MARK 4:26-41 Lesson 8
GETTING PLOWED OR SPECIAL EDUCATION
I. Greetings
II. Introduction.
Let us turn to the first book of the Bible, the book of Genesis.
>>> Have someone read Genesis 1:1-2
Q What was the condition of the earth and what was over the surface of the deep?
An = The earth was disorderly, it was formless and empty and darkness was over the surface of the deep, then it curiously says that the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters (or the seas). Words in Hebrew are carefully chosen and most words in Hebrew have double meanings. A word will have a physical meaning and a psychological or spiritual meaning. For instance, the word “depths” in Hebrew that means the depths of the ocean and it is also used to refer to “chaos”. The crashing, crushing waves of the sea were seen by Hebrews as a terrifying way to die. No one wants to die by suffocation. The word “spirit” literally means in Hebrew “wind”. So the wind of God was over the waters or seas. Finally the word for “waters” or “seas” is also the word for “death”. So a Hebrew speaker would be hearing: the earth was void and meaninglessness, blindness (darkness) was over the chaos that ruled, however, the Wind of God was hovering right on top of this death.
>>> Have someone read Genesis 1:3
Q What changed everything? What drove away the darkness?
An = It was the Word of God. God created the world, ended meaninglessness, emptiness and brought life where there was death by speaking the light into existence. The whole creation, as described in Genesis 1, will continue in this manner. God speaks and light, order and symmetry come about through God’s speech.
III. Two More Parables: Courage, You Are Not Alone! Mark 4:26-32.
A. Parable of the Growing Seed: Mark 4:26-29.
>>> Have someone read Mark 4:26-29.
Q What point was made about the kingdom?
An = God’s Word would accomplish its work! Let the Word fall on people and a mysterious power beyond our understanding will go to work.
For some of us, it is not yet obvious right now, but power is working. We do not know how the Spirit works or how the kingdom grows. I have tried to figure it out all my adult life but to no avail. However, I may not know how my food is chemically digested in my stomach, but I keep eating.
My job is to keep in the Word myself and to keep sharing and teaching God’s Word.
B. Parable of the Mustard Seed: Mark 4:30-32.
>>> Have someone read Mark 4:30-32.
Q Why is the kingdom of God like a mustard seed?
An = People are often surprised what God’s Word does to people and how powerfully it changes them. Their spiritual beginning is often very small. For many of us, our faith or power now seems so small, but look out! Jesus was a man, despised and not accepted by the powerful of His day, but now He is the most significant person to have lived on earth. Our calendars revolve around His birth and there are near 1 and 1/2 billion who, at least nominally, call Jesus God. The seed mysterious grows and though so insignificant, it has astounding potential.
C. The World and the Disciples: Mark 4:33-34.
>>>> Have someone read Mark 4:33-34.
Q What was Jesus trying to communicate? Did Jesus want to be understood?
An = We saw this in the last passage. Jesus seemed to be deliberately keeping some of the key truths out of plain language. Why?
Q Why tell the disciples when He did not tell others?
Q What is the connection between 4:34 and 4:21-22?
>>> Have someone read Mark 4:21-22 and 4:34 again.
Note: Only the disciples were given the explanations of the parables, but as we continue to read Mark we become very aware that the disciples were not able to understand what the parables really meant. They were not yet fully good soil.
Q What could make them able to be good soil and be light to the world? Was it something they had to do?
IV. Why does God seem to be asleep? Mark 4:35-41.
A. Before we read what follows perhaps a little geography lesson would help. In the region of the Sea of Galilee there is a mountain formation surrounding the lake. The winds to this day come through the mountains passes in such a way that at anytime this calm lake can turn into a raging body of water. What Mark is going to do next is tell us a story or if you please, he is going to show us a little movie. However, it will be a mental movie; it will play on the screen of our mind. So let us get ready to imagine and see in our mind’s eye a short motion picture.
B. Close your eyes and imagine a seashore, and it is towards evening.
>>> Have someone read Mark 4:35-41.
C. Open your eyes, this is how believers received the Scriptures for centuries, not everyone could read. They heard the Bible and as it was read to them they imagine that stories taking place in their minds. They pictured what they heard. Now think back over what you saw:
Q When the storm came, what two major emotions did the disciples have?
An = fear and amazement.
Q Why did traveling with Jesus Christ produce such an effect on them? Is this what you would expect from spending time with Jesus?
