Jeremiah 13

I was very much moved by this passage from Jeremiah 13 because it amazes me, though I suppose it should not, when I see how relevant the word of God is to the time of today. As I read these words and study them I am amazed that they are so relevant to today. As a reminder, I have been working on reading the Bible daily, - following the M'Cheyne Reading Plan "Secret." Yet, I struggle and fail often. It takes time for me to study and my time gets displaced often. But, I am thankful for coming back to the Word. Today I read from Jeremiah 13 and I have prepared this outline based upon my thoughts from Enduring Word.

TWO WARNING SIGNS

The Sign of the Linen Sash

Hiding the linen sash - verses 1-5

• Lord tells Jeremiah - Get a sash (decorative belt) and put it around your waist (1)
• Sash was a priestly garment for High Priest and Regular Priest - a sign of dignity and nobility
• Go to Euphrates (not sure if this was actual journey or vision) for if it would have been a 3 month journey that would have alarmed people of Anaathoth (4)
• Hide the sash in a rock (4)
• The direction of the Euphrates was where Babylon would be coming from to destroy Judah

Finding the Decayed, Useless Sash - verses 6-7

• Go to the Euphrates and retrieve the sash (6)
• It was still there, but had deteriorated and was ruined, good for nothing (7)

Ruining the Pride of the People - verses 8-11

• In the same manner of the sash, the pride of Judah and Jerusalem will be ruined (9)
• These people would be taken to the Euphrates and beyond
• 3 main sins of Judah (10)
• Refuse to hear God's words (Not reading His Word)
• Follow the dictates of their hearts (trusted in themselves, looked to self instead of the Lord)
• Walked after other gods to serve them (trusting in themselves, they were led to idolatry)
• As the sash clings to a man, so we are to cling to God
• But they would not listen (11)

The Sign of the Wine Bottle

Every bottle filled with wine - verse 12

• Every bottle shall be filled with wine echoes the proverb - Everything will fulfill its purpose

The people of Judah drunk and destroyed - verses 13-14

• Wine breaks people and God's rebellious people would be in a state of stupor and stupidity, drunk with wine (13)
• The people would be dashed against one another (fighting among themselves - we are really seeing this today like never before) (14)

How to Respond to God's warnings

Humble yourself and give glory to the Lord - verses 15-16

• We are told of the biggest problem we have for not listening to God - our pride (15)
• "For the Lord has spoken" - as he speaks we have a choice on how we will respond - yea or nay
• Thus, give glory to God before darkness is all we know (16)

The price to be paid for not heeding God's warnings - verses 17-20

• Jeremiah didn't merely observe, he experienced weeping and tears because judgment was coming (17)
• And so he keeps pleading "humble yourselves" (18)
• It should begin with the leaders - King and Queen (18)
• The invaders are coming for the beautiful sheep (20)

The guilt of those whom the Lord punishes - verses 21-23

• When the punishment actually happens, the people were incredulous that such calamities had overtaken them (21), just as a woman in labor would exclaim "Why have these things come upon me?" (21,22)
• Them (enemies) are taught to be lords (chieftans) over them (21)
• Your skirts have been removed (22)
• Judah commits spiritual adulteries and they would be terribly and tragically violated by their conquerors
• "Lift up the skirt" is a euphemism for sexual attack both here and elsewhere in the OT
• Can the Ethiopian change his skin or leopard his spots? (23)
• God changes/transforms the nature of man

The determination of the Lord to scatter His people - verse 24-25

• Their lot was to be scattered across the Babylonian empires (24)
• And because you have forgotten Me and trusted in Falsehood (25)

The exposed shame of God's people - verses 26-27

• For not humbling oneself, a greater shame results (26)
• The Lord exclaims that they still are not clean (27)

Promise: In this chapter is the promise that the primary sins of Judah can also be sins of our day and they are not reading God's word, trusting in ourselves and in turn trusting in idolatry.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the truth of your word and showing me continually the importance of listening to you and keeping my focus on You. Not on You means it will be on me and I will find fulfillment instead with me. Lord, I pray that I will humble myself and I would get out of the way from what you are teaching me and accept it.

