WEBVTT

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 Well, we're venturing into a new chapter today, and it's taken us a while to get here, but

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 we're here, and we've got a while to go still yet.

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 But as we just reflect a little bit on where we've come this far in the Gospel of Mark,

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 remember some people refer to Mark's Gospel as sort of like a newspaper addition to the

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 life of Christ.

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 You know what I mean by that?

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 You get certain clippings of it.

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 It's much shorter than the other Gospels.

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 It moves at a very brisk pace as he goes through.

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 He doesn't spend much time on one particular thing.

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 He kind of mentioned it.

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 He makes his point, and then he moves on, and that's different than the other three Gospels

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 that we have.

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 It's evident that through the work of the Holy Spirit, the inspiration of the Holy Spirit,

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 that Mark limited his writing to what he believed to be the essentials for proclaiming the identity

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 and the purpose of Jesus.

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 Now, if you'll remember, that's the whole point of the book.

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 If we go back to chapter 1 and verse 1, he opens up and he lays it all out right at the

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 very beginning.

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 He says, I'm writing this.

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 This is the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

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 In other words, this entire book is about Mark's proclamation that Jesus of Nazareth is the

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 Son of God, and he is the Savior and the Messiah.

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 And so everything that follows beyond chapter 1 and verse 1 is Mark's argument and building

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 of his case.

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 And so he puts all of these things in there.

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 He lets us know who Jesus is, what Jesus has done.

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 And all of that is not meant to just tell us a story.

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 It is meant to persuade us to believe.

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 It's meant to draw us to a point of decision.

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 And so we understand that.

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 And as Mark puts his pen to paper, we find because of his style that he's only putting

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 what he felt was absolutely essential for his readers to understand that proclamation,

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 that Jesus is actually the Son of God and the Messiah.

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 And therefore, they needed to believe and follow him.

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 And so though he makes it clear already in this Gospel that Jesus' primary purpose was

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 to preach the Gospel, that's what he wanted to focus on.

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 Even though he had the healings and even though he had the crowds, his purpose was the Gospel.

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 Despite making that clear, Mark actually gives very little space to the actual teachings

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 of Jesus.

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 When you go through his Gospel, there are statements of teaching that are peppered here and there.

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 But it's really only in chapter 4 and chapter 13 that Mark gives any significant space to

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 the details of Jesus' teaching and what he was actually saying.

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 And we know the theme of everything falls under the umbrella of chapter 1 and verse 15,

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 which is Jesus came into Galilee and he was preaching,

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 the kingdom of heaven is at hand, repent and believe the good news.

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 So all of his teaching, we understand it falls underneath that umbrella,

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 but we just get statements here and there except for chapter 4 and chapter 13.

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 And so when we come to this chapter and we see a good portion of it devoted to Jesus' teaching,

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 we need to listen.

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 We need to listen.

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 Because Mark, in his writing, determined that of all the things that Jesus taught,

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 these are the things that are most important from Mark's perspective.

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 And so we need to take them seriously as we come, especially here to chapter 4.

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 The entire chapter covers or is presented as if it is a single day in the life of Christ.

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 It begins in the passage that we just read.

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 It begins with a seaside, lakeside service.

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 And then it continues with a private time of explanation to a group of his followers,

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 a group of his disciples.

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 And then it wraps up with one of my favorite stories in the Gospels,

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 which is this divine power demonstrated.

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 It starts with this massive service.

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 Then there's a little bit of private explanation.

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 And then there's this enormous miracle as they cross the Sea of Galilee.

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 Now, scholars estimate that the events recorded in this chapter

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 took place towards the end of Jesus' second year of ministry.

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 And it's hard to figure that out in Mark's Gospel, right?

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 Because Mark doesn't cover the first year of Jesus' ministry.

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 After his baptism, he spent some time in Judea, several months at least,

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 that John's Gospel tells us.

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 Mark doesn't tell us about that.

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 So we get here and we think, this is early on, but it's really not.

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 This is actually coming towards the end of Jesus' ministry, especially in Galilee.

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 His authoritative teaching, his miraculous works had provided overwhelming evidence of his deity,

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 but there were still many people that did not believe.

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 So Jesus shifts here how he was teaching them.

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 He began to teach the crowds in stories.

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 And the text that we're studying today, and we're going to be here for the next two Sundays, actually,

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 the text that we're studying here is one of the most important passages of Jesus' teaching that we find.

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 It's a familiar parable.

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 It's a familiar lesson.

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 But it's also one of the most important.

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 It not only helps us to understand why people respond to the preaching of the gospel differently,

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 but it is said by Jesus that this particular parable is actually the key to unlocking the meaning of the other parables.

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 That's pretty significant.

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 So significant that all three of the synoptic gospels cover it in great detail.

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 And so when we get here, Mark shifts even his style.

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 Remember, he moves at a brisk pace.

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 But then he spends 20 verses.

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 Unbelievable for Mark.

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 20 verses on this particular parable and the events surrounding it.

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 And so in it we see four things.

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 We see the setting of his teaching.

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 We see the story that he told.

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 We see the significance of Jesus using parables.

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 And then we see the sense or the meaning of what he was teaching with this particular parable.

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 What we're going to do today is focus on the setting and the significance of the parables.

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 And then next Sunday we're going to actually dig into this specific story and see what Jesus was on about here in chapter 4.

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 Let's first look at the setting.

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 Look with me again at verse 1.

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 Now you'll remember chapter 3 concludes with an event that is taking place in Capernaum.

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 A series of events actually.

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 Jesus based his ministry there and he and his disciples had circled back and had spent some time there in the city.

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 And as was typically the case, large crowds began to surround the house.

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 Probably Peter's house.

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 We don't know exactly for sure but probably.

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 And there were large crowds that were gathering around it.

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 Once they heard that Jesus was back in town.

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 You almost get the feeling.

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 It doesn't say this explicitly.

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 There's a couple of times where it alludes to it through the gospels.

