Mark 4

Verses

1

Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge.

Though Jesus heals, performs miracles he teaches. He wants to transform people’s mind. He wants to restore us from the fallen state to thinking and doing what God wants us to be.

2

He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said:

Jesus teaches by parables. Jesus is not interested in showing his intellect. He wants his audience to understand what he is teaching. He narrates stories and para ales that his audience can relate.

Jesus is our role model for our teaching. Don’t try to show off that you know many Bible verses or go on rambling theological ideas. Connect with your audience. Use ideas, stories that they can connect. Ensure they grasp and understand what you are saying.

3-8

Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.

Plentiful harvest is a function of seed, a farmer, and soil. For a successful harvest, all three elements must come together. God's word is powerful, but it requires action from the farmer to bring the seed to the soil. Different types of soil represent different responses to the message. It's essential for the farmer to spread the potent idea to the appropriate soil. The soil will not come to seed, likewise people are not going to come to the Bible. It's the responsibility of the farmer to take the powerful message to others.

We observe here a principle called ratio thinking in action. Only one-fourth of the work yields results, while the remaining three-fourths, which is a significant portion of the effort, often go to waste. Even in good soil, not all of it produces a hundred percent of the desired results. There's always a variation; some soil might produce 30 percent, some 60 percent, and some a hundred percent. This variation reflects the application of ratio thinking. We shouldn't expect every effort bearing fruit. Instead, we must persist in our search for the soil—or the right conditions—that will yield results, making up for the effort that seemingly went to waste.

The parable of the seed doesn't talk about time explicitly. Even if you have the perfect mix of seed, soil, and farmer's work, you still need patience for results. Whether it's 30%, 60%, or 100% of the fruits, you have to wait. Patience is key. It's tough because you don't know which seeds will grow well. You might plant on rocky or dry soil without knowing. So, you have to wait patiently for results while you keep doing your work.

The lessons from the Parable of the Sower and ratio thinking go beyond just spiritual life or spreading God's word. They apply in marketing, investing, parenting, and various other aspects of life.

In investing, for example, not all stocks you invest in will bring great returns. Only a few might give significant profits, compensating for the failures and low returns of others. This requires patience and perseverance. Similarly, in venture capitalism, many startups may fail, but some might bring extraordinary returns, making up for the losses.

In marketing, you need to keep working and measure results. Trying out different marketing channels and audience targeting methods is crucial. Eventually, one approach might work exceptionally well, providing outstanding returns compared to others.

Building an audience on social media follows a similar pattern. Experimenting with messages, timing, and audience targeting is necessary. Eventually, you may find a strategy that gives remarkable returns for your efforts.

These principles apply broadly in life. Just as God's word offers wisdom applicable in various situations, these concepts can guide us in different areas of life, as Peter suggests in 2 Peter 1#3.

26 - 29

He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

Scatters
Seed - small
Not knowing
Not taking credit
He may not do any work for growing

35 - 41

Jesus calms the storm

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

He says, "Let us go over to the other side," and then rests on a cushion in the boat. As we read the New Testament, we often find seemingly unnecessary details like the cushion. These details suggest that these stories come from eyewitnesses, not just made-up tales.

When a squall suddenly hits, the disciples panic. To them, Jesus is just a teacher, not a God. They don't get that he's more than a moral guide; he's someone to worship and trust. They scream, "Teacher, don't you care we're drowning?" Their victim mindset takes over. If they saw Jesus differently, they might have said, "Wake up, Lord! We need your help!" Instead, they let fear control them.

After calming the storm, Jesus asks two questions: "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" Fear takes hold when we think everything is going wrong and forget that God is with us. If we remember Emmanuel (God with us), Jehovah Rapha (the Lord who heals), and Jehovah Nissi (the Lord our banner), we'll know that troubles may come, but we can face them with courage.

Jesus' second question challenges their faith. The disciples have seen countless miracles and healings – why do they still lack faith?

Can't you feel the storm brewing, yet have faith? They see Jesus as a mere teacher, not a deity. Remember, having Jesus by your side doesn't shield you from storms. The New Testament echoes this sentiment: carry your cross, and expect worse treatment than Jesus himself. Heed God's words and build on solid rock; storms and floods may come, but you'll stand firm.

If they listened closely, Jesus said, "Let's go to the other side." With faith, they should know that despite the storm, they'd reach the other side. So why the fear? They won't drown—Jesus is with them.

At the end, they ask, "Who is he?" Despite witnessing his miracles, they fail to grasp his divinity. To them, he's just a wise teacher giving good commandments. But without recognizing him as God, fear and doubt seep in.

Until now, they've seen Jesus heal people—curing leprosy, paralysis, and casting out demons. But this is their first glimpse of him controlling nature itself. Perhaps they've seen other rabbis heal by God's hand, but never one with such mastery over the elements. Witnessing this new dimension of Jesus' power leaves them awestruck and questioning his true identity.

Keep seeking fresh glimpses of Jesus in our lives.