such instance is in Mark 1:16-18. I can recall many Sunday school lessons on this chapter as the teacher impressed upon us how quickly the disciples dropped what they were doing to follow Jesus. I don’t mean to diminish their quick decision to follow Jesus, it was quick. But perhaps Jesus wasn’t a total stranger to them by the time he called them to be his Disciples.

Read also John 1:29-42.

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Mark

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Those who are beginning the “5x5x5 New Testament Bible Reading Plan” by Navigators in January will begin reading the book of Mark this week.

Mark is believed to be the first of the Gospels to be written, and the author believed to be John Mark who accompanied Paul on some of his mission journeys. Mark is the shortest Gospel yet includes many details. It is a fast-paced book and often uses words like suddenly and immediately. Mark begins with John the Baptist, the baptism of Jesus, the temptations Jesus faced when confronted by Satan, and the choosing of the Twelve Disciples.