Inside vs. Outside

At the center of York, England is the Minster or Cathedral. Its three towers, each of which stands around 200 feet tall, are visible throughout almost the entire city. It is an impressive structure, and it took hundreds of years to reach completion.

As with many historic church buildings, a central feature is the stained glass windows. From the inside of the building, one can see various Bible scenes depicted in the impressive glasswork. It is a sight to behold.

But when one looks at the stained glass windows from the outside of the building, they appear dark and dingy. It is hard to make out the details and artwork. From the outside, the windows are unclear, but from the inside, they take on a whole new light.

This is an excellent picture of Jesus' parables. Many modern people think Jesus used parables to make everything clearer. As we will see today, Jesus did not use parables that way. They were not a preaching trick for him or a way to capture everyone's waning attention. They were not his way of "putting the cookies on the bottom shelf," making the truths he was trying to communicate accessible to all.

Instead, Jesus' parables divided his audience. For those who were on the inside, they proved to be full of treasures that they would cherish forever. Because of their story-like features, they are easy to remember. And since they are easy to recall, true disciples receive Jesus' parables as a guiding light through the storms of life.

But for those on the outside, Jesus' parables were confusing, dark, and often misunderstood. Though they came from everyday life, those on the outside could not discern their meaning.

Today, we will look at the first parable Mark records. It is a famous parable, and it illustrates the importance of hearing about Jesus the right way. In it, we'll learn how we must accept the message of Jesus and his kingdom without alteration, without hesitation, and without addition. Instead, we must hear the word and accept it. If we do, fruit will grow from our lives.

The Parable (4:1-9)

Mark 4:1–9 (ESV) — 1 Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. 2 And he was teaching them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: 3 “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. 6 And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 8 And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” 9 And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

The setting is picturesque. Jesus, it seems, had found a natural backdrop for a time of teaching, an amphitheater where the land sloped down to the coastline. His voice cascaded up the hill to all the people. In rapt attention, the large crowd listened to his words (1). And, lest they all press in upon him, he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea (1). With his pulpit prepared, Jesus delivered his message. What an amazing moment!

In this first parable, like all the parables, Jesus used imagery they understood from their everyday lives. They knew about farming and lived off the land, so the image of a sower going out to sow was easy for them to envision (3).

The part of the parable which might have been harder for them to imagine, or which might've shocked them, is the scattershot way in which the farmer spread his seed. Why did the sower cast seed on the road? On the stony ground? Among weeds and thorns? This feature of the parable would have bothered the hearers. Of the four types of soil, only one bears fruit. These are discouraging odds!

But as much as a one-in-four chance of fruit is discouraging, the kind of fruit the good soil bears is abundantly encouraging. Jesus said others seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold (8). These are astounding numbers. Some say they hoped for a tenfold harvest to come from their seed. So thirty or sixty or a hundredfold harvest is meant to be an overwhelming number. This is impossible fruit! This is good soil! This is some seed!

To wrap up the parable, Jesus gave an exhortation: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear" (9). He began the parable by saying, "Listen! Behold " (3). In a sense, this is what the parable will prove to be about—You hear the story, but do you truly hear the message? How do you hear? You hear it with your ears, but do you hear it with your heart?

And I'm sure many of the people walked away without any idea what Jesus meant by the parable. I mean, the story wasn't confusing, but the point of the story would have confused them.

The Reason for Parables (4:10-12)

Mark 4:10–12 (ESV) — 10 And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11 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, 12 so that “ ‘they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.’ ”

The Question

When Jesus and his disciples were alone, some followers asked him about the parables (10). I imagine them nodding and appearing moved during Jesus' teaching, but wondering inwardly what in the world Jesus was talking about! So, now that they're alone with Jesus, they ask him to explain.

The Secret

Jesus responded first by telling them, "To you it has been given the secret of the kingdom of God" (11). They were the ones on the inside of the stained glass window. They were learning, as they walked and talked and lived with Jesus, the secret of the kingdom of God.

Far from a mere external kingdom—the driving out of the Romans, the ushering in of world peace, the restoration of the Davidic monarchy—Jesus came to bring God's kingdom inside the lives of his people. By His Spirit, Christ would dwell in us (Colossians 1:27). The kingdom would first be internal and spiritual before one day becoming external and physical (when Jesus comes returns).

This secret of the kingdom is knowable in Jesus. The entire New Testament affirms this—a secret or mystery is something previously hidden but uncovered in Christ. For example, Paul said he had a job to make the word of God full known,

"the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:26–27, ESV).

The disciples and followers of Jesus were learning this secret as they walked and talked with him. They were being brought into this marvelous truth. One day, after Jesus rose from the dead and ascended back to heaven, the Spirit would rush upon them, and they would discover an otherwise invisible kingdom had come.