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 But you get the feeling that whenever Jesus and his disciples circled back around to Capernaum,

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 it was almost as if they were kind of sneaking in.

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 Like maybe they came under the cover of night and they kind of worked their way to the house

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 so that they could maybe get a good night's rest.

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 Or maybe they could grab a meal or whatever it was.

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 But it doesn't take very long before people know that he's there.

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 And as soon as people know that Jesus is there, masses of people begin to gather.

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 And we're so demanding that in chapter 3 we learn that he oftentimes could not even eat a meal.

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 So the crowds, as we've seen before, grow so large that Jesus has to intentionally move his ministry outside of the city in order to carry on.

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 And again, I know I feel like I'm beating this to death right now.

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 But it's so important for us to notice here.

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 As we've often noted, Jesus constantly accommodated inconveniences in his life to serve other people.

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 Why?

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 Because of his heart of compassion for them.

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 His heart for sinners and sufferers was to inconvenience himself in order to serve them,

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 in order to teach them, in order to heal them.

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 And so when we come to the Gospels and we're studying through them,

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 we don't only come just to see Jesus' identity.

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 That's the primary thing.

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 We see who he is.

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 We see his purpose in the Gospel.

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 We don't just learn the stories.

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 We come as believers and we see,

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 okay, this is who Jesus is, which means he's my Lord.

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 And therefore, I'm going to pattern my life after his life.

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 And even something so simple as to be willing to step out of the comfort of the city,

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 out of the comfort of a home,

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 to move his entire ministry out to the desert,

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 out to the sea,

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 out to wherever it was that he was going in order to accommodate other people,

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 shows us something of what Christ wants us to do with our own lives.

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 We never display the heart of Christ more than when we serve others rather than ourselves.

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 And so we follow Christ's example.

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 We willingly inconvenience ourselves to do what?

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 To help others, to serve others,

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 specifically to teach others the Gospel.

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 Why?

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 Because that's what our Lord did.

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 He inconvenienced himself for that purpose.

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 And we see that very clearly in just the fact that he came.

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 Why would he do all of this?

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 It was the whole reason, according to Philippians 2,

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 that he condescended to man

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 and set aside the glories of heaven in order to become a man,

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 in order to willingly lay down his life for us.

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 But how often do we so willingly inconvenience our lives for others,

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 especially sinners and sufferers?

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 But it's exactly what he did.

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 And it's a pattern we need to follow.

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 This time the crowd was so large

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 that Jesus was unable to stay on the land.

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 Now we've already seen that the crowds would grow

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 and it would be dangerous

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 and he would have a boat just kind of waiting

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 in case he needed an escape route.

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 This is a little different.

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 The crowd is so big

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 that he can't actually stay on the land.

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 So he boards what was probably a small fishing vessel.

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 He pushed out into the lake just a little ways

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 and then he began to teach the people.

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 And I want you to picture this for just a moment.

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 Imagine this scene.

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 In fact, this may be one of the only times

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 I'd ever encourage you to take your phone.

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 Maybe just Google Sea of Galilee right now

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 and you see a picture.

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 My brother's been there.

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 He's seen this.

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 I've seen his own pictures.

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 It's a beautiful place.

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 But there are areas around the Sea of Galilee

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 where with the rolling waves coming in from the lake

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 and then the climbing mountains that were just offshore,

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 it created a natural amphitheater for Jesus.

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 So he finds a specific place

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 that experts have studied now

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 and say that Jesus could have taught thousands of people

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 with no problem at all.

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 Didn't need a PA system.

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 And he sits out and he pushes out into the lake

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 and he sits on the boat

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 and you can picture this beautiful lakeside setting

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 as Jesus is out on the boat

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 and he's speaking to these people

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 and he's teaching these people.

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 And what a magnificent scene that that must have been.

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 Well, look with me at verse two.

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 What was it he did once he pushed out?

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 And he was teaching them many things in parables.

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 Now, this is a change in Mark's gospel.

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 We haven't seen this yet.

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 Not quite like this.

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 Did you ever have a favorite teacher growing up?

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 I had teachers that I like more than others.

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 I still have teachers that I like more than others.

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 Perhaps you even have those that you like to listen to

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 maybe on a weekly basis.

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 Maybe it's preachers you like to listen to

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 or maybe just a podcast you like to follow

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 because you learn from certain people in a significant way.

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 Now, you might have gone to a high school

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 that had all kinds of highly skilled educators

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 but there's probably still one that you best identified with.

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 Something about their personality,

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 something about their teaching style,

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 something about what they did attracted you

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 and you were able to learn maybe more in their classes

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 than you otherwise would have.

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 Well, here in this passage,

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 we actually get to have a front row seat

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 to hear the greatest teacher that ever lived.

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 It doesn't matter who you are.

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 How could Jesus not be your favorite teacher?

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 I mean, he spoke with power and authority

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 unlike anybody else.

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 In fact, as soon as he comes into Galilee,

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 that's the first thing that people say.

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 He doesn't teach us like all these other people teach us.

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 There's power to his words.

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 There's authority to his words.

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 There was something about him that sucked you in.

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 And of course, we understand what that power is.

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 And when we study the gospels,

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 you'll find that Jesus employed different methods of teaching.

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 For instance, you could go to the Sermon on the Mount,

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 Matthew 5 through 7,

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 and you'll see in the Sermon on the Mount,

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 Jesus actually had a very lengthy,

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 very orderly, structured, clear, plain,

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 sermon to teach.

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 There's not a lot of stories in the Sermon on the Mount.

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 It's very plain teaching.

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 It's very structured teaching.

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 It's very clear and explicit

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 what he was trying to say to the people.

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 So you've got that in Jesus's ministry.

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 Then we can go to John chapter 3,

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 the conversation with Nicodemus,

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 or then John chapter 4,

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 which was the Samaritan woman at the well.

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 You remember these.

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 Well, how was Jesus teaching?

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 Well, he's teaching conversationally.

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 He not only could teach a structured,

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 orderly outline that just filled you with knowledge,

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 but he could also have a conversation with you,

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 and leaving that conversation,

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 you were completely changed.

