The secret of the Kingdom

 

Mark 4: 10 – 20

 

 ^“And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables.   And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, so that “‘they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.’”

 And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?   The sower sows the word.   And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them.   And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy.   And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.   And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.   But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”

 

It is very clear in the Bible that Jesus wishes that none will perish but all will put their trust in Him and come to an understanding that He has bought us out of the control of sin.  In that He is God and is all-knowing, He knows that many have set their minds on being their own god and in doing so are not open to being taught.  I believe that covers what He is telling His disciples in verse 12.

 

As a young six-year-old child I could not wait to go to school, that is until I got there and I had to sit, be still, and do as I was told, and I decided school and learning were not fun and it is clear looking back that I was not teachable.  As hard as they tried it became clear this kid was not worth taking time with, and that’s why I’ve often wondered why God put in my heart to do the “Back Porch”.  I say this only to share that one day I understood how foolish I had been, and going to school never became fun because it is hard to learn when the foundation is not in place.  It is hard to be taught till you understand how little you know, understand, and cry out to God, confessing all and asking Him to give you the faith to believe and seek Him.  

 

Many who go by the name Christian are included in this series of Scriptures, in Jesus words in verse 18, 19, “And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful”.   They have exchanged what they cannot keep; for today’s desire is to run their own lives, to be in charge.

 

But I have been blessed to have had my seed in good ground, understanding how I began as unteachable, it is only by grace that I can say thank you Jesus for the blood you shed for me.  Verse 20, “But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice