Mark 4-5
What I Noticed Today (Mark 4-5)
Mark 4
In verses 1-2, Jesus is again teaching a large crowd by the Sea of Galilee. He taught in a boat just off the shore as the crowd lined the shore.
In verses 3-9, the parable of the sower (See also Matthew 13:3-9). A farmer sowed seeds in his field. Some of the seed fell on a footpath, some in rocky places, some among the thorns, and some in good soil. Birds ate the seed that fell on the path, the sun-scorched the small plants that grew in the rocky soil, and thorns choked out the plants that grew in their midst. But the seed that fell on the good soil produced 30, 60, even 100 times what was sown.
Note: Jesus tells the people to listen before He starts teaching and concludes the parable with the phrase “anyone who has ears to hear should listen.” “Should listen” is stated as an imperative, a command; if you have ears, listen, this is important!
In verses 10-12, Jesus explains to the disciples and other believers why He teaches using parables. Those who believe have been given the secret to the kingdom of heaven; those who do not believe will hear but not understand. (See also Matthew 13:10-17)
Note: Verses 10-12 were inserted here but were not part of Jesus’ overall teaching by the Sea of Galilee, but later when they were alone.
In verses 13-20, the parable of the sower is explained (See also Matthew 18-23). The sower is anyone who sows the Word. For some, Satan takes away the Word. For some, they hear the word but have no deep roots, so they fall away. For some, when trouble comes, they wither and fall away. For some, they hear the Word, accept it, and produce much spiritual fruit many times over.
In verses 21-25, the parables of the lamp and the measure (See also Matthew 5:15 and Matthew 7:2). No one lights a lamp and hides its light. You put it on a lampstand so its light can be seen. Be careful with what you are given. If you use wisely, more will be given to you, but if foolishly, even what you have will be taken away.
In verses 26-29, the parable of the growing seed (only in Mark). This parable is similar to the Parable of the Sower. It describes the process of sowing seed (v. 26), growing (vv. 27-28), and harvesting (v. 29).
Note: The only part of the process where man is involved is in the sowing.
In verses 30-32, the parable of the mustard seed (See also Matthew 13:31-32). The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. It is the smallest seed known in Jewish culture, but it becomes the largest plant in the garden when it grows.
In verses 33-34, Mark recounts again the fact that when in a crowd, Jesus taught using parables, but when He was alone with the disciples, He spoke to them openly about the Kingdom of God.
In verses 35-41, the calming of the storm on the lake (See also Matthew 8:23-27). Mark provides what seems to be an eyewitness report, perhaps from Peter. “On that day” is the same day as Jesus was teaching the crowds by the Sea of Galilee. At the end of the day, Jesus told them to get into the boat and go to the other side of the lake (the Gentile side). Other boats came with them. Jesus was sleeping in the back of the boat when a storm came up. The disciples woke Him, afraid they would die. Jesus rebuked the wind and waves, quieting the storm. Then He rebuked the disciples for being afraid, asking if they still had no faith.
Note: Most of the disciples were professional fishermen very familiar with the Sea of Galilee. They had witnessed Jesus perform many miracles and healing, but when He calmed the sea, they wondered what power He had because they understood only God had power over the winds and the seas.
Mark 5
In verses 1-20, Jesus arrived on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee in the region of the Gerasenes (most of the inhabitants were Gentiles) (See also Matthew 8:28-34). A demon-possessed man came to Jesus. Jesus told the demon to leave the man, and the demon addressed Jesus as “Jesus Son of the Most High God.” The demon’s name was Legion.
Note: In the Roman army, a Legion was a regiment of about 6,000 soldiers. The word legion was also used simply for a large number.
The demons asked Jesus to send them into the pigs (rather than being disembodied). The demons entered the pigs, ran down the hillside, and drowned themselves in the sea. The people who saw this reported to the townspeople who came to see Jesus. They found the demon-possessed man cured, and the pigs drowned, so they urged Jesus to leave.
Note: The townspeople witnessed a miracle in the man being cleansed of his demon possession, and rather than wondering what power Jesus had to do this, they were most concerned about their loss of income.
The demon-possessed man was the only one who wanted to be with Jesus. Jesus told him to go back home to the region of Decapolis and report all that the Lord had done for him. So the demon-possessed man did, and the people were amazed.
Note: Telling others about Jesus is most often as simple as being willing to tell the story of what Jesus has done in our lives!
In verses 21-23, Jesus and the disciples returned to the west side of the lake (probably to Capernaum), and again a large crowd assembled. Jairus, a synagogue ruler, came before Jesus, begging Him to heal his daughter. (See also Matthew 9:18-26)
In verses 24-34, as Jesus was going to heal Jairus’ daughter, a large crowd was following along with him. A woman who had been bleeding for 12-years came up behind Jesus and touched His cloak, believing that she would be healed. The instant she did this, Jesus felt power leave him, asking who touched Him. The woman came forward and admitted touching Jesus. Jesus referred to her as “Daughter” and commended her faith. (See also Matthew 9:20-22)
Note: The woman’s constant bleeding may have been a menstrual disorder. Regardless, it would have made her unclean and kept her from engaging in any of the traditional Jewish services and social life.
In verses 35-43, people came to Jairus, informing him that his daughter had died. Jesus told Jairus not to be afraid and took Peter, James, and John with Him to Jairus’ house. When they got there, people were already in mourning. Jesus sent the mourners away and entered the house. Jesus saw the girl, took her by the hand, and commanded her to get up. Immediately she got up and walked, and the disciples were amazed. Jesus told them not to speak of this to others.
Some points for additional thought:
- We have the privilege of sowing the seed, the Word of God. But it is also a great responsibility because, without the sowing, there can be no harvest.
- We who have ears must listen to the Word of God. This is not a suggestion but a command from the Lord.
- Some will reject the Kingdom of God because they are more concerned with worldly wealth than heavenly riches.
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.