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 Something about his way of speaking,

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 something about his way of discipling was so powerful.

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 But then we get to this passage and others,

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 and most often when we think about Jesus's teaching,

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 it's in regards to his parables,

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 the stories that he would tell.

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 The Synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke,

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 record about 60 of these stories.

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 And this chapter focuses specifically on parables.

00:15:17.179 --> 00:15:19.359
 Chapter 13, when we get there,

00:15:19.899 --> 00:15:22.759
 Mark is dealing specifically with a single sermon

00:15:22.759 --> 00:15:25.179
 that Jesus spoke about the end times.

00:15:25.179 --> 00:15:29.120
 Here, though, he is focusing in on the parables.

00:15:29.599 --> 00:15:31.559
 Now, if you grew up in Sunday school like me,

00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:35.299
 we probably would all define parables the same way, right?

00:15:35.719 --> 00:15:39.479
 An earthly story with a heavenly meaning, right?

00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:40.939
 That's what parables are.

00:15:41.019 --> 00:15:42.539
 That's how we understand them to be.

00:15:43.219 --> 00:15:46.559
 The word parable is made of two other words.

00:15:46.659 --> 00:15:47.899
 One of them means beside,

00:15:48.299 --> 00:15:49.939
 and the other one means to lay down.

00:15:50.559 --> 00:15:52.019
 And so when we think of a parable,

00:15:52.139 --> 00:15:53.299
 what it's supposed to do,

00:15:53.299 --> 00:15:55.879
 it helps us to understand that it literally means

00:15:55.879 --> 00:15:59.559
 to lay beside, lay beside something else.

00:16:00.039 --> 00:16:02.620
 So in essence, a parable's purpose

00:16:02.620 --> 00:16:04.799
 is to make a comparison.

00:16:05.479 --> 00:16:07.159
 So Jesus would have a point,

00:16:07.399 --> 00:16:09.359
 he would have a truth that he wanted to get across,

00:16:09.539 --> 00:16:10.899
 he would make that truth clear,

00:16:11.099 --> 00:16:12.679
 and then he would take a story

00:16:12.679 --> 00:16:14.699
 and he would link the two things together.

00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:17.199
 He would lay them beside one another, so to speak,

00:16:17.259 --> 00:16:18.879
 so that we could see the story

00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:20.519
 and better understand the truth.

00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:22.720
 That was their purpose, to lay beside

00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:25.039
 so that we could have this comparison.

00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:28.279
 And you'll notice sometimes Jesus actually spoke specifically to this.

00:16:28.679 --> 00:16:30.939
 You're in Mark 4, look down at verse 30.

00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:33.319
 As he's going through this series of parables,

00:16:33.439 --> 00:16:34.720
 notice the first phrase here.

00:16:35.399 --> 00:16:35.720
 He says,

00:16:35.819 --> 00:16:37.980
 where into shall we liken the kingdom of God?

00:16:38.100 --> 00:16:42.120
 Or with what can we compare the kingdom of God?

00:16:42.519 --> 00:16:45.039
 That was their purpose, a comparison.

00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:48.419
 He's laying beside in order that he can teach truth.

00:16:48.419 --> 00:16:51.759
 So parables then aren't for entertainment.

00:16:52.699 --> 00:16:54.179
 They're for illustrating.

00:16:55.159 --> 00:16:58.500
 Illustrating and explaining a particular point.

00:16:59.219 --> 00:17:05.240
 And most often, Jesus' parables were really communicating a single point.

00:17:06.259 --> 00:17:09.039
 And so we have to be careful sometimes when we come to these stories.

00:17:09.420 --> 00:17:12.119
 We have to be careful that we don't read too much into them

00:17:12.119 --> 00:17:13.519
 because we can confuse ourselves.

00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:17.000
 Almost always when Jesus gives a story like this,

00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:19.539
 there's a single truth he's trying to communicate.

00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:22.359
 A couple of times you'll find more than one,

00:17:22.420 --> 00:17:23.839
 like the prodigal son.

00:17:23.960 --> 00:17:28.500
 You see there's the rejoicing of the father over the lost son that has come home.

00:17:28.660 --> 00:17:31.779
 Then there's also the point to be made about the self-righteous brother.

00:17:32.140 --> 00:17:34.000
 But those aren't nearly as common.

00:17:34.220 --> 00:17:37.619
 Most of the time, a parable is getting across a single point.

00:17:38.119 --> 00:17:42.099
 And Jesus is illustrating and applying his message.

00:17:42.099 --> 00:17:46.959
 So as Jesus sat in the boat on the Sea of Galilee,

00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:50.379
 we're told that he began to tell these stories.

00:17:50.879 --> 00:17:54.639
 And they all illustrated his gospel message.

00:17:55.079 --> 00:17:59.799
 And so this text not only contains one of the most important parables,

00:18:00.379 --> 00:18:07.059
 but it also provides Jesus' explanation for why he was using parables,

00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:09.279
 which is where we're going to focus our attention now.

00:18:09.279 --> 00:18:13.500
 In fact, look with me now at verse number 10.

00:18:13.680 --> 00:18:14.700
 Verse number 10.

00:18:14.899 --> 00:18:16.039
 So we've seen the setting.

00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:20.559
 Now we're going to look at the significance of these parables.

00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:24.119
 And when he was alone,

00:18:25.319 --> 00:18:28.859
 they that were about him with the 12 asked of him the parable.

00:18:29.700 --> 00:18:30.960
 And he said unto them,

00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:34.279
 Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God,

00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:39.460
 but unto them that are without all these things are done in parables,

00:18:39.460 --> 00:18:42.819
 that seeing they may see and not perceive,

00:18:43.220 --> 00:18:46.899
 that hearing they may hear and not understand,

00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:50.119
 lest at any time they should be converted

00:18:50.119 --> 00:18:54.139
 and their sins should be forgiven them.

