March 6 – Mark 3 and 4

Today we are focusing on Mark 4, Jesus’ teaching was in the form of parables. A parable can be a metaphor, simile, allegory, illustration, or story. It makes use of figurative language where certain aspects of the story correlate to a truth that Jesus was teaching.

Jesus was an amazing teacher. His parables help us to understand spiritual truths in a far more vivid way than if he just said, “Love your neighbor, put God first, and forgive others.” Parables also help us to remember what we have learned, as an interesting story is far more easily remembered than a lengthy factual discourse.

I pray that today, we would be to understand the simple illustrations that Jesus used to teach and we would also be able to help people understand and remember spiritual truths.

(Please read Mark 3 and post a comment on what you learned.)

Text: Mark 4 https://www.bible.com/bible/114/MRK.4.1-41

V1-9

• Imagine, for a minute, you didn’t have the interpretation of this parable. Do you think you could understand it? What points would you get from this parable?
• Why did Jesus conclude His parable by saying, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear?”

V10-13

• Why did He give the interpretation to only this smaller group of people and not the larger group?
• How might someone who is, and not spiritually sensitive respond to a parable they didn’t understand?
• What is the principle here?
• Why was this group privileged to understand the mystery of the kingdom of God?
•  What does verse 12 mean?

V14-20

• Identify the various symbols in the parable, including the sower, seed, four soils, birds, thorns, roots, and fruit.
• What are the key lessons we can get from this parable?
• Where are you in this parable?

V21-25

• What point is Jesus making about the lamp?
•  How can we put our “lamp on the lampstand?”
• What kind of actions are like a light in the dark?
• What does it mean to “pay attention to what you hear?”
• Who is the one who has? Why will more be given to the one who has?

V26-29

• What does it teach us about a growing Christian?
• Does the farmer cause the seed to grow? Who does?
• Can we cause a person to believe in Christ?
• What is the main point of this parable?

V30-34

A mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds in the world at just 1/20th of an inch in diameter. The “tree” that grows from this seed is technically a bush. This bush can grow to be up to 20 feet (6.5 meters) high. Oftentimes, it towers over the other crops or smaller plants growing around it in fields.

• How is the kingdom of God like a mustard seed?
• What does this illustrate to us about the kingdom of God?

V35-41

• How could Jesus sleep during this? Why was He so tired?
• What does this passage teach us about Jesus and His disciples?
• What should you do when you face similar “scary” situations?
• What can you learn from this passage that can comfort you in times of distress?

Did you learn something new? A comment from you will be high appreciated and a blessing to someone