The Isaiah Quotation

Since the crowds and religious leaders were not clued into that secret, everything was in parables (11). At this point in Mark's gospel, opposition to Jesus is growing, but so is a misunderstanding about Jesus' purpose and mission.

The religious leaders, the crowds, and even his own family have misunderstood him. They were not in pursuit of spiritual, inward, soul-level change. Everything they wanted was external. Too many thought they knew what the Messiah/Christ and his kingdom would look like, so Jesus sent them home with stories they'd never forget. They were on the outside, and the parables were meant to help them know they were outside.

To demonstrate the "outside" nature of the crowds, Jesus quoted a brief section of Isaiah. He said he preached 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" (12).

If you are shocked and confused by Jesus' quotation, you are in good company. Many scholars have wrangled over Jesus' meaning. Did he mean to say he was intentionally shielding the crowds from the truth? Did he mean he used parables as a way to keep them from understanding and, ultimately, forgiveness? Were parables Jesus' way of keeping people from knowing him? That's the way the quotation reads. To help us understand what we don't know, we should remember some things we do know.

1. The parables were teaching instruments of some kind.

If Jesus really wanted to keep people in the dark, he would have said nothing. But the parables seem designed to point people to a greater truth. They should have gone home, ruminated over the parables, and, one day, when gospel preachers came to their town, believed in Jesus.

2. Jesus came as an extension of the love of God for the whole world.

God so loved the world he sent his Son (John 3:16). Jesus came to seek and save the lost. His whole mission embodied the desire of God that people know him. The problem with the crowds was their tendency to think they knew him when they didn't. The parables would help them pause to consider their beliefs.

3. These masses would be given an opportunity to believe in Jesus.

After Jesus died on the cross, rose from the dead, and ascended to the right hand of the Father, his followers would go throughout the world, preaching the everlasting gospel. Their preaching would demand a decision. And they would go to some of the same regions these masses occupied. So, one day, in their not-too-distant future, these crowds would hear the gospel clearly and be given a chance to repent.

4. Humanity is always held responsible for its actions.

What I mean is, that even if parables were used to darken the understanding of the masses, the masses were still responsible for what they believed about Jesus. All through Scripture, we see the principle that, though God acts sovereignly, he still holds humans responsible for their actions. For example, though he hardened Pharaoh's heart, he still held Pharaoh responsible for his refusal to submit to God's will (Romans 9:19-21). And though it had been prophesied that the friend of Jesus would turn against him, Judas was still held responsible for his betrayal (Mark 14:21). In the mind of God, there is no conflict between his divine sovereignty and human free will. Though it is hard for us to comprehend how these two truths are not in conflict, in the mind of God they aren't. And who can know the mind of the Lord? (Romans 11:34). So these crowds were still responsible for their decisions about Christ.

5. These parables had the same effect as all of the word of God.

Some heard and learned. Others heard and rejected. This is what happened when Isaiah preached. The word that softened some, like Isaiah and those who adhered to his prophetic utterings, also hardened many others. Just as the same sun that hardens the clay also melts the wax, so the word of Jesus' kingdom hardens some and softens others. A clear articulation of the gospel does this today, and the parables did this way back then.

Again, it all comes back to hearing and listening. Do you hear and listen well? If you accept the message of Jesus and his kingdom, you'll get more understanding. If you reject the message of Jesus and his kingdom, darkness comes.

With all this foundational groundwork laid down, let's look at Jesus' interpretation of this first parable. They had asked him about the parables, and now he will tell them about this first parable, starting with the sower and the seed.

The Seed (4:13-14)

Mark 4:13–14 (ESV) — 13 And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word.

The Word Likened to a Seed

Jesus' interpretation of this parable would help them understand all the parables (13). We'll discover this when we study the other parables. Jesus knew this first parable could help unlock future parables, especially when it came to the definition of the seed, so he said, "The sower sows the word " (14).

The word of God, the message of the gospel, and the truth about Jesus and his kingdom are likened to a seed. It goes into various types of people and produces different results, but it is the same seed. This is a perfect image of the word.

1. This seed goes everywhere.

All different soils received it; everyone gets a chance. This speaks to the preaching of the gospel. Jesus, the original sower, and all future sowers of the gospel message are to be indiscriminate in their sowing. Everyone should get a chance to hear the gospel!

2. A seed brings fruit only after it has been planted.

The word is similar in that it goes into you and bears fruit in future seasons. I have only used my car insurance a few times in my twenty-five years of driving, but to use it, I had to keep on making my payments. And as you keep on putting the word into your mind and heart, one day, you will need those truths.

Jonah is an excellent example of this—on his way into the sea, he quoted Psalms about being cast into the depths and heart of the sea (Jonah 2:2, Psalms 88:6-7). The implanted word found its moment in his life.