00:18:54.140 --> 00:18:59.520
 Well, Mark has another sandwich here, if you noticed.

00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:01.340
 Remember at the end of chapter 3,

00:19:01.720 --> 00:19:03.720
 he used that sandwich technique.

00:19:04.100 --> 00:19:06.440
 He presented the story of Jesus' family.

00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:09.080
 And then he takes a pause from that

00:19:09.080 --> 00:19:13.560
 to talk about an interaction with the scribes in Capernaum.

00:19:13.980 --> 00:19:16.200
 Well, he's doing that again here in chapter 4.

00:19:16.200 --> 00:19:20.180
 He starts by telling the story that Jesus told,

00:19:20.299 --> 00:19:21.480
 this parable of the soils,

00:19:21.480 --> 00:19:24.279
 and he's going to come back to the explanation of that later.

00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:28.279
 But sandwiched in between these two stories and explanations

00:19:28.279 --> 00:19:33.660
 is Jesus' explanation of the general use of parables.

00:19:34.600 --> 00:19:38.259
 He intentionally taught in the form of stories,

00:19:38.640 --> 00:19:41.500
 and these verses reveal why.

00:19:42.140 --> 00:19:44.440
 And this is an important question for us to ask.

00:19:45.160 --> 00:19:46.400
 Consider this for just a moment.

00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:50.559
 Some believe that this on the Sea of Galilee

00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:53.420
 might have been the largest crowd that Jesus ever preached to.

00:19:53.620 --> 00:19:56.019
 We don't know that for certain, but it's a huge crowd.

00:19:56.640 --> 00:19:59.360
 This is the peak of his Galilean ministry,

00:19:59.360 --> 00:20:02.019
 and it's not long after this that a lot of these people

00:20:02.019 --> 00:20:04.960
 that have been following because of these parables, mind you,

00:20:05.059 --> 00:20:07.000
 are going to start to stop following.

00:20:07.140 --> 00:20:07.759
 They're going to leave him.

00:20:08.160 --> 00:20:09.240
 They're going to walk away from him.

00:20:09.740 --> 00:20:13.620
 And so there are thousands of people on the seashore,

00:20:13.619 --> 00:20:15.759
 and Jesus gets in the boat, and he pushes out,

00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:17.179
 and he's got this opportunity.

00:20:17.859 --> 00:20:18.979
 What's he going to say?

00:20:19.359 --> 00:20:21.139
 Because surely he's going to get up there,

00:20:21.159 --> 00:20:25.039
 and he's going to say, hey, I want to let everybody know why I've come.

00:20:25.619 --> 00:20:26.579
 I am God.

00:20:27.219 --> 00:20:30.939
 I'm going to die in Jerusalem to pay for your sins,

00:20:30.939 --> 00:20:34.119
 and then I'm going to raise up three days later to prove it.

00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:37.179
 And if you'll just follow me, I'm going to forgive all your sins.

00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:39.839
 Like surely, if Jesus has all these people,

00:20:39.959 --> 00:20:41.259
 surely that's what he's going to do.

00:20:41.259 --> 00:20:43.460
 But that's not at all what he did.

00:20:44.200 --> 00:20:47.259
 It almost feels like a wasted moment, right?

00:20:48.339 --> 00:20:49.900
 He told a story about soil.

00:20:50.039 --> 00:20:51.579
 He didn't even explain the story.

00:20:52.339 --> 00:20:53.339
 He just told a story.

00:20:53.839 --> 00:20:56.039
 And he said somebody went out, and they sowed some seed,

00:20:56.099 --> 00:20:57.579
 and there were four different types of soil.

00:20:57.819 --> 00:20:59.460
 Let's pray together, and you can be dismissed.

00:21:00.500 --> 00:21:01.000
 What?

00:21:02.019 --> 00:21:03.400
 Why did he do this?

00:21:03.940 --> 00:21:04.680
 Why did he do it?

00:21:04.759 --> 00:21:05.500
 Look at verse 10.

00:21:05.500 --> 00:21:12.500
 When he was alone, those around him with the 12 asked him about the parables.

00:21:12.759 --> 00:21:17.279
 Now, they weren't just asking about this parable.

00:21:17.819 --> 00:21:21.000
 They were asking about the parables in general.

00:21:21.339 --> 00:21:23.259
 That's what Matthew 13 tells us.

00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:27.740
 Matthew 13 and verse 10, they said literally in this story,

00:21:28.039 --> 00:21:29.660
 why are you teaching in parables?

00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:32.619
 And so Jesus begins to go into that explanation.

00:21:32.619 --> 00:21:36.679
 Sometime after the crowd had dispersed here,

00:21:37.139 --> 00:21:41.359
 a group of Jesus' followers asked him about this.

00:21:41.899 --> 00:21:43.399
 It was a private setting.

00:21:44.179 --> 00:21:50.159
 And it's an encouraging note that this group is not just made up of his 12 closest disciples.

00:21:50.419 --> 00:21:51.259
 Did you notice that?

00:21:51.679 --> 00:21:52.719
 Look again at verse 10.

00:21:53.379 --> 00:21:55.219
 When he was alone, the crowds have gone away.

00:21:55.879 --> 00:22:00.219
 Those around him with the 12 asked about this.

00:22:00.599 --> 00:22:02.199
 Now, I think this is an encouraging note.

00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:04.900
 I think it's an important note, actually, for us to understand here.

00:22:06.680 --> 00:22:08.620
 Though they were present, the 12,

00:22:09.620 --> 00:22:12.420
 other disciples were there too.

00:22:13.120 --> 00:22:26.039
 Meaning that this truth of the gospel was not limited to only those who had reached a particular status within Jesus' circle.

00:22:26.039 --> 00:22:34.619
 Our understanding of biblical truth is not based on whether or not you've reached a higher plane of spirituality.

00:22:35.019 --> 00:22:36.599
 That's what the Gnostics said.

00:22:37.339 --> 00:22:40.559
 That's what Paul was confronting to the Colossian church.

