We are crushing another myth this week. Stories in the Bible are actually not confusing. When Jesus spoke, crowds were drawn. They were hanging on His every Word. They were listening not just with their ears, but with their hearts. And today, you and I are going to join the crowd on the lakeshore and listen to Jesus in the book of Mark.
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Transcription:
Have you ever wondered what it’s going to be like to hear the voice of Jesus? One day he’s going to call your name. He’s going to call my name, and what a glorious day that is going to be. The prophet Ezekiel actually described the voice of God, like the roar of rushing waters. A very fitting description because we are heading to the lake shore today to hear from Jesus. Welcome to the Bible for Busy People. My name is Erica, and we are crushing another myth this week. Stories in the Bible are actually not confusing. When Jesus spoke, crowds were drawn. They were hanging on His every word. They were listening not just with their ears, but with their hearts. And today, you and I are going to join the crowd on the Lakeshore and listen to Jesus In the book of Mark. Mark’s gospel, chapter four, beginning in verse one.
Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore.
I feel like if you and I get really quiet, we can almost hear the water rippling, the waves gently crashing on the shore, maybe a picnic basket opening. Okay.
A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore. 2 He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:
Before we read it together. If you’re new to the faith, you might be going, what’s a parable? It’s a simple story used to illustrate a spiritual or a moral lesson. So here we go.
“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. 4 As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. 5 Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. 8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” 9 Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” 10 Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant. 11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, 12 so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘When they see what I do, they will learn nothing.When they hear what I say, they will not understand.Otherwise, they will turn to me and be forgiven.’ ”13 Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? 14 The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. 15 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. 16 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 17 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. 18 The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, 19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. 20 And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
Now, of course, you and I, we want to be the good seed, and there is an excellent message in this parable that Jesus has given us. I love analogies and illustrations, especially in nature, but I believe there’s something else that our Lord wants us to see today as we study his word. Did you notice how the disciples were like, Lord, what does that mean? Right? I mean, they asked him, I’m sure that a few of them were scratching their heads while they sat by the fire that night after Jesus’s day of teaching on the lakeshore, and they were looking at each other. That was really cool what he said. What did he mean by that? And they asked him, and I think Jesus wants us to come to him when we feel confused, when we’re like, I don’t understand what’s going on. I don’t understand what I just read in the Bible. And here’s the promise that backs that up. James chapter one, verse five.
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
Okay. So, at any point, if you are reading God’s word and it’s midnight and you’re like, ah, I just go to him, he never sleeps. We learned that in Psalm 1:21. He never sleeps or slumbers. You can go to him at any time. I think often something else that really works for me is if I just meditate on a verse, and I just think about it in my mind and I get quiet and I don’t have other things on the audio books I love to listen to, and I’m not watching my new favorite show, When Calls the Heart, right? When I just sort of focus on that one thing,. Take a verse and just meditate on it and see if God doesn’t speak to you and give you wisdom. He will not rebuke you for asking.
I love that the disciples were unafraid, they were fearless. They went to him and they’re like, “Explain, please, here, Lord.” Right? He has no desire to leave you or me in the dark. He is the light of the world. He came to illuminate the truth in your heart and in your life. So, if you need wisdom, ask our generous God and he’s going to give it to you. Until next time, you are really loved.
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