April 7 - The Sower

April 7 - The Sower - Mark 4:1-20

You know that boat that Jesus needed his disciples to have ready for Him? He's using it now. The crowds lined the beach of the lake and so, in order to teach them, He sat in the boat and taught from there.

Jesus taught in parables. Why? Read this explanation from the Bible Exposition Commentary by Warren Wiersbe. It says it perfectly!

"Why did Jesus teach in parables? His disciples asked Him that very question (Mark 4:10–12; and see Matt. 13:10–17). A careful study of His reply reveals that Jesus used parables both to hide the truth and to reveal it. The crowd did not judge the parables; the parables judged the crowd. The careless listener, who thought he knew everything, would hear only a story that he did not really understand; and the result in his life would be judgment (see Matt. 11:25–30). The sincere listener, with a desire to know God’s truth, would ponder the parable, confess his ignorance, submit to the Lord, and then begin to understand the spiritual lesson Jesus wanted to teach."

He opened the parable with the word, "Listen!" and then closed it by reminding the crowd that, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

This parable was of great importance to Jesus. He wanted people to understand what was happening with His message. He was explaining why there were so many people showing up for the quick healings and demon exorcisms.

Yet, even His disciples needed more of an explanation.

Jesus knew that many of the people who received His touch weren't open to anything more than that. They wanted what they could get from Him and then were gone. He recognized all of the different types of people that were surrounding Him and wanted so much more for them.

His words in Mark 4:13-20 explain to His disciples what He hoped for all of them and for anyone who heard the Word of God.