Mark 13:27-31 - Within A Generation

Mark 13:27-31
27 And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven.
28 “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 Even so, you too, when you see these things happening, recognize that He is near, right at the door. 30 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

Message: Within A Generation

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus is speaking of the future as he delivers what is now been called the Olivet Discourse. The language here can be difficult at times to comprehend, as far as exactly the events that Jesus is predicting and their timing. Up to this point much has been thought to occur by AD 70 which is the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and then the wiping out of the Jewish Nation and how it will be replaced with the Gospel Church following Christ's substitution death on the Cross at Calvary. 

Perhaps the best way to interpret the previous passage - 13:24-26 is to say that it is simply the change from one era to another. Figurative, apocalyptic language is being used and often this language refers to falls of empires in the Bible and beginnings of new empires. So rather than thinking that in verse 26 it states that Jesus is coming in the clouds and this means His Second Coming it refers to him coming as the Messiah and the Jewish nation understanding this, for the first time. Jesus has come. Jesus is here. God to the earth. God to the whole world. Thus the destruction of the Jewish temple in AD 70 meant that the times of the Jews ended. Jesus told them to flee from Jerusalem immediately and thus flee from what they have known all along. And now salvation will come to all, but namely the Gentiles realizing that Salvation has come to the Jews. But Jesus has been stating and sort of judging the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem for not allowing the Gentiles to be welcomed into the temple. His death on the cross forces this to occur and the destruction of the temple is another way that it ushers in a new era.

And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven. This is perhaps that now that Jerusalem is broken up, churches will be formed and planted among the Gentiles, to the uttermost parts of the earth, the globe.

He then brings up the fig tree again. He came upon the fig tree as He entered Jerusalem, and seeing its leaves he expected fruit, but in fact saw none, so he cursed the fig tree for not bearing fruit. But now He brings a different message from the fig tree. The messages here is as soon as the disciples perceived the signs of Christ's coming, they were to learn that he was close at hand, as certainly as the ripening fruit of the fig tree showed that summer was at hand. And then this statement this generation will not pass away until all these things take place speaks to the fact that this Olivet Discourse is fulfilled in this generation, thus by AD 70 and the passage seems to signify events that are taking place now. The temple will be destroyed and then the church will be sent out from Jerusalem, to the earth. All would be fulfilled in the 1st century.

Then Jesus provides the strongest language stating that his words, his mission, his plan is not temporary, but eternal. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. He utters his divine authority here. Cambridge Bible Commentary states - But as we look across the centuries we see how it has been realized. His words have passed into laws, they have passed into doctrines, they have passed into proverbs, they have passed into consolations, but they have never “passed away.” What human teacher ever dared to claim an eternity for his words?

Summary - This has been a difficult text at times, but the Olivet Discourse predicts a time that is coming and Jesus is wanting to ease the minds of his disciples and followers. They are not to be frightened, but confident in the future. His message is not temporal. It will go forth to the ends of the earth. His gospel message will be proclaimed and churches will be planted. Man-made institutions will pass away but His Truth, His Words will never pass away.

Promise: We are to take the gospel to all peoples.

Prayer: Lord, I try to learn and study these truths somewhat quickly, in a morning right now and yet Your Words speak of eternity and Your plan forever. You Lord are on the throne and I can always trust in You and depend on You. Continue to help me encourage others and be a light in people's lives. Thank you for the promise of Your kingdom. Continue to give me understanding of your words as I read them and illuminate me. 

Mark 12:10-12 - The Rejected Cornerstone

Mark 12:10-12
10 Have you not even read this Scripture:
‘The stone which the builders rejected,
This became the chief corner stone;
11 This came about from the Lord,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’?”
12 And they were seeking to seize Him, and yet they feared the people, for they understood that He spoke the parable against them. And so they left Him and went away.

Message: The Rejected Cornerstone

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus has presented a parable of the tenants to the disciples and all who would listen. It provides a story of a landowner (God) who builds a vineyard and then sets up how it will be ruled, with tenant farmers (priests, scribes, the Church) and provides it with a wall. But the tenant farmers do not manage it in the way He intended and start instead to think of it as belonging to themselves or even as an opportunity to acquire it.

Through all of this, one might wonder if God was still in control, in this process, or did he just wind it up and let it run as the parable seems to present.