00:22:40.559 --> 00:22:46.259
 There was the Gnosticism that said, really, if you want to really be super spiritual,

00:22:46.259 --> 00:22:48.899
 you're going to have to do these things, maybe through asceticism,

00:22:48.899 --> 00:22:52.339
 or maybe it's going to be through these mystical experiences.

00:22:52.339 --> 00:22:59.119
 But if only if you reach this certain level of spirituality, then you'll really be in the know.

00:22:59.119 --> 00:23:09.079
 And they began to lead people away in the churches of Colossae with this confusion that only certain people could really understand Jesus and his message.

00:23:09.419 --> 00:23:12.479
 But Jesus made it clear that that's not the case at all.

00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:22.339
 Every single believer has the same enlightening power from the Holy Spirit to understand the gospel and to understand the word.

00:23:22.759 --> 00:23:24.059
 You don't have to be a pastor.

00:23:24.519 --> 00:23:28.700
 You don't have to be a Christian that has been in church his whole life.

00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:30.380
 You don't have to have gone to Sunday school.

00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:31.920
 You don't have to have done any of those things.

00:23:31.920 --> 00:23:37.360
 If you've got the Holy Spirit within you and you've got a copy of God's word, you can understand it.

00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:40.299
 That gospel, that message, it's for you.

00:23:40.759 --> 00:23:42.299
 And that's encouraging to me.

00:23:42.660 --> 00:23:44.620
 Because I fall short of a lot of people.

00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:48.500
 But I'm encouraged to know that this message is for me too.

00:23:48.660 --> 00:23:50.299
 And that I can understand it too.

00:23:50.500 --> 00:23:54.779
 And that if we'll give faithfulness to the word, God will help us to understand it.

00:23:54.779 --> 00:24:00.559
 The only condition for understanding, according to this passage, is faith.

00:24:02.220 --> 00:24:03.779
 That's the only condition.

00:24:04.860 --> 00:24:10.860
 And this group reminds us that all believers are included in God's enlightening work.

00:24:10.859 --> 00:24:13.659
 And so now let's look at verse 11.

00:24:13.660 --> 00:24:16.480
 And he said unto them,

00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:21.300
 To you it has been given the secret of the kingdom of God.

00:24:21.380 --> 00:24:24.220
 This is these people who were following Christ.

00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:30.519
 But for those outside, everything is in parables.

00:24:30.519 --> 00:24:33.319
 And here's that pattern again, right?

00:24:34.039 --> 00:24:36.420
 We noted it again at the end of chapter 3.

00:24:37.059 --> 00:24:43.940
 This pattern emerging in Mark's gospel where he presents insiders and outsiders.

00:24:43.940 --> 00:24:48.380
 And we have to read into that text to understand that up to this point.

00:24:48.720 --> 00:24:51.980
 Here, Jesus makes it explicitly clear.

00:24:51.980 --> 00:24:55.140
 There are those who are on the inside.

00:24:55.620 --> 00:25:00.579
 That is, they believe genuinely and follow Christ as Lord.

00:25:01.240 --> 00:25:07.339
 And then there are those on the outside, which included most of the crowd.

00:25:07.799 --> 00:25:09.519
 They didn't get an explanation.

00:25:10.319 --> 00:25:10.559
 Why?

00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:12.519
 Because they were on the outside.

00:25:13.259 --> 00:25:15.120
 They were not following Christ.

00:25:15.119 --> 00:25:17.259
 So Christ makes it clear.

00:25:18.259 --> 00:25:24.839
 The only condition for understanding, for connecting these dots of the gospel, is faith.

00:25:26.979 --> 00:25:32.759
 This distinction is the basis of Jesus' reason for speaking in parables.

00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:37.039
 And in his explanation, we find two things.

00:25:37.819 --> 00:25:43.219
 On the one hand, they brought clarity to those who were believing in him.

00:25:43.919 --> 00:25:44.819
 So think about this.

00:25:45.119 --> 00:25:46.899
 You've begun to see Jesus.

00:25:47.099 --> 00:25:48.299
 You have witnessed his miracles.

00:25:48.500 --> 00:25:50.839
 You have heard his clear teaching of the gospel.

00:25:51.099 --> 00:25:53.799
 And you have become a believer and a follower of Christ.

00:25:54.159 --> 00:25:58.700
 Now, when you hear one of these parables, it actually brings clarity to your mind.

00:25:59.359 --> 00:26:02.899
 Further enlightenment as to this gospel that you have begun to follow.

00:26:03.099 --> 00:26:04.939
 Just like we do after we come to faith.

00:26:04.939 --> 00:26:09.679
 Every time we come to the Bible, you may read one passage a hundred times in your life.

00:26:09.799 --> 00:26:12.419
 And every time you come to it, there's something else that sticks out.

00:26:12.500 --> 00:26:14.339
 There's more understanding that you gain.

00:26:14.339 --> 00:26:15.959
 There's more clarity that you gain.

00:26:15.959 --> 00:26:18.859
 So on one hand, the parables were blessings.

00:26:19.500 --> 00:26:24.220
 They were blessings to believers because it brought gospel clarity to them.

00:26:24.679 --> 00:26:33.759
 But on the other hand, the parables were actually an act of judgment against those who rejected the gospel.

00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:37.879
 They had a hardening effect.

00:26:37.880 --> 00:26:44.880
 And in the sense, if you think about this one parable that Jesus is saying about the sower and the seed and the soil.

00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:53.480
 So to use Jesus' parable here, these stories were a sort of testing of the soil, so to speak.

00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:59.200
 As Jesus told these parables, it made clear who was in and who was out.

00:26:59.200 --> 00:27:09.980
 Not because Jesus was saying who was in and who was out, but because depending on their clarity or their hardening depended on whether or not they were a true believer or they weren't.

00:27:10.400 --> 00:27:11.980
 Because that's what the parables did.

00:27:12.539 --> 00:27:20.759
 They were either a blessing to believers or they were an act of judgment and hardening of heart to those who were not believers.

