My prayer for us in December is that we may be filled with the hope of Jesus Christ this Christmas season.

As we continue through Mark, I pray that we hear the words and remember the actions of Jesus and think, what a miracle; God himself has come in the flesh. He dwelt among men, teaching the truth, healing them, and, finally, dying in their place.

Mark 4:1-20 Mark writes this section like a sandwich. The parable is told and then it’s explanation, but between them is a private explanation by Jesus of the mystery of his kingdom. The center of the sandwich is key for understanding the whole.

1-2. The setting. Jesus teaching truth in a boat with the crowds around.

3-9. The telling of the parable. Parables use ordinary things of daily life to explain spiritual truths. He starts and ends the parable with an imperative: “hear” or “listen”. When God speaks, his words are important. They carry authority and power. His creation must hear, heed, engage, respond.

There are two parts of the story that stand out: 1. The sowing in unlikely places 2. The astounding harvest

Unlikely Places The farmer scatters seed all over his field, even in paths, rocks, and thorns. Justin Martyr Wrote, he sows in every corner of the field “in hopes that good soil might somewhere be found.”

God searches for men and women. He seeks out those who will follow him. John 4:23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.

The Astounding Harvest The parable represents the historical in-breaking of God’s kingdom in Jesus, the sower of the gospel. The astounding harvest (v. 8) is an important clue that the growth is not owing to human activity but to God’s providential power. God is at work—hidden and unobserved—in Jesus and the gospel to produce an astounding harvest.

Let not hearers suppose the opposition of scribes, Pharisees, crowds, and even his own associates, as adversarial as the hardpan, rocks, and thorns will be the last word. Despite discouraging odds, the harvest in Jesus’ ministry will be beyond compare.

Insiders and Outsiders 10-12. Jesus speaks to two different audiences, “to you” and “to those”. He spoke to those who would not listen to him with hidden meaning. He spoke to those who did listen clearly and with more truth. Insiders hear, believe, receive and bear fruit.

The Secret of the Kingdom The secret of the kingdom of God is in the person and words and works of Jesus. To see the majesty of God, go to the baby in a lowly stable. To see the praise-worthy Creator, watch Jesus wash dirt of his disciples’ feet. To see the glory of God, go to the merciful Savior who died like a criminal.

Jesus is the ultimate parable – he is the common thing to describe the spiritual truths about God’s character and his will. In Jesus we see God is merciful, loving, powerful, providing, and self-sacrificing.

Unlikely Places – We do not know where good soil may be found. We must tell people in all walks of life about the light we have found in Jesus.

An Astounding Harvest – Fruit comes by hearing and receiving Jesus’ word. We must be daily in the word; we cannot produce fruit by our own effort.

The Secret of the Kingdom – Has been revealed to you: God has come in the person of Jesus Christ.