Jesus quotes from Psalm 118:22-23, a Psalm of thanksgiving that reminds us that God is there and present through all of life's circumstances:
22 

The stone which the builders rejectedHas become the chief corner stone.This is the Lord’s doing;It is marvelous in our eyes.

I've always been curious about advertisers that label product new and improved. It is curious. What happened that made it 'new and improved.' In a way, this is what Jesus does with his kingdom. He starts it out as a stone and then it becomes a corner stone. It starts out with some limitations, but then it has no limitations. It is new and improved. Having the stone be rejected was necessary. Sometimes we don't see something until it goes through a trial. Yet, we struggle with this because we often see that there is never any good in any pain. 

There will be victory in Jesus. But this means at some times there will be a feeling that in Jesus there is defeat. The quoted Psalm states, "This is the Lord's doing." I can trust the Lord despite however it appears to me. 

And they (the chief priests, scribes, elders) were seeking to seize Him, and yet they feared the people (the multitudes), for they understood that He spoke the parable against them. And so they left Him and went away. It was clear in this moment that this parable was about them. They were the rejected ones. They felt assaulted and wanted to then seize him, but for now they did not because of the people that were surrounding Jesus at this time. 

Summary - By presenting this parable, Jesus reminds the people that He is in fact still in control. People will reject Him, but He will do something greater. We can always trust the Lord for His plans are perfect. 

Promise: Every up and down of history is under God's control. I can be confident for the future because I know that nothing happens outside of the Lord's sovereign plan for the all things. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for reminding me that you are in control. Thank you for reminding me that you are about the best and even what seems good now will be improved upon later. You are the God that makes all things new. Keep my eyes turned to You so that I look full on You and the things of earth grow dim. You are marvelous and I trust in You. 

Mark 12:1-9 - The Parable of the Tenants

Mark 12:1-9
1 Then Jesus began teaching them with stories: “A man planted a vineyard. He built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country. 2 At the time of the grape harvest, he sent one of his servants to collect his share of the crop. 3 But the farmers grabbed the servant, beat him up, and sent him back empty-handed. 4 The owner then sent another servant, but they insulted him and beat him over the head. 5 The next servant he sent was killed. Others he sent were either beaten or killed, 6 until there was only one left—his son whom he loved dearly. The owner finally sent him, thinking, ‘Surely they will respect my son.’ 7 “But the tenant farmers said to one another, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate. Let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves!’ 8 So they grabbed him and murdered him and threw his body out of the vineyard. 9 “What do you suppose the owner of the vineyard will do?” Jesus asked. “I’ll tell you—he will come and kill those farmers and lease the vineyard to others.

Message: The Parable of the Tenants

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem, as he has predicted 3 times his death and resurrection. He comes in on a colt and pronounces a judgment on the chief priests and scribes and elders at the temple about them not following their mission to make welcome the Gentiles at the temple. These leaders question Jesus' authority. Jesus communicates to his disciples that they are to have faith in God - to come to God by prayer in faith and then to forgive those that transgress against them. We are to be a people of faith and then forgiveness.

Now Jesus takes a moment to share a parable. This parable is in line with some of the subjects that he has been addressing, namely the importance of those individuals over are in charge of other individuals. In the 1st Century, it was common for landowners to hire tenant farmers to take care of their vines on their behalf. Isaiah 5:1-7 tells about a song about the Lord's vineyard. In that story the vineyard is judged for failing to to yield the proper fruit - a message that is sort of similar to the curse that Jesus pronounced on the fig tree as well as the chief priests and scribes.

This story speaks of the owner of the vineyard hiring tenant farmers to take care of his vineyard while he is away. But, the tenant farmers did more than just take care of the vineyard, they began to take ownership of it. Thus, they expanded their responsibility to include a sort of claim on it. In so doing, as the landowners servants came, he was beat up and sent away. And the landowner sent others, but they were also beat up or killed. Finally, the landowner sent his son but the same thing happened to the son, this time murdering the son. Jesus then says in response to this - What do you suppose the owner of the vineyard will do?” Jesus asked. “I’ll tell you—he will come and kill those farmers and lease the vineyard to others. 