V. The Sleeping God: Storms in our lives.
A. Why He slept: 4:35-39
>>> Have someone re-read Mark 4:35-37
Q Who went with Jesus in His boat?
Q Would you want to be one who got to go in Jesus’ boat?
>>> Have someone re-read Mark 4:38
Q If asked, how would you answer the question, “Why does God seem so far away in our trials?” Why does God seem to be asleep in our times of turmoil?
An = Let others share but you say nothing.
Q Whose idea was it that the disciples got into the boat?An = It was Jesus’ idea in verse 35 that they travel across the lake. The crowds were allowed to see the miracles, but the disciples were allowed to get into the boat with Him and they got their boat rocked. If you are a disciple you will get different treatment than the crowds.
Q Was it the treatment you would have expected?An = I am often tempted to ask myself whether I really want to be a true disciple, or just one who enjoys listening with the crowd?
Q Why did Jesus allow their boat to be rocked, and why was He sleeping while they were in peril?
An = If you are a disciple you will discover that Jesus Christ is an excellent trainer. Chrysostom says Jesus was aiming, in the boat, at two things: strength in the midst of trials and to be modest in honor. He knew that facing trials made them stronger for the next and more difficult ones that would come. He also knew that as they would begin to experience His power flowing them to hear and preach they would be tempted to have pride. Therefore, lest they be high minded, they got their boat rocked. When facing trials and terrors He takes none but the “champions of the world, whom He was to discipline” (Chrysostom, pp. 189-191). He wanted them to be strong, and He wanted to keep them humble. You cannot be strong and you cannot be humble until you have had your boat rocked or your life turned upside down. Their failure is something they did not forget because it is a story recorded in several of the Gospels.
Q Had Jesus not slept would they have feared? Why did He sleep?
An = He slept to give them occasion to doubt. He saved them, but there was a delay in saving. The answer came, but it was delayed. The delay gave the opportunity for the chance to have faith. Delay is necessary for faith.
Q Must Jesus place us in hard places (storms) so we see how others those we minister to view their situation?
An = Remember, the disciples had not been healed of any diseases. They had lived pretty healthy lives. They did not know the suffering of demon-possession, serious deformation, leprosy, or the pain of the various diseases others dealt with.
B. His Awakening: 4:39-41
>>> Have someone read Mark 4:39-40.
Q What causes fear?
An = Chrysostom would say fear comes not through trials but through the weakness of our minds.
Q Remember the things you feared when you were young but no longer fear? Why do you no longer fear them?
Q Would someone like to share something that really scared them when they were young but no longer has that effect on them?
Q For those who shared, why are you no longer afraid?
>>> Re-read Mark 4:11 and Mark 4:34.
Note: It might encourage you to note that even for Jesus’ disciples; truly learning about the Kingdom of God was not automatic even though they were on the inside track. The disciples were “seminary students” of the day, and they had constant access to Jesus’ teachings, but sometimes they did not get it.
Q Can reading books or hearing lectures teach you what faith really is about?
Q Is not faith often best learned in a boat and a boat that is rocked by the wind?
An = I believe the Holy Spirit carefully placed this story in chapter four. We learn how the disciples were being given special intellectual instruction earlier in the passage, and now they are being given a special lesson in faith.
>>> Have someone read Mark 4:40-41.
Q Did the disciples fail to have faith?
RQ (rhetorical question) Were they fired?
Note: Just before God’s Word dispelled the darkness and the creation of the world began, the Spirit of God, the Wind of God was hovering over death. Then God spoke! It was the wind that caused the waves; it was the waves caused by the wind that created the crisis that turned the disciples’ lives up-side down.
Q Does soil plow itself? Who has to do it before the soil is good?
An = It is the farmer, not the seed, that plows the fields. Soil when plowed up loosens the soil so it can be aerated and thus receive the seed. Soil plowed up turns the weeds into and under the earth where they break down and become nutrients not competition for the seed, and as soil is plowed the rocks are hit, discovered and taken out. Good soil must be turned up-side down.
God allows or His Wind even causes the terrifying waves that turn our lives upside down, and we can call out to Him, when in distress, but He will sometimes seem asleep. You can choose to pray, to talk to Him, even scream at Him that He does not seem to care. It is OK to tell Him how you see things.
The disciples got their lives turned upside down, so be careful if you get close to Jesus and get into His boat. The Wind of God (the Spirit of God) may come whistling down and start some terrible waves. However, it is then that the Word of God comes alive. The Wind in Genesis 1, preceded the Word.[:]