Hear the Savior's Love

Mark 4:1-9 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. 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.”
 
NOTE Jesus’ teaching begins with, “Listen!” And it concludes with, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Listening to God’s Word with ears to hear will establish in you deep roots of an effective faith. Let’s listen as Jesus continued to teach how this would happen in Mark 4:10-20: First, the Twelve asked him about the parables. When you don’t understand God’s Word, you ask people who know the Bible. You know who they are when you hear and see that their lives effectively witness Jesus’ words. Seek understanding in good soil. Grow deep roots.
   Jesus continued with some very abrupt words: V 11 “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables 12 so that, ‘“they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’”  Jesus quoted a prophecy from Isaiah foretelling of unbelief in the world. Understand Jesus’ teachings are God’s favor to enrich your life. Be a believer. Jesus wanted his disciples’ ears to hear, perceive and understand, so they would be forgiven, free in Christ’s redemption.
   V 13 Then Jesus said to them, “Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14 The farmer sows the word.” Listen, disciples. Count the seed as precious and life-giving from the Lord of Life.  
   V 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Your roots will grow deeper when you reject Satan. Cancel old habits and temptations that steal God’s power from his Word. V 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Your roots grow deep when you see trouble and trials as a faith strengthening exercises. Many new “converts” to Christ exclaim their salvation with joy. But a few months later they have no interest. V 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Hear Jesus’ warnings and be deeper in him.
   Then Jesus promises the reward of deep roots. V 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop – thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.”
   Jesus wants you to know faith’s rewards. We’ll read more of this as we continue. Grow deeper into him. Live out his word to produce effective kingdom fruit. Know now the rewards of your eternal life.