Skip to main content

Reflections on the New Testament: The Gospel of Mark

“And He said to them, ‘Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?’” Mark 4:13, NKJV.

It is essential that we, as Christians, understand the Word of the Lord in its entirety—it is essential that we continually learn. We are not to feed solely on the milk of the Word, for then we are but moderately strengthened; we are not familiar with the full context and implications and are therefore incapable of accurate application. Rather, we must proceed to the meat of the Word, and pursue a full and accurate understanding of “all the parables.” The Lord has fully equipped us for this task—He has sent us the Helper and opened the avenue of prayer. We are without excuse. Jesus’ question to His disciples in Mark 4:13 has the tone of a reprimand, as though He genuinely expected His disciples to have understood the parable and was rather disappointed that they did not. It is as though He said to them: “Children, you ought to understand this, for it is simple, and there are a great many deeper things I am eager to teach you.” How many blessings of wisdom we miss when we neglect study and prayer, and choose, rather, to cling to a few basic concepts we ought to have understood and built upon long ago! The Lord is, indeed, eager to reveal many things to us—let us not prefer ignorance.

 

“And He said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.’ Then He said, ‘To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all the herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade,” Mark 4:26-32, NKJV.
The kingdom of God flourishes by the power of the Holy Spirit—“we ourselves do not know how.” It is our immense privilege, as sinners saved by grace, to plant the mustard seed—a task which may seem small and ordinary enough at first—but the Holy Spirit shall see that the seed sprouts and grows, flourishes and yields a crop. We shall awake one day and find a harvest ready to be gathered in, or a great tree sprung up from, as we thought, bare earth—if we do not despise the labor, however menial, God has assigned to us, but rejoice in it, knowing that the Holy Spirit will make much of it.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Economics of Easter: Egg Hunting, Fiscal Policy and Lessons for Life

 By Timothy Verrinder To understand the complex world around us, it is helpful to simply imagine everyone as children. Somehow, the thought of a boardroom of children in suits and dress skirts with pen, paper, phones and coffee cups makes the content of any business meeting seem more accessible. The courtroom with a seven-year-old on trial before a pudgy, bespectacled and robed judge and a jury of his “peers” might be another example. Even in politics, where it’s not so much a stretch of one’s imagination to view everyone as children, it is a helpful exercise not just in reducing the complexity of things, but also the intimidation factor which accompanies complexity. Little Mr. Stevens standing on a stool to write on the whiteboard doesn’t quite evoke the intrigue and competition associated with corporate life. The lawyer’s powers of persuasion and legal acumen are rendered laughable as soon as little Ms. Sanchez says “ladies and gentlemen of the jury.” As for politics, well, much ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Summer Market in Chowchilla - Book Signing and Sale!

I will be selling and signing copies of my book,  Sketches of a Small Life , at the summer market in Chowchilla, California, on Friday evenings, 6-8:30pm, June 16, 23, and 30. Stick around for Music in the Park (starting at 8pm)! All events are free and open to the public. Location: Veteran's Memorial Park, 600 W. Robertson Boulevard, Chowchilla, CA 93610 Link to City of Chowchilla event page:  https://www.cityofchowchilla.org/339/Summer-Event-Series    
Post a Comment
Read more

The Family - A Sestina

All together and laughing, the family Fills the long, low house on the farm; They gather naturally to drink coffee, To rein in the years and make them stand still. In his armchair, an old man smiles And shakes his white head at the children.   Squirming with impatience, the children Play on the floor while the family Stands with hands in pockets and smiles And discusses a new tractor for the farm, While someone asks if the old one works still And someone starts a fresh pot of coffee.   The sound of beans grinding and the coffee Dripping, drowns the sound of the children Who must take loud games outside, or be still. One sister starts dinner for the family and listens to the talk of the farm. They ask how school’s going and she smiles.   Mom watches from a corner and smiles; She laughs at the jokes and makes more coffee And watches the sun set over the farm, Her kind eyes falling on the playing children. Dad kisses her chee...
Post a Comment
Read more