• The servants represent the old covenant prophets - these prophets were rejected often by the leaders of the ancient covenant community
• The landowner is God himself 
• The tenant farmers are the kings, priests, other leaders, including what could be called today the church. 
• The landowner sent His Son (Jesus), but he is received with even more hatred than the prophets. 

This is an interesting lesson because Jesus is talking more about service (Mark 10:43-45) and forgiving others (Mark 11:25). The focus is on others. The tenant farmers were given one tasked, but they expanded it to include other responsibility and in so doing they lost their chief task. They became like the chief priests and scribes and began using the temple in a way they had wanted.

I think for me I look at the application of this passage to be the importance of remembering my first love and remembering how God has called me to live and act in this world. I need to be careful about getting too big for my own britches and taking ownership of what he has simply put me in charge of. And I need to always bring it back to Jesus, His Son, and even those that he has sent. Again, the focus is not on me, but others.

Summary - Jesus brings a parable to his people to remind them of the message that God has sent His Son to redeem people, and yet the Son will be rejected. People don't want the solution that Jesus provides. They want their own selfish solutions. He continues to get his disciples ready for what is coming - his death which will involve his complete rejection and scorn.

Promise: People will do whatever is necessary often to please themselves and get their own way. As God puts us in charge though of his vineyard, this world, we have a responsibility to respect his leadership and do what He asks.

Prayer: Lord, I love you and you are the Lord and King. I am your vessel. You have created all and so no matter my situation I need to serve you. Give me the strength and power to continue to share Your love with others. God you are in charge of all and I praise You for your love for us, but I must submit and surrender to You continually. I must trust Your ways. Keep me ever mindful of what you are teaching me to have faith in you, forgive others, and serve people.

Mark 4:33-34 - Speaking Ever in Parables

Mark 4:33-34
33 With many such parables He was speaking the word to them, so far as they were able to hear it; 34 and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples.

Message: Speaking Ever in Parables

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

There were instances that Jesus did not speak in parables, even to those that were not His disciples (John 6:22-59 as an example), but clearly parables were such a part of his ministry that the statement He did not speak to them without a parable thus one could say they were always a part of his teaching. I find it interesting that people love stories. Fictional stories are interwoven in all of our lives on a constant basis. We often look to movies, shows, story books, to express ideas that are central to our lives. In life, we are enraptured by TV shows that simply present stories for us and we are entertained by them. Some stories are simple, some not. All to often, when gathering with people, they will bring up the love of these stories and how they are constantly drawn to them in life. Thus, it seems most reasonable that Jesus used these stories to teach people ideas about Him and what He is doing or will do. There are Christian authors like JR Tolkien and CS Lewis that have you fictional stories to paint a picture of Christ and the work of God in our lives. One could say that parables and stories are interwoven through all of our lives on a constant basis.

I think this is the message that Mark simply wants to convey in these verses. With many such parables He was speaking the word to them, so far as they were able to hear it. The reality is some would not listen. Jesus has said He who has an ear, let him hear. Not everyone perks up their ears and listens and listens with the notion of understanding, taking it in, and changing. Even me, I have had many of time of going to church and sitting there thinking about other things troubling me at the time and the message goes in one ear and out the other. I can resonate with not listening at times.

Promise: We cannot listen on our own. We need the Holy Spirit to illuminate the words of Jesus. The Holy Spirit was given to give us understanding of all that Jesus said. He opens our eyes to the meaning of His Word. He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples and today the Holy Spirit is explaining everything to us, the follower of Christ, His disciples.

Prayer: O Lord, thank you again for the using stories to speak wonderful truths to our lives. Even in my own life, you used a story from a movie to speak to me about the seriousness of life and death and that story quickened me to salvation. Thank you for parables and what they speak to us. There are stories throughout our lives that you use in many different forms and they give us great joy and thank you for being the creator of stories. Help me to continue to listen and listen well and desire to learn and apply the meanings to my life. .

Mark 4:30-32 - The Parable of the Mustard Seed

Mark 4:30-32
30 And He said, “How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil, 32 yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that the birds of the air can nest under its shade.”

Message: The Parable of the Mustard Seed

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying: 

[Note: My computer has been down all week. I guess its time to get a new laptop. Uggh.]

