Mark 4 - Printer Friendly

What does Mark 4 mean?

Chapter Commentary:

The focus of Mark's Gospel is Jesus' actions. Only here and in Mark 13:3–37 does this book spend significant time recording Jesus' teaching. In the previous chapter, Mark explores the different reactions people have to Jesus, His teachings, and His miracles. The Pharisees (Mark 3:1–6, 22), Herodians (Mark 3:6), and Jesus' family (Mark 3:21, 31) react with varying degrees of horror. The people like what Jesus has to say, but like His healing miracles more (Mark 3:7–12). The twelve, referring to Jesus' inner circle of disciples, and a group of others want to know the deeper meanings of Jesus' teaching (Mark 3:13–19, 34–35). Here, Jesus explains why He is met with such diverse reactions.

The crowd gathered on the shore of the Sea of Galilee makes aggressive attempts to reach Jesus for healing (Mark 3:7–9). So, He sits in a boat to teach them as they remain on the shore. Jesus uses parables, a symbolic form of teaching, to explain the mystery of the gospel (Romans 16:25; Ephesians 3:1–6). Parables are metaphorical stories which reveal the truth in an oblique way. Listeners must work to understand the seemingly simple stories—between public parables and private explanations to His disciples, Jesus mentions listening or hearing more than a dozen times! Not everyone heeds His instruction.

Although the crowd is willing to listen to Jesus' parables, they have no interest in the spiritual meaning behind the stories. The disciples—the twelve and others (Mark 4:10)—ask Jesus for clarification when things are quieter. Jesus explains that the parables act as a gateway. Those who have no wish to dive below the surface are free to go on their way, while those who are drawn in by the simple stories will receive answers for their questions, answers which will eventually lead to forgiveness.

These reactions are illustrated in the parable. The seeds on the path are eaten by birds as Satan snatches spiritual truths from hardened hearts. Seeds in rocky ground are like those who hear Jesus' teaching and react favorably, but don't have the personal depth to keep their attention on Jesus in the face of hardships. The thorns represent worldly distractions, such as wealth, that keep an interested seeker from developing into a true believer. The seeds on the good soil are those who produce spiritual fruit (Galatians 5:22–23).

Jesus then tells several parables illustrating how His message of the gospel will spread. First, He explains that although the gospel has been hidden until now, it is time to expose the truth, like a lamp lighting a room. The more open people are to Jesus' teaching, the more spiritual wisdom God will give to them. Those who only want to understand a little will wind up with nothing at all. Soon, Jesus will send the apostles out to propagate His message (Mark 6:7–13). As they teach, they should understand they are not responsible for the spiritual growth of their listeners any more than a farmer is responsible for making his crops grow. And they should be prepared; the simple truths of the gospel will create a great movement that blesses all the nations.

In that vein, Jesus tells the disciples it is time to cross the Sea of Galilee to reach other people. He takes advantage of the boat ride to sleep, despite getting caught in a horrible storm. Terrified of imminent death, the twelve awaken Jesus. After scolding them for their lack of faith, He tells the wind and sea, "Peace! Be still!" The weather immediately clears, and the disciples redirect their focus from fear to faith; from storms to Jesus, the man who can control the wind and the sea.

Mark 4:1–9 is this Gospel's first major account of Jesus' teaching. In the previous chapter, Jesus encountered varied reactions to His ministry. This passage opens with a parable describing why people react in these ways. Ironically, the very act of using parables reveals what kind of a student someone is. Those intrigued by the story and trusting of the teacher want to know more. Those who are hardened, shallow, or distracted don't allow Jesus' message to change their hearts. These events are also found in Matthew 13:1–9 and Luke 8:4–8.

Mark 4:10–20 follows Jesus' telling of the parable of the sower, and now and the disciples would like to understand the deeper truths in the story. Jesus made a habit of explaining parables to those who wanted to know more than the general crowd. The fact that they are curious proves that they are the good soil that will produce much fruit. Jesus explains how the growth of the seeds represent why people react differently to His message (Mark 3). The subsequent parables will go deeper into what it will take for the gospel to spread successfully. You can also find this account in Matthew 13:10–23 and Luke 8:9–15.

Mark 4:21–25 is Jesus' explanation of what makes for good learning conditions. Jesus has previously revealed why some people accept His teaching while others don't (Mark 4:1–20). ''Light'' is the truth of Jesus that should be let free to reveal the secret of the gospel. But it will only provide illumination for those who pay attention and come with a deep desire to understand. Next, Jesus will tell the disciples their responsibility in spreading the gospel (Mark 4:26–29) and what reaction they can expect (Mark 4:30–32). Luke also records this story in Luke 8:16–18 while Matthew touches on the themes in Matthew 5:15–16 and 10:26.

Mark 4:26–29 contains Jesus' description of the responsibility of the teacher. Jesus had selected the twelve as apostles to spread the gospel (Mark 3:14). He has explained why He teaches with parables (Mark 4:1–20) and the importance of the act of teaching and the receptivity of the student (Mark 4:21–25). Now He clarifies that it is the teacher's job to speak the truth. However, the spiritual growth resulting from that teaching is beyond the teacher's control (1 Corinthians 3:5–9). Next, Jesus will teach His disciples about the effectiveness of the gospel (Mark 4:30–32). This parable isn't found in the other synoptic gospels, although a similar, extended passage is in Matthew 13:24–30.

Mark 4:30–34 is a lesson from Jesus about the power of His message. Jesus is preparing His disciples to preach the gospel. He's talked about the different types of students they'll encounter (Mark 4:1–20, 24–25), the need for teaching (Mark 4:21–23), and the fact that they can't make anyone listen (Mark 4:24–29). Like the growth of the tiny mustard seed, the gospel will cause a great movement that will change lives across the world. Mark finishes the section with a reminder of how and why Jesus uses parables to teach (Mark 4:33–34). This account is also found in Matthew 13:31–32, 34–35 and Luke 13:18–19.

Mark 4:35–41 is part of a passage expounding on Jesus' authority. He has demonstrated power over sickness (Mark 3:7–10), demons (Mark 1:21–26), and the Sabbath (Mark 2:23–28). Now He controls the wind and the sea. Next, He will conquer a legion of demons (Mark 5:1–13), social conventions (Mark 5:25–34), and death (Mark 5:21–24, 35–43). In this miracle, Jesus displays His authority over nature, specifically conditions that His disciples know and rightfully fear. The story of the storm is also recorded in Matthew 8:23–27 and Luke 8:22–25.

Chapter Summary:

Jesus speaks in parables to the assembled crowd, giving them an opportunity to decide how much spiritual truth they want to absorb. The disciples, wanting to learn more, ask Jesus to explain the meaning of the parables He has taught. As Jesus explains these ideas, He demonstrates that a person's spiritual knowledge is based on their willingness to pursue truth. After describing Jesus' teaching in some detail, the Gospel of Mark describes how Jesus calms a storm on the Sea of Galilee.

Chapter Context:

Mark 3 explores the different ways people react to Jesus' teaching and miracles. They either follow Him, use Him, hide Him, or destroy Him. In Mark 4, Jesus explains why people react the way they do. He uses parables to explain who is serious about learning from Him. The softer a person's heart is, the more truth God will reveal. Soon, the twelve will also spread Jesus' message, although they will not be responsible for the spiritual growth of those who believe. The following chapter returns to depicting Jesus' miracles, including two of His most famous.

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.

Accessed 4/29/2024 1:48:40 AM