Mark 4:26

Mark 4:26 says, And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground.  Jesus compared the kingdom of God to something simple to understand again.  Like a man planting seed, we are to plant the seed of the Gospel.  Verse twenty-seven adds, And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.  After a man plants seed, he then goes about his everyday life.  He doesn't sit watching the seed to see what will happen.  Once we plant the seed of the gospel in a person's life, we should go on living our everyday life.  While the man who planted the seed was sleeping, the seed was bursting out in new life.  We cannot make the gospel bear fruit, but God does that, just as He causes the seed to bring forth new life.  Verse twenty-eight continues, For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. The growth from the seed isn't immediate but comes in stages.  First there is the blade, then the developing ear, then the full-grown ear.  We cannot expect new Christians to be fully developed when they accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord.  They are fully saved, but they will need to be nurtured in their faith, some more than others, as we all do.  Verse twenty-nine concludes, But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come. When the fruit is fully developed, it is harvested.  I believe the gospel bears fruit when a person accepts Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord, but the true harvest will not come until a person dies or until Jesus Christ returns.  Until then, we should all continue to develop in our Christian life.  We as Christians have the responsibility to spread the gospel, but we cannot force it to bear fruit.  Of course, the first step is to accept the seed of the gospel when it is planted. 

Mark 4:21

 Mark 4:21 says, 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? We need to shine the light of the gospel in the world.  It is too easy to allow the gospel to become hidden by other things that we say and do. We can let it be hidden under the bushel of doubt or anger.  The Light is not going to shine brightly if all that people see is negativity on the part of Christians. Verse twenty-two adds, For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. Also, the light of the gospel will reveal all the things that we attempt to keep secret.  There are no sins that are hidden from God.  Verse twenty-three continues, If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.  So, as stated, if you have ears, may you hear and accept the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Light of the world.  Verse twenty-four states, 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.  As Mark tells us, we do need to take heed of what we hear.  We can let the noise and lies of the world drown out the voice of God if we aren't careful.   Mark also tells us to be careful about how we treat other people.  As Christians, we are to deal honestly with other people.  If we are stingy with what God has blessed us with, we may find that God is stingy with His blessings on us.  I believe this also refers to how we forgive those who have somehow wronged us.  If we aren't forgiving of others, why do we expect God to forgive us, since we have all wronged Him at some time.  Verse twenty-five adds, For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.  To him that hath does not refer to material wealth, but to spiritual gifts.  If we have spiritual gifts, or even one spiritual gift, and use them wisely, God will bless us with more opportunities to exercise that gift or gifts.  If we don't use it, it will be taken away.  Since as Christians we all have at least one spiritual gift, then the question is whether we are using it or not.  We cannot attempt to make this about material wealth, believing that if God has blessed us materially that He is going to bless us with more while taking away from those who have less.  If we want to have more spiritually, it begins by accepting God's gift of salvation through putting one's faith in Jesus Christ.  If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, then be generous in using your spiritual gift or gifts. 

Mark 4:10

Mark 4:10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. After Jesus shared the parable of the sower, many of the crowd evidently left, not truly understanding the meaning, just as many people today read or hear the Bible preached and go away without understanding its meaning.  Still, some people stayed close to the disciples and Jesus, seeking a better understanding of what Jesus was really saying.  If we want to truly understand the truth of God, we must stay close to Jesus.  Until a person comes to God through faith in Jesus Christ, God's word will never have real meaning.  Verse eleven adds, And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:  Jesus told those around Him, those who came to Him for understanding, that it was given to them the ability to understand the mystery of the kingdom of God, and if we are to understand that mystery, we must first come to God through faith in Christ, and then He will help us understand.  Verse twelve continues, That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.  Those who were without I believe were those who didn't have enough desire to learn more about God's kingdom by staying close to Jesus.  God did not prevent them from coming to Jesus to understand His teachings, but their own lack of interest did.  This is still true today.  Those who have their eyes and ears spiritually attuned to God will understand His word. Verse thirteen states, And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? After saying that He spoke in parables so those of the world, those who did not know Him personally, would not understand, Jesus asked the disciples how they, His disciples, didn't know what the parable meant.  He then asked how they would understand all parables if they didn't understand this one.  As followers of Christ, we have that personal relationship with Him, and we should be able to understand His teachings, even if they are in the form of parables.  Still, Jesus explained the meaning of the parable to them.  If we are having difficulty understanding God's word, we need to prayerfully ask for His help in understanding what He is saying to us.  God will never leave us confused if we are willing to patiently await His answer.  Verse fourteen states, The sower soweth the word.  Jesus said the sower sowed the Word, and this is our responsibility as Christians.  We cannot control how it will be received, but we can control whether we sow it or not.  Verse fifteen adds, And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. Jesus said some hear the Word by the wayside, but Satan prevents them from ever accepting it.  The choice is still theirs, but they listen to Satan's deceit instead of God's truth.  Verse sixteen continues, And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; Verse seventeen concludes, And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.  These two verses deal with the same seed.  As Jesus said, like a seed on stony ground, some people will gladly receive the gospel but have no root of faith in it.  Then, when trouble arises because of their faith, they are offended by the Word.   Verse eighteen says, And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word.  Verse nineteen adds, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.  Others are like a seed sown in thorns, where concerns about and love of the riches of the world choke the Word out before it can grow, and it becomes unfruitful.  As followers of Christ, we cannot allow worldly concerns to keep us from being fruitful for Christ.  Verse twenty continues, And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.  Finally, some people are like the good ground, where the Word grows and is productive in God's kingdom, though not all to the same degree.  We as Christians need to be producing fruit for God, to the best of our ability.  If you have heard the Word, the gospel of Christ, my prayer for you if you haven't, allow it to take root in your life today and that you will become productive in sharing God's Word.