Once again, the kingdom of God is mentioned, for the 3rd time in this chapter. The kingdom of God could be most simply describing the Church, on earth, or those that have been called by Him. There is community in the Church as we work together for the mission of the gospel and impacting other people's lives. In these verses there seems to be the expansion of the Kingdom of God. In verse 11, what has been given people is this community, while some are outside of it. And then in verses 26-29 was a description of the Kingdom of God and how it works and the fruit of it is being something that only God will produce.

We are the kingdom of God on earth and as such it is understood that we are together, living and working together. There is this community that we have. Two are better than one.

And these verses are likening the kingdom of God to a parable. It is really answering the question - How shall we picture the kingdom of God - how shall we see what the kingdom of God is like or how does Jesus want us to see what the entire or whole kingdom of God is like.

At first, what we see, is it is small. It is like a mustard seed. In comparison to the cultural bodies the church is very small. It is a gathering of a small group of people. Perhaps, it is speaking to the fact that the church, at its beginning, is small. The individual that is called by God begins just as that, an individual. We all begin small.

But then it is sown upon the soil. The Parable of the Sower looked at different soils and the good soil was good because it was ready for growth. The soil was ready to accept the seed or the Word of God. By accepting this seed it is ready to grow.

Though the seed is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil. Once again, at its inception, at the beginning, the church is small. I love to witness church starts and I think they are more popular today because many are seeing that old, established churches don't have much growth in them. So, church starts are happening more and it is exciting, for they start small and then grown. I think also of churches like Calvary Chapel here that started with a handful of people in the late 70s and early 80s and now they are running 4 services on a weekend with 10,000 attending. It started as a mustard seed. But, still in comparison of the world it is still small as there are many more non-profit and organizations in the world. 

yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches. The growth of the Body of Christ is the original pyramid scheme. One person tells another and suddenly the church is growing and expanding. How often have I heard the testimony of one family member becoming a follower of Christ and then the rest of the family follows. This is the gospel. It affects people in a profound way. Fruit results and yielded a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold (v.8). 

so that the birds of the air can nest under its shade - I think this reminds us of the impact the church has had on civilization. I think of the medical field. All of the hospitals in my city have at their origin something with the church. Compassion has been a hallmark of Christianity and helping one another has been its chief aim. The church continues to show compassion. I think of prison ministries that not only minister to prisoners, but help them transition back into life. I started working with a ministry in town called Next Step that simply helps those coming out of homelessness and prison transition into life. They begin to work and become members of society. There are many of these types of organizations like this and the church heads them all. The church is all about compassion and helping others. 

• The Salvation Army was founded in 1865 by a Methodist. Its original purpose was for the husband and wife, William and Catherine Booth to bring salvation to the poor by meeting their physical and spiritual needs. It is present now in 128 countries. 
• Compassion International began in 1952 by Everett Swanson, a Presbyterian minister, who went to Korea at the encouragement of a missionary, to help children orphaned in South Korea. It now serves 1,700,000 children in 26 countries. 
• Robert Pierce, an American Baptist minister, founded World Vision in 1950, after he did an evangelistic rally in China in 1947, meeting a missionary teacher who who helping a battered child and gave her $5 and promised to send her money each month. It is now active in 90+ countries with 45,000 employees and $2.8 billion in receipts. 
• In my city of Albuquerque, in 1908 Reverend Hugh Cooper, a Presbyterian Pastor, started a sanatorium to meet the needs of hundreds of tuberculosis patients coming into the City. Presbyterian now has 8 hospitals in 7 communities of New Mexico and over 900 beds. 

Promise: Praise God how the mustard seed grows. There is no other explanation for the growth of God's kingdom other than that it is the work of God. This is a beautiful confirmation of the gospel. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the truth of Your word and letting me see its far-reaching effects. Thank you for the way your message has impacted millions. Many birds are impacted by the seed, too numerous to count. You do multiply and help me as your follower to continue to be faithful, listen to you, trust you, not lean on my own understanding, but accept all that you provide. I praise you God. You are great and so faithful. 

Mark 4:10-12 - The Purpose of Parables

Mark 4:10-12
10 As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables. 11 And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, 12 so that while seeing, they may see and not perceive, and while hearing, they may hear and not understand, otherwise they might return and be forgiven.”

Message: The Purpose of Parables

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

I loved that first message in Mark 4:1-9 and maybe its true that the Gospel of John doesn't have many teachings, but rather presents Jesus in all his wanderings and dealings with people, but I love texts about teaching and uncovering truths.

Here now, Jesus has just taught a large crowd, going out on a boat, possibly to project his voice better, possibly also because of the size of the crowd. He shared the parable of the sower and now He will speak of the purpose of the parable and take time to explain it.

Verse 10 begins - As soon as he was alone - as if, once again, after speaking to a large group, Jesus desires to be alone -- to take a moment and pray possibly, to rest, to go to the Father. This seems consistent, like in 1:35 it speaks of him going to a lonely place in the dark. Many are around Jesus but he also needs time to be alone or just be with his disciples. 

His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables. This is interesting as we know there were 12 disciples/apostles called by Jesus and following him, but here there are also followers mentioned that seems different from the very great multitude mentioned in verse 1 that Jesus is speaking to. Again, he is speaking of being alone so alone meant followers as well as His apostles.  Thus, there is some sort of an inner circle that isn't just made up of the 12, but also includes others. While there is an inner group, there are others that simply keep following Jesus around. It is to these individuals that Jesus is speaking directly to and that are asking him about the parables.

And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, so that while seeing, they may see and not perceive, and while hearing, they may hear and not understand, otherwise they might return and be forgiven.”

First of all, to his followers and twelve, he says - to you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God. In other words, you have been given the unveiling of the gospel of truth and you have been called. Jesus is distinguishing 2 groups of people -- the group that heard the parables was the 'great multitude', but this is different from his 'followers and disciples.' I think he is explaining that those who seek after Him, who are not just there to listen and perhaps only seek a healing touch, to that group - his followers - they have been given access unto the mystery of the kingdom of God. The text says that the mystery has been given. Mystery seems also to be a way of saying the gospel or salvation or saving knowledge has been given. To have this knowledge of God and who He is obviously requires a passing down, a grafting in, of this knowledge by God to man. 

But those who are outside get everything in parables. The KJV says but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables. Are the parables there to prick the ears of the crowd? Each set grouping -- the multitude and the followers -- receive the same message, but to the followers it is given, and to the multitude it is done or presented. I think this is a distinction. They obviously have a familiar reading to them, a story, and yet they also have a deeper meaning. As this one says, we need to seed on good soil. That has multiple applications to it, but for the followers of Christ, it has a more specific meaning.

Second, Jesus further clarifies the meaning of the parables. After speaking the parable to everyone and  perhaps more chiefly the great multitude that have come to Jesus for many different reasons - some true, some not -- Jesus now quotes from Isaiah, which is the most quoted book in the New Testament. The context of the quote is the calling of Isaiah and his commission. Here is the full text of Isaiah 6:8-10:

Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on listening, but do not understand; Keep on looking, but do not comprehend.’ “Make the heart of this people insensitive,
Their ears dull, And their eyes dim, Otherwise they might see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, Understand with their hearts, And return and be healed.”

This is a rather interesting passage that I heard preached last Sunday in service. The Lord calls Isaiah and Isaiah responds. And then the message that the Lord gives Isaiah to preach is perhaps a little shocking because the Lord lets Isaiah know that his ministry will not be met with a lot of positive response. At first it sounds sarcastic: the people will listen, but not understand. Their ears will be dull from your preaching and their eyes dim. Otherwise they might see and hear and understand and be healed. I like Matthew Henry's comments on this passage:

God sends Isaiah to foretell the ruin of his people. Many hear the sound of God's word, but do not feel the power of it. God sometimes, in righteous judgment, gives men up to blindness of mind, because they will not receive the truth in the love of it. But no humble inquirer after Christ, need to fear this awful doom, which is a spiritual judgment on those who will still hold fast their sins. Let every one pray for the enlightening of the Holy Spirit, that he may perceive how precious are the Divine mercies, by which alone we are secured against this dreadful danger. Yet the Lord would preserve a remnant, like the tenth, holy to him. And blessed be God, he still preserves his church; however professors or visible churches may be lopped off as unfruitful, the holy seed will shoot forth, from whom all the numerous branches of righteousness shall arise.

So bringing it back to this text, Jesus seems to acknowledge that many will be around him. They may see, but not perceive. They may hear, but not understand.