00:27:20.759 --> 00:27:29.559
 And so those who were not genuinely believing hardened themselves to the truth and eventually they moved away from him.

00:27:29.759 --> 00:27:31.799
 Which is what most of the people in the crowd did.

00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:34.819
 Jesus said, this is why I'm teaching in parables now.

00:27:35.799 --> 00:27:41.359
 Because those who have come to faith are going to receive clarity and those who continue to reject me, they're not going to be able to understand.

00:27:42.140 --> 00:27:43.160
 You say, that sounds kind of harsh.

00:27:43.420 --> 00:27:45.000
 Well, he goes a little further in verse 12.

00:27:45.359 --> 00:27:46.000
 Look at it with me.

00:27:46.000 --> 00:28:04.519
 He plainly says, so that they may indeed see but not perceive and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.

00:28:05.640 --> 00:28:07.339
 Okay, that's a hard saying.

00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:13.240
 Because on the surface, it seems like Jesus doesn't want people to be forgiven.

00:28:13.240 --> 00:28:17.500
 It seems like he doesn't want people to be saved.

00:28:19.279 --> 00:28:23.420
 Because it sounds like he's saying, I'm teaching in parables so that they won't understand.

00:28:23.920 --> 00:28:25.579
 Therefore, they won't be forgiven.

00:28:27.059 --> 00:28:30.380
 So when we come to this, there's a note that we have to make here.

00:28:30.680 --> 00:28:32.500
 We have to understand what Jesus isn't saying.

00:28:34.120 --> 00:28:37.640
 We know that Jesus wants to forgive sinners.

00:28:38.059 --> 00:28:38.900
 We know that.

00:28:38.900 --> 00:28:42.420
 That's the entire purpose that he came.

00:28:42.900 --> 00:28:44.340
 Think about it for just a moment.

00:28:44.759 --> 00:28:50.620
 The whole reason that Jesus came to this earth was in order to save sinners.

00:28:51.240 --> 00:28:52.140
 That's his heartbeat.

00:28:52.920 --> 00:28:54.560
 We've already seen it even in this passage.

00:28:55.040 --> 00:29:01.740
 He constantly inconvenienced himself for the sake of these people, to heal them, to teach to them, to save them.

00:29:01.920 --> 00:29:03.340
 That was his whole purpose.

00:29:03.680 --> 00:29:05.860
 Of course he wants people to be forgiven.

00:29:05.859 --> 00:29:08.839
 Of course he wants people to be saved.

00:29:09.179 --> 00:29:10.099
 That's his heart.

00:29:10.839 --> 00:29:13.399
 God delights himself in mercy.

00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:20.359
 And time and time and time again, we see the promises of forgiveness listed to us.

00:29:20.639 --> 00:29:25.799
 And Jesus himself even says, anyone who will come to me, I will not cast them out.

00:29:26.059 --> 00:29:27.219
 He wants to forgive.

00:29:27.659 --> 00:29:29.839
 He wants to save.

00:29:29.839 --> 00:29:36.059
 That's his deepest heart's desire, is to be glorified through redemption.

00:29:37.000 --> 00:29:39.000
 So what is Jesus saying here?

00:29:39.859 --> 00:29:42.319
 Well, he's quoting Isaiah chapter 6.

00:29:43.240 --> 00:29:48.220
 If you remember, Isaiah chapter 6 is the call of God on Isaiah's life.

00:29:49.039 --> 00:29:50.720
 You remember the first part of the passage.

00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:53.980
 God comes to Isaiah and calls his name.

00:29:54.100 --> 00:29:56.200
 And Isaiah says, here am I, Lord.

00:29:57.180 --> 00:29:58.680
 And he goes through this whole vision.

00:29:59.860 --> 00:30:04.180
 And he says, woe is me, for I am a man of unclean lips.

00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:06.720
 And I dwell among a people of unclean lips.

00:30:06.720 --> 00:30:11.539
 And he goes through this whole really, really strange, but really awesome experience.

00:30:12.380 --> 00:30:14.000
 And then God commissions him.

00:30:15.120 --> 00:30:18.140
 And he says, I want you to go and preach to the people.

00:30:19.200 --> 00:30:23.700
 I want you to go and preach to Israel, who for hundreds of years I've been patient with.

00:30:23.940 --> 00:30:26.079
 But I need you to know, Isaiah, God says.

00:30:26.640 --> 00:30:31.759
 Your message is not going to serve the purpose of redemption.

00:30:32.660 --> 00:30:35.620
 Your message is actually going to harden their hearts further.

00:30:35.619 --> 00:30:38.719
 They're going to hear it, but they're not going to perceive it.

00:30:39.399 --> 00:30:42.619
 They're going to see it, but they're not going to understand.

00:30:43.539 --> 00:30:47.979
 I'm sending you, Isaiah, knowing that you will produce no fruit.

00:30:48.519 --> 00:30:53.939
 It was an act of judgment on those who for years and years and years

00:30:53.939 --> 00:30:56.679
 continued to reject the Lord.

00:30:57.179 --> 00:31:01.319
 And now Jesus says, this is why I'm teaching in parables.

00:31:01.319 --> 00:31:05.279
 For two years, Jesus has been clear about the gospel.

00:31:05.619 --> 00:31:08.619
 For two years, he's been going to Judea and Galilee.

00:31:08.719 --> 00:31:12.039
 And he's saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

00:31:12.500 --> 00:31:14.559
 Repent and believe the good news.

00:31:14.719 --> 00:31:18.219
 He's demonstrated for two years his miraculous power.

00:31:18.559 --> 00:31:19.919
 He's healed blind people.

00:31:20.119 --> 00:31:21.399
 He's cleansed lepers.

00:31:21.639 --> 00:31:22.819
 He's healed the paralytic.

00:31:23.019 --> 00:31:24.279
 He's done all the things.

00:31:25.219 --> 00:31:26.859
 And all of these people have seen it.

00:31:27.059 --> 00:31:27.919
 They've witnessed it.

