Mark 4:21-34
Monday, 19 June 2023
He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything. -Mark.4:34
Jesus used Parables several times when He spoke to the people, but some Parables needed explanation which He communicated when was alone with His disciples. To the disciples He said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables (Luke 8:10). The Parables mentioned here convey the secrets of the Kingdom of God.
The Parable of the Growing Seed conveys the growth of the Kingdom of God in its different stages- from the starting of the scattering of seed until the harvest! The Parable of the Mustard seed conveys the expansion of the Kingdom- though it started in a small way (a tiny mustard), it spreads extensively like a full grown tree with many branches. From the time Christ came to earth to initiate the Kingdom of God, we find that it has been growing steadily the past 2000 years and it continues until His Second coming to fully establish God’s Kingdom on earth.
Only the disciples of Jesus could fully comprehend such teaching- when He explained it to them. Today we have the Holy Spirit revealing the deep truths of the Word of God to us: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,” (John 14:16). The hidden wisdom of God is revealed to us through the Spirit, for no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God (1Cor.2:10-12). However, this revelation is imparted to those who maintain their relationship as a disciple of Jesus.
Salvation through Jesus Christ is free but to become a disciple of Jesus is costly. "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. (Luke.14:26-27) Being HIS OWN DISCIPLE is not an easy task. While on the earth, Jesus imparted His life and ministry to His disciples as they were with Him in all the three years of His ministry. The lessons they learnt were not just from His teachings but by His own example and His works. See how He teaches them what real faith in Him means when He calms the storm they faced while on the boat (vs.35-41).
God opened the secrets of the Kingdom to several of His servants throughout the Scripture. To maintain their relationship with God, all of them paid a very high price as they went through tough times, yet they remained faithful to God, trusting and obeying Him. We know about men like Abraham, the Father of Faith(Gen.17:4); Moses, the Friend of God (Exo.33:11); David a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22); Daniel, a man greatly beloved (Dan.10:11&19); Peter, the apostle to whom Jesus gave the keys of the Kingdom (Matt.16:19); Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles (Gal.1:15-16); John, the disciple Jesus loved (John 21:20) to whom great revelations of the end times were given.
Jesus’ last commandment to His disciples was “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."(Matt.28:19-20). This Great Commission holds true to all of His disciples even today- the call to expand His Kingdom on earth.
The Lord wants to reveal the greater things to each of us who would follow Him wholeheartedly. Will you willfully submit to BE HIS OWN DISCIPLE?
Think on: “…it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;” (Galatians 2:20)