There is a sober reality that the preaching of the Word does not always merit converts. Man is born a natural man, with a sin nature and bent towards things not of God. Throughout life, the ruler of this world puts forth his message of tolerance, conformity, indoctrination, selfishness, always questioning the events of life, dissatisfied, that life is about complete freedom from trouble, danger, risk and each persons path is to live long with little trials, and that we each create our own destiny. These messages are everywhere in our world and they really contradict the message of God. Some will be given the mystery, but many will just hear messages.

Promise: God calls people to himself. Man is called to preach the gospel. Some will listen and receive. Some will just listen.

Prayer: Lord, how can it be that you have saved me. How can it be. Keep me humble and gentle toward others. Help me to have sympathy. Thank you for the wonderful treat it is to be able to experience the fullness of joy from reading your word and hearing you speak to me throughout my life. Life is full of meaning because you are in me, speaking, directing. Forgive me for ignoring you all too often. Forgive me for too often committing adultery and not choosing my marriage with You, but rather being a friend to the world. Lord, I am a sinner. There is no changing that here on earth. I have a sin nature. And I am a filthy rag. But, you are holy and you have chosen to live inside of me and take up residence and breath holiness in me. Lord, if I had it my way, all would know you. But, I am not here God to ask you 'why' as the clay does not ask the potter 'why have you made me this way.' But rather I am here to trust you and believe that your authority over me is right and true. To have the peace that I have is a wonderful thing. Once again, keep me humble. I thank you and praise you God.

Mark 4:1-9 - The Parable of the Sower

Mark 4:1-9
1 He began to teach again by the sea. And such a very large crowd gathered to Him that He got into a boat in the sea and sat down; and the whole crowd was by the sea on the land. 2 And He was teaching them many things in parables, and was saying to them in His teaching,3 “Listen to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow; 4 as he was sowing, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil. 6 And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. 8 Other seeds fell into the good soil, and as they grew up and increased, they yielded a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” 9 And He was saying, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Message: The Parable of the Sower; Why we should not ask "Why"

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

As we begin chapter 4, Mark remarks that He began to teach again - this is the ministry focus that I think Mark wants to communicate to us: Jesus came to teach us. After getting baptized, teaching was the first thing that Mark mentioned as Jesus went into the synagogue. We have seen Jesus be radical and controversial to the teachers or Jewish scribes at the synagogues, and to many people following Him, some of who just want to be healed, but Jesus really wants people to take hold of the message he has. And yet, through the first 3 chapters not so much has been really said, other than repent and believe. Forgiveness of sins, His authority over everything, and His mission have been shared, but perhaps now here is a message, through a parable, to convey to a very large crowd gathered to Him. 

I wonder if Mark is wanting us to hear the messages of Jesus, but also let us see how Jesus relates to people. While his mission of teaching repentance and believing is His mission, we walk with Jesus through those messages, between them, and get to see Him relating as well to people as they come along.

This parable seems rather easy in its prose. Here is a sower who seeks growth from seed. The sower is dropping seed and it ends up in 4 places: (1) Beside the road, (2) on rocky ground, (3) among thorns, and (4) into the good soil.

(1) as it fell beside the road, it simply became bird seed and that's it, nothing else is said about that.
(2) as it fell on rocky ground, we see that, almost like a weed, it sprang up; so it looked good from the ground up, but when the sun came out it got scorched because it had no root.
(3) as it fell among thorns, it did grow, but the thorns kept it from producing fruit (e.g. - unequally yoked from 2 Cor 6:14).
(4) as it fell into the good soil, it grew, it increased and it yielded not just fruit, but an abundance, multiplying. 

Today, I will simply provide a basic commentary on this because Jesus is going to explain this parable more fully later in the chapter.

It's interesting that Jesus uses the parable to show us the danger or the result of different ways seed is dropped, perhaps different audiences to whom he is speaking. He doesn't simply give us the optimal place to drop seed -- the good soil -- but takes the time to explain the other surfaces it gets dropped. It happens. As the seed goes forth, it hits different surfaces. And we have seen this so far. He has been teaching, but the scribes and Pharisees receive it one way, followers desiring to be healed receive it another way, disciples one way, and then others who are there to listen to the message. But the point is the seed is received in different ways. And the ground will determine its growth. The seed is a nutrient, but what is key, is the ground. Has the ground been prepared? I Corinthians 3:6 - I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.