00:31:27.959 --> 00:31:29.379
 But they still didn't believe.

00:31:29.380 --> 00:31:32.220
 And so Jesus says, I'm moving to parables now.

00:31:32.300 --> 00:31:34.100
 And he quotes Isaiah chapter six.

00:31:34.120 --> 00:31:38.600
 And he says, because they've rejected me, I am rejecting them.

00:31:41.360 --> 00:31:42.960
 Which is a hard saying.

00:31:42.960 --> 00:31:54.620
 Whether from a pulpit on a Sunday or in daily evangelism in our communities,

00:31:56.220 --> 00:32:03.600
 preaching the gospel has both an illuminating effect and a hardening effect.

00:32:03.599 --> 00:32:12.159
 As the saying goes, the same sun that melts the ice hardens the clay.

00:32:12.160 --> 00:32:19.000
 And as we take the gospel of Jesus out, there are two potential responses.

00:32:20.140 --> 00:32:25.120
 Either God will use his word to melt the hearts of unbelievers and draw them to faith.

00:32:25.200 --> 00:32:33.980
 Or God will use his word to harden the hearts of unbelievers and prevent them from coming to faith.

00:32:35.620 --> 00:32:37.580
 These parables are a warning.

00:32:37.579 --> 00:32:46.460
 They're a warning against those who would hear the truth and continue to willfully reject it.

00:32:47.419 --> 00:32:48.659
 And here's the thing.

00:32:49.399 --> 00:32:57.639
 The Bible is clear that a time of judgment will eventually come to all who reject Christ.

00:32:59.079 --> 00:33:03.819
 And that judgment may come sooner than what you think.

00:33:03.819 --> 00:33:07.539
 Consider Genesis chapter six.

00:33:08.379 --> 00:33:13.480
 At the beginning of this chapter, we see the wickedness of the world, the pervasive wickedness.

00:33:13.659 --> 00:33:16.519
 And it introduces the story of Noah and his ark.

00:33:17.039 --> 00:33:19.279
 But what is it that God says in verse three?

00:33:20.139 --> 00:33:23.119
 He says, my spirit will not always strive with man.

00:33:25.200 --> 00:33:29.919
 Though he is patient and long suffering, there is a limit to God's patience.

00:33:29.920 --> 00:33:34.019
 Because eventually, there is judgment.

00:33:36.060 --> 00:33:37.560
 Consider Romans chapter one.

00:33:38.759 --> 00:33:42.180
 Romans chapter one, Paul is going through the gospel and the power of the gospel.

00:33:42.320 --> 00:33:47.000
 But then he talks about how the people have continued to reject the gospel.

00:33:47.860 --> 00:33:53.420
 And in verse 28, he says, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, they had the stuff.

00:33:53.740 --> 00:33:54.740
 They had the knowledge.

00:33:55.060 --> 00:33:56.759
 They had the word, the Old Testament.

00:33:56.759 --> 00:33:58.819
 They had the miracles of Jesus.

00:33:59.019 --> 00:34:00.119
 They had all the stuff.

00:34:00.359 --> 00:34:08.460
 But since they refused to acknowledge God, God gave them up, Paul said, to a debased mind,

00:34:08.559 --> 00:34:12.599
 a reprobate mind to do what ought not to be done.

00:34:12.940 --> 00:34:13.840
 You say, what does that mean?

00:34:15.280 --> 00:34:20.340
 It means if you continue to reject Christ, there comes a time where he's going to reject you.

00:34:20.340 --> 00:34:32.140
 There's a judicial hardening effect where Paul says, there comes a point when we continue to reject the truth that we've been exposed to,

00:34:32.980 --> 00:34:34.680
 where God gives us up.

00:34:35.200 --> 00:34:37.500
 He gives us up to the hardening of our hearts.

00:34:37.660 --> 00:34:40.039
 He gives us up to the sin of our lives.

00:34:40.240 --> 00:34:46.840
 He gives us up to reprobate minds, worthless minds, empty minds.

00:34:46.840 --> 00:34:50.600
 That's what the parables do.

00:34:52.360 --> 00:34:53.700
 They're an act of judgment.

00:34:55.220 --> 00:35:00.900
 In Acts chapter 28, this is the closing of the book.

00:35:01.920 --> 00:35:06.840
 Paul's made it to Rome where he is being in prison there for another two years.

00:35:06.840 --> 00:35:11.820
 And Jews in Rome began to come to him.

00:35:12.320 --> 00:35:13.960
 And he was preaching the gospel.

00:35:14.720 --> 00:35:19.980
 And it says, and some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved.

00:35:20.780 --> 00:35:25.640
 And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement.

00:35:25.880 --> 00:35:30.700
 And the statement is another quote of Isaiah chapter 6, verses 9 and 10.

00:35:30.840 --> 00:35:32.820
 The same exact quote that Jesus gave.

00:35:33.480 --> 00:35:34.500
 Paul quotes it.

00:35:34.500 --> 00:35:37.119
 The Jews get mad because they know what he means.

00:35:37.619 --> 00:35:39.179
 And then here's what Paul says.

00:35:40.380 --> 00:35:47.800
 Therefore, let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles because they will listen.

00:35:49.599 --> 00:35:50.539
 You say, what does that mean?

00:35:51.539 --> 00:35:55.920
 That means that there comes a point where God stops drawing.

00:35:55.920 --> 00:36:00.920
 Where the hardening is no longer our doing.

00:36:01.800 --> 00:36:03.119
 But it's God's doing.

00:36:04.659 --> 00:36:10.940
 MacArthur said, due to the people's repeated rejection of his clear teachings and undeniable miracles.

00:36:10.940 --> 00:36:17.440
 From this point on, Jesus would frame his teachings in a way that they could not understand.

00:36:18.300 --> 00:36:19.119
 Think about that.

00:36:20.460 --> 00:36:23.980
 All of those people on the seashore, they didn't get the explanation of the parable.

00:36:24.320 --> 00:36:26.200
 Only the people in the private setting did.

