Mark #10 - The Story of the Sower

Mark 4:1-9 (NIV)

The next story in Mark’s gospel might be familiar to you. It’s often referred to as the Parable of the Sower. It’s a story with a deeper meaning under the surface, and we’re going to take it in two parts. Today we’ll look at the parable itself, and tomorrow we’ll read Jesus’ explanation of the story to his disciples.

So far in the story most people have been really anxious to see Jesus. There are various motivations but people are clamoring to interact with him. Today’s passage begins to confront that. We learn that there is a difference between being interested in Jesus and wanting to follow him for real. You can be in the crowd, but are you really listening, do you really see him for who he is?

As you listen to Jesus’ words today, imagine yourself in the crowd. You’ve grown up in the Jewish story and you’ve heard of crowd after crowd coming to Jesus. Your expectation of the Messianic kingdom involves an overthrow of the tyrannical oppressive state, restoration of the land, and a renewal of the covenant between God and Israel. As you hear Jesus’ words, imagine what the original hearers might have understood. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you insight into what Jesus was saying to them, and reflect on what that might mean for us today.

----------REFLECT----------

1. As you listened, which soil caught your attention?

2. The crowd hearing this was probably pretty diverse — there were religious leaders who were curious or skeptical about Jesus; maybe there were some who had received healing or seen Jesus restore their friends; folks who had simply heard about Jesus and wanted to see him for themselves. Consider the various ways these groups might have received this parable.

3. As you think about the different types of people in the crowd, where do you see yourself? Are you curious about Jesus and want to see for yourself? Open to having your assumptions challenged? Are you in a place of devotion, having experienced healing or restoration in some way? Or are you skeptical of Jesus in this season? Bring that to Jesus and set it down before him.

----------GO DEEPER----------

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