3. A seed needs the right environment.

The seed cannot be improved. But the soil is the issue. This is what the rest of the parable will highlight. Some types of soil bear little to no fruit. One type of soil bears abundant fruit. And though there are those who think this parable is only about the ultimate and eventual success of the gospel message, it seems we're meant to see this parable as an exhortation to hear the word well. The right environment for the seed, and the right environment for the word, will produce fruit.

When on a long hike or military march, the speed one can travel is dictated in part by the surface on which they're moving. If it's pavement, they can move quickly. If it's gravel, they will move more slowly. And if it's marshland, they will slow to a crawl. The same can be said for the seed of the word of God—when it finds the right soil, it can produce incredible results. In the wrong heart, however, it will produce little.

Christianity is centered around the word—the Bible, the word of the gospel, and the message of Jesus' kingdom. The ear is important. The message is there, but we must receive it correctly. With that, let's close by looking at the varieties of the soil Jesus mentioned.

The Varieties of Soil (15-20)

Mark 4:15 (ESV) — 15 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.

1. Some Cannot Hear at All (15).

This first soil represents those who express no interest at all in the word of the kingdom. They say things like this: Jesus is not the answer. I am not in need. I am not searching. And I certainly don't need a kingdom.

Jesus pulls back the curtain on this type of life by showing us it is Satan who immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them (15). This meant to serve as a behind-the-scenes look into reality. Hardly anyone in this camp will say they are following Satan. Other excuses and reasons will be held out to dismiss Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. But, behind those surface-level reasons, lies the unseen influence of darkness.

The opposite perspective would be to say things like this: I have found the answer in Jesus. I have great need and am thirsty for something more than this life. My own way has not worked, so I long to be part of a good kingdom with a righteous King.

Mark 4:16–17 (ESV) — 16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. 17 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.

2. Some Hear Only the Joyous Parts (16-17).

This second soil represents those who are excited about Jesus and his word at first, only to abandon him once difficulties arise. They immediately receive the word with joy, and like a seed in shallow soil, they appear to grow quickly, but they have not root (16-17). When tribulation or persecution arise on account of the word, immediately they fall away (17). They say things like this: I like the positive elements of the kingdom. I like the love, acceptance, and forgiveness of the gospel. But I don't like the judgment, the exclusivity of the gospel, or the ethic of the kingdom. I'm down with Jesus as long as he brings blessing, but once I am rejected for his name's sake, or once I go through a trial, I am out.

The opposite perspective would be to say things like this: There is nothing and no one more beautiful than Jesus and his word. If I have to endure tribulation, if I pass through trials, it is fine. I would go through anything to have Jesus. If I have to deny myself and my desires to submit to Jesus, I will, because he is worth it. If I am mocked for my faith, it is worth it, because Jesus is better than societal acceptance.

Mark 4:18–19 (ESV) — 18 And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, 19 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.

3. Some Hear Too Many Other Messages (18-19).

This third soil represents those who allow the beauty of Jesus and his word to become clouded by other competing messages. The cares of this world, cares which belong only to this world, invade their hearts. The deceitfulness of riches, lying to them by promising security and happiness, embeds itself in their minds. And desires for other things, competing desires which dilute their passion for Christ, infest their souls. This person cannot be satisfied with Jesus or his kingdom. They say things like this: Jesus is great, within reason. He is part of my life, but only part. He is not my reason for being. There are other things that bring me happiness. He should not define all of my priorities. Other voices should also have a chance to speak. There are certain things I need to make me happy, and Jesus cannot provide all of them.

The opposite perspective would be to say things like this: I am content with Jesus alone. There is more to life than this world and its values. It's a lie to think I would be satisfied with more possessions, belonging, or fame. The things of this world try to stir discontentment in me, but I have learned the secret of contentment in Jesus. I can endure all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Mark 4:20 (ESV) — 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.”

4. Some Hear Well (20).

This fourth soil represents all those who allowed Jesus to disrupt their preconceived notions about the Messiah, people like the disciples became, who accepted the message of Jesus and his kingdom. In the time of Jesus, these people would have said things like this: I thought the Christ would come and re-establish Israel as a superpower. I thought the Davidic throne would be revived. But now I see that Jesus, a descendant of David, is establishing a kingdom in the hearts of his people, which will one day be manifested in his visible reign. Sin is the enemy of his kingdom. And we come into his kingdom by believing his death, burial, and resurrection are the way for us to be saved from sin. Without alteration, hesitation, or addition, I accept Jesus.

And Jesus said these people end up bearing radical fruit—thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold. A simple reading of the book of Acts bears this out. In the span of one generation, the original church took the gospel far and wide. And the world has never been the same. Their fruit was massive because they took Jesus at his word. They didn't try to live without him. They didn't try to adjust him to their box. They didn't try to add to him. So they bore crazy fruit.

Let us do the same.