00:36:26.400 --> 00:36:28.059
 The ones on the outside, they didn't get it.

00:36:28.720 --> 00:36:29.480
 They heard the story.

00:36:29.539 --> 00:36:32.599
 It's not that they didn't understand a sower and seed and soils.

00:36:32.679 --> 00:36:33.740
 They understood all of that.

00:36:33.739 --> 00:36:36.719
 What they couldn't understand is what it meant.

00:36:38.479 --> 00:36:40.019
 Because Jesus didn't tell them.

00:36:42.899 --> 00:36:50.119
 Their willful rejection of the Son of God had led to God's judicial rejection of them.

00:36:51.519 --> 00:36:53.159
 And we close with this question.

00:36:54.659 --> 00:37:00.679
 You say, how do I know if I have reached that state of God's judicial hardening?

00:37:00.679 --> 00:37:07.399
 And my first thought is, if you're concerned about it, you haven't reached that state.

00:37:10.480 --> 00:37:14.139
 Because someone with a hardened heart is indifferent to all of this.

00:37:14.819 --> 00:37:15.839
 They don't believe it at all.

00:37:17.980 --> 00:37:19.940
 But then you say, what about in my evangelism?

00:37:20.980 --> 00:37:26.379
 How am I supposed to know who I should actually share the gospel with and who I shouldn't bother with

00:37:26.379 --> 00:37:29.460
 because they have been given over to a reprobate mind?

00:37:29.460 --> 00:37:31.400
 And the answer to that is, you don't know.

00:37:32.579 --> 00:37:34.400
 Nor are you supposed to know.

00:37:35.059 --> 00:37:36.400
 That's not our business.

00:37:36.840 --> 00:37:37.920
 That's God's business.

00:37:38.960 --> 00:37:40.119
 What's our business?

00:37:40.619 --> 00:37:41.900
 To share the gospel.

00:37:42.440 --> 00:37:43.659
 And to share it with everybody.

00:37:44.519 --> 00:37:47.400
 It doesn't matter how far gone you think they are.

00:37:47.720 --> 00:37:48.579
 Share the gospel.

00:37:48.940 --> 00:37:49.980
 Cast the seed.

00:37:50.340 --> 00:37:51.059
 Throw it out.

00:37:51.480 --> 00:37:52.420
 Share Jesus.

00:37:52.760 --> 00:37:53.480
 Preach Jesus.

00:37:53.480 --> 00:37:57.539
 Because that same gospel message is going to melt some of their hearts.

00:37:57.639 --> 00:38:01.719
 Because God has intended to melt some of their hearts and bring them to faith.

00:38:01.860 --> 00:38:04.760
 But God's message is also going to harden many of them.

00:38:05.679 --> 00:38:09.579
 And in the process of that hardening, they're not going to respond in faith.

00:38:10.280 --> 00:38:11.519
 And that's when you know.

00:38:12.199 --> 00:38:14.300
 If they reject, they reject.

00:38:14.300 --> 00:38:16.760
 But it's not up to us to decide who that is.

00:38:19.260 --> 00:38:23.320
 Neither is it for us to understand if that has now been the case for us.

00:38:24.440 --> 00:38:28.260
 We'll repeat what the writer of Hebrews quoted in chapter 4 and verse 7.

00:38:29.140 --> 00:38:32.760
 Today, if you hear his voice, don't harden your heart.

00:38:34.440 --> 00:38:35.740
 You hear his voice today?

00:38:37.019 --> 00:38:38.060
 Don't harden your heart.

00:38:38.599 --> 00:38:39.239
 Here's the thing.

00:38:39.980 --> 00:38:43.019
 Don't think that you can wait.

00:38:44.860 --> 00:38:45.820
 Because you can't.

00:38:47.539 --> 00:38:50.219
 You say, I've got all kinds of life left to live.

00:38:50.779 --> 00:38:51.639
 Well, you might not.

00:38:54.159 --> 00:38:56.019
 The scripture says our life is but a vapor.

00:38:56.179 --> 00:38:58.159
 It appears for a moment and then it vanisheth away.

00:38:59.699 --> 00:39:00.539
 You say, I'm young.

00:39:00.619 --> 00:39:01.639
 I've got all this time.

00:39:02.079 --> 00:39:03.179
 Maybe you say, I'm just a kid.

00:39:04.099 --> 00:39:05.159
 I've got all this time.

00:39:05.219 --> 00:39:06.480
 I can make these decisions later.

00:39:06.480 --> 00:39:10.500
 Well, you might not actually have that opportunity to make those decisions later.

00:39:10.740 --> 00:39:11.940
 Tragedies happen all the time.

00:39:12.519 --> 00:39:14.260
 But even more than that,

00:39:15.019 --> 00:39:18.659
 the judgment may come before your day of death.

00:39:21.679 --> 00:39:24.579
 God has brought you to this place to hear the gospel preached.

00:39:25.380 --> 00:39:28.179
 He has exposed you to the truth.

00:39:28.480 --> 00:39:31.500
 And if you continue to willfully reject that truth,

00:39:31.699 --> 00:39:33.820
 there may come a day where he just stops calling.

00:39:33.820 --> 00:39:39.260
 There may come a day where he hardens your heart.

00:39:39.640 --> 00:39:40.820
 You don't know when that's going to be.

00:39:41.240 --> 00:39:43.140
 So today, if you hear his voice,

00:39:43.860 --> 00:39:45.180
 don't harden your heart.

00:39:46.320 --> 00:39:47.260
 Because eventually,

00:39:47.800 --> 00:39:48.840
 he will.

00:39:50.559 --> 00:39:51.720
 And once he does,

00:39:52.559 --> 00:39:53.300
 it's done.

00:39:54.559 --> 00:39:56.620
 You may have 30 years left to live in your life

00:39:56.620 --> 00:39:57.160
 and it won't matter.

00:39:58.600 --> 00:39:59.539
 It'll be too late.

00:39:59.539 --> 00:40:00.059
 Well,