MARK LESSON 9
We will begin this lesson with Mark 4:21.
Mark 4:21 "And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put
under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?"
Jesus was just making an example of how foolish it is to hide the
Light of the world. This lamp symbolizes the divine Truth that is
caught up in the person of Jesus Christ. A candlestick is to give
light. Covering the very thing that produces light would be
very foolish. Christians are the bearers of the Light of Jesus to the
lost world. We must shine forth, not cover the Light the Lord has
given us.
Mark 4:22 "For there is nothing hid, which shall not be
manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come
abroad."
Much was hidden before Jesus came. The way into the Holy of
Holies was opened when Jesus died on the cross, and the curtain was
torn from the top to the bottom. This tells us that Jesus has opened
the way to God the Father for us. The Scriptures are revealed to us
by the Holy Spirit of God. The hidden things of God are revealed
through Jesus Christ.
Mark 4:23 "If any man have ears to hear, let him hear."
Again, He was speaking of the understanding of man being
opened. This was speaking of listening carefully and understanding.
Mark 4:24 "And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with
what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that
hear shall more be given."
More than ever before, it is very important what you listen
to. The brain is like a computer, and everything that goes into the
brain is recorded. We must filter out all the dirty movies, the rock
music with its suggestive lyrics, and even much conversation of the
general public; because it is spiced with cursing. The information
that we receive into our brains can be built upon, so we must make sure
that it is absolute truth. The more we receive the truth, the more we
build upon it. The Bible says that we must seek to find. It is amazing
how much extra knowledge we can acquire from just one extra hour in
the Bible. If we desire to learn the truths in the Bible, the Holy
Spirit of God will teach us. Whatever you do, study and memorize as
many Scriptures as you can. We see, here, that if we preach (mete)
what we do know, God will fill us with more and more that we can pass
on. It never ends. He just fills us over and over again.
Mark 4:25 "For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that
hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath."
This is just saying that the knowledge God has given you must be
used. If you never recollect a Scripture, pretty soon you couldn't
remember it even if you tried. If you use it frequently, then you
will add more and more to it all the time.
Mark 4:26 "And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man
should cast seed into the ground;" Mark 4:27 "And should sleep, and
rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth
not how."
Remember the seed was the Word of God. If we scatter that Word
out, we may not see the results right now, but on harvest day there
will be those who have received that Word and are counted in the
kingdom, because of that Word that was spread. Many times, we do
not know that we have said something about the Lord that has
influenced their lives. We don't always know that the Lord is working
in someone's life when He is. By the foolishness of preaching, men are
saved. This means foolish to the world. Two or three different people
may think they have ministered to a person to no avail; but when you
least expect it, he comes into the kingdom. We know not how, but it
is part of God's plan; just like the seed in the verse above.
Mark 4:28 "For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first
the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear." Mark
4:29 "But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in
the sickle, because the harvest is come."
We see in verse 28 and 29 above, the life of an individual
Christian, and also the growth of a church. A person, when he first
receives the Word of God (seed), is not a full grown Christian. In the
meantime, we must patiently await and grow until harvest.
Mark 4:30 "And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of
God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?"
The physical heaven has no comparison here on this earth. Heaven
far surpasses anything on this earth. This, perhaps, could be speaking
of the kingdom of God's people. Even while we are on the earth, we,
Christians, make up the kingdom of God on the earth. We are His
kingdom, here. It is very peculiar how the Christian population grows.
One gets saved, and then that one draws several more; and then the
first thing you know, there are millions of Christians.
Mark 4:31 "[It is] like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it
is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the
earth:" Mark 4:32 "But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh
greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the
fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it."
When you stop and think about it, it is amazing how one Jesus
Christ about 2,000 years ago started what has grown into literally
millions of Christians today. The seed that was planted was the Word
of God, Jesus Christ. God's church started first with Jesus Christ,
then the twelve, and look what it has grown into today. Every country
has been touched by this Word. In South America, the mustard tree
grows so big that a man on horseback can ride under the branches. This
is really minor, however, to the true meaning of this Scripture about
the humble beginning of the church of Jesus Christ, and how it has
grown into millions of believers.
Mark 4:33 "And with many such parables spake he the word unto
them, as they were able to hear [it]." Mark 4:34 "But without a
parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded
all things to his disciples."
These parables, as we said before, were spoken so that the
unbelieving world would not understand what He was saying. The only
ones who did understand were the ones to whom He chose to reveal
it. He explained every one in detail to His disciples.
Mark 4:35 "And the same day, when the even was come, he saith
unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side." Mark 4:36 "And when
they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the
ship. And there were also with him other little ships." Mark 4:37
"And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the
ship, so that it was now full."
"The same day", spoken of here, probably means the same day that He
spoke these parables. They dismissed the multitude, and Jesus climbed
into the little ship that He probably used to preach from before. It
is not unusual for a strong wind to come up suddenly on the Sea of
Galilee. Many fishermen through the years have lost their lives
because of the sea. All of these little ships were having problems.
Many had followed Jesus into the sea in small boats.
Mark 4:38 "And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a
pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not
that we perish?"
You must remember that Jesus' flesh was of Mary. In the flesh, He
got tired, and that was why He sent the multitude away and cast out
into the sea to rest His body; and also, that He might show that He is
Lord of the sea, as well. Jesus knew no fear as these disciples did.
Jesus was not concerned about the high waves for Himself.
Mark 4:39 "And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the
sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great
calm."
Jesus is Peace. He is the King of Peace. Jesus is in total
authority over everything in this world. Land, sea, air, and under the
earth, as well. When He speaks, it must obey.
Mark 4:40 "And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is
it that ye have no faith?"
Fear is not of God. Faith is the opposite of fear. Jesus scolded
them for doubting. They should have known, if they had truly known
Jesus, that no harm would come to them as long as Jesus was with
them.
Mark 4:41 "And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another,
What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"
That is the secret. He is not a man at all. He is God the Word
housed in the body of a man. I have used this Scripture so much, but
it tells us that Jesus is Lord of all. Philippians 2:10 tells us that
Jesus is Lord of everything. Philippians 2:10 "That at the name of
Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in
earth, and [things] under the earth;"
Notes
Mark 9 Questions
1. Where is the natural place to put a candle?
2. This Light symbolizes the divine truth that is caught up in
_______________.
3. What is going to happen to things that are hidden?
4. When was the way opened for Christians to God the Father?
5. What does Jesus tell us to do with our ears?
6. What does this really mean?
7. How will measure be made to us?
8. What is our responsibility toward what goes in our brain?
9. What can you compare the brain to?
10. What will happen to those who have?
11. What did Jesus liken the kingdom of God to?
12. Can you explain in detail what makes a seed grow?
13. What is the seed symbolic of?
14. What kind of foolishness are men saved by?
15. The earth bringeth forth fruit of _____________________.
16. When is the harvest?
17. Who makes up the kingdom of God on earth?
18. What kind of seed is supposed to be the smallest?
19. What does it grow into?
20. What does it symbolize?
21. When Jesus had finished the parables, what did He do?
22. Was Jesus' ship the only ship that went into the sea?
23. What happened that frightened the disciples?
24. What was Jesus doing on the ship?
25. Why did Jesus need to rest?
26. When they awakened Jesus, what did He do?
27. What question did Jesus ask the disciples?
28. What is fear?
29. What surprised even the disciples about Jesus?
30. What is the secret of Jesus?
Notes
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