Thus, his conclusion to the parable is apt - He who has ears to hear, let him hear. We have all been given ears, but those ears have different meanings to different people. Some peoples ears are there to respond, to defend, to correct, but here Jesus says specifically some ears are there to hear.

There is truth in this message and in some ways, this truth is unsettling. There is a principle I've noticed in my life about people and how they often respond to life's events. It is generally with this question - "Why?" For me, it speaks to the first sin of the Bible. After God told Adam and Eve they could eat from any tree in the garden except for one, the serpent comes on the scene and I believe says to Eve, "Why?" God has given Adam and Eve an abundance, and yet the serpent expresses to Eve, but "Why not that tree?" What was God's purpose? For Adam and Eve to trust him. He wanted them to trust him, so that they could see they have everything they need.

This question has invaded our lives. Often the question is "Why do bad things happen to good people?" "Why did that person die?" "Why did so and so suffer?" "Why did I get sick?" "Why did I get paralyzed?" -- unfortunately the "why" question is everywhere in our society today and it is being asked to a greater degree, to the point that people are now abandoning God because they can't get an answer. My thinking is there is no answer needed because I don't need to ask the question. I could. I could say "Why do my kids not live in big mansions already?" "Why did my youngest child pick up smoking weed at the age 14 and now over 2 years later still have the habit?" "Why did my only daughter already get married and leave home?" "Why did I get that kidney stone last night?" "Why did my mom get lung cancer when she never smoked?" -- the Why question could be asked in my life in many ways and at many times, but I actually believe it is a question that should not be asked. It's not a God question. It's a serpent or Satan question. Accept the parable and realize the key is that there is good soil. So, put forth seed, sow, and let God take care of the outcome.

There is another idea in this passage and that is the surfaces that the seed falls on. I think those surfaces represent people in our lives. Not everyone who hears the gospel will respond to it in an affirmative way, but only when it lands on the good soil. Something we need to remember. Our job is to sow and God is to reap. Let us hear this and remember that He is always the one in charge. 

Promise: God gives hearts to believe. There is good soil, yet often there is more soil out there that is not good. But, it does not matter, speak and let him take care of the outcome.

Prayer: Thank You God for this message, that is simple in its delivery and application, but I admit, hard at times for me to accept because of all of the numerous voices in the world. Just as in the parable, the side of the road, rocky road, and thorns are more than the good soil. So, the voices of the world are great. But, keep me centered on you and trusting in you and believing in you. Your way is not simply the best way, but rather it is the only way. You are the Way, the Truth, the Life. That's it. Lord, I need more faith each day to trust you. Thank you for giving me life. I don't deserve it and never let me see myself as greater than anyone else. The one who is greater is You. So keep me praising You all my days. This is my desire.

Do you ever find yourself asking that question in life-- "Why?" Do you see how it is not a question of trusting God? 

Ezekiel 15

Message: The Wood of the Vine.

Time: Ezekiel receives a parable from the Lord.

What the Lord is Saying: 
Small chapter, but as is customary with parables, there is lots of information here.

Branch among branches compare (verse 2). This is interesting. Is Israel, the wood of the vine, shown here to be distinct from the other vines, the other wood. Can different wood be useful? Can this wood be useful? The wood of the vine was not useful. The purpose of the vine was to produce grapes. But, the wood. It is only good for producing a fire.

Into the fire (verse 4). The wood here has a purpose. Fuel for the fire. The wood has a purpose.

Could not be made useful whole or after being devoured (verse 5). On its own, it isn't useful. It needs something or someone to ignite it.

Ultimately, like the wood, God will give up the wood, His people, to burn. The people of Jerusalem had become this wood. The leftover part of the vine. No matter what, they will be consumed.

Grape-producing vines were among the most important crops of ancient Israel and therefore key to the old covenant community and its economy. To own a prosperous vineyard was to have a means of supporting oneself and one's family, and an abundant vineyard came to symbolize prosperity. 

Promise: God does things for a reason. There is always a reason. We may not comprehend it, but there is a reason. Here the reason is unfaithfulness.