Lesson 3: The Kingdom In Word & Deed

The Kingdom is central in Mark’s presentation of the gospel. Recall that in the first chapter we see Jesus proclaiming, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1.15). The authority of Jesus, the King, is then exhibited in both His teaching and His deeds (see Mark 1.21-27). Chapters 4 & 5 continue this theme with Jesus not only teaching about the Kingdom (Mark 4) but showing the power of the King (Mark 5).

Note: while I combine chapters 4 & 5 for the purpose of this class, it may be better to cover them separately when used in an evangelism study. As you will see, I make sure to cover chapter 5 in one lesson, so if there has been a lot of discussion in chapter 4 I would wait and cover chapter 5 in the next session.

Notes from the text:

• 4.2: we will see why Jesus spoke in parables in vss. 10-11,33-34. Why Jesus used parables will be discussed in the evangelism notes below.
• 4.3: it was common in Jewish agriculture to sow seed BEFORE plowing, which explains how the sower could not know what lay under the surface.
• 4.8: “Thirtyfold, sixtyfold and a hundredfold are tremendously good harvests from Galilean soil. The fertile Jordan Valley normally yielded between ten- and (less often) a hundredfold, so a hundredfold need not be a miraculous harvest (though it is an astonishing one; Gen 26:12); but for more of Palestine, the average yield was seven and a half to tenfold (meaning that seven and a half to ten seeds were harvested for every seed sown), and all the figures Jesus reports here are very good yields.” (IVP Bible Background Commentary)
• 4.9: note Ezekiel 12.2. A common refrain in the prophets was that while God’s people had eyes and ears, they refused to see or hear God’s will. Jesus is urging His audience to be better than their forefathers.
• 4.10: this verse is significant for understanding why Jesus spoke in parables. Parables did conceal the message, but those who asked could understand the point. Asking, desiring to understand, is the key!
• 4.12: see Isaiah 6.9-10. Significantly, Israel had become like their idols which were also described as “deaf” and “dumb” (see Psalm 115.4-8; Isaiah 42.17-20).
• 4.15: Jesus isn’t describing non-religious people, but those who are very religious but who refuse to listen to Him (cf. Mark 3.22).
• 4.16: “the gospel ought always to bring joy, but it needs a joy deep enough to withstand the shocks… It is for our sake that the Lord often cools our heedless enthusiasm by warning us to stop a moment and count the cost (Luke 9:57-58).” (Paul Earnhart)
• 4.19: “The child of the kingdom of heaven is not just to look good, but to do good and to be good. The problem with the heart of the thorny soil is that it has become too crowded with competing concerns, and the seed of God cannot prosper in a divided heart… The blessings of our Father ought to be the occasion in His children for thanking Him and serving Him, but they can easily become the cause of our disaffection and uselessness.” (Paul Earnhart)
• 4.20: Note these contrasts with the other soils:
  • the road will not let the word in, but the good soil hears and accepts.
  • The rocky ground does not persevere, but the good soil holds it fast and perseveres (see Luke 8:15).
  • The thorny ground produces no fruit, but the good soil produces in abundance.
• 4.21-25: this passage is also crucial in our understanding of the parables. The gospel is not meant to be concealed, but to be revealed. However, the gospel depends on the hearer.
• 4.28: Jesus’ earlier parable emphasized the role of the hearer. This parable emphasizes the power of the word. Growth and the producing of fruit occurs because of the power of the word.
• 4.30-34: the parable of the mustard seed describes both the growth of the Kingdom as a whole, and to the growth of each individual. Small beginnings, but huge results!
• 4.37: the Sea of Galilee was 13 miles long and 7 miles wide. “Two extensive valleys on the western side of the lake funnel wind onto the lake. Westerly gusts can arise in the afternoon, turning the placid lake into a high sea with waves soaring up over seven feet. The lake also is 682 feet below sea level, which makes it susceptible to downdrafts when ‘cool air from the Golan Heights meets the warm air coming off the lake, and these contribute to sudden and unpredictable storms.’ Sudden storms are therefore familiar sailing hazards.” (Zondervan Illustrated Bible Background Commentary)
  
• 4.38: compare Psalm 107.23-32; Jonah 1.5-6.
• 4.40: not only had Jesus demonstrated the power of God, He had also granted power to His disciples (see 3.14-15). This will not be the last time Jesus draws attention to their lack of faith. These disciples would eventually produce much fruit (see vs. 20), but they aren’t there yet.
• 5.1: note that this is Gentile territory.
• 5.3-4: “The man fits the four characteristics of madness found in rabbinic literature: running about at night, staying overnight in burial places, tearing apart one’s clothes, and destroying what one has been given.” (Zondervan Illustrated Bible Background Commentary)
• 5.7: “In ancient magic, higher spirits would be invoked to drive out lower spirits, and the demons here appeal to the only one higher than Jesus to keep Jesus from driving them out: “I adjure you by God” (not “Swear to God”—NIV). This language invokes a curse on Jesus if he does not comply. The attempt at magical self-protection proves powerless against Jesus.” (IVP Bible Background Commentary)
• 5.9: A Roman legion consisted of 5,400 foot soldiers and 120 horsemen.
• 5.10: “In Luke (Lk 8:31) the request is that they not be sent into the Abyss (Rev 20:1–3), the place of confinement before judgment.” (Expositors Bible Commentary)
• 5.13: note that this shows the intent of demons; they are bent on destruction (see also Mark 1.26; 9.26). We may not fully understand why Jesus allowed the demons to possess the swine, but the results would have shown to all the magnitude of what Jesus accomplished.
• 5.25: See Lev. 15:25-27 for what this meant. She has been unclean for 12 years. Her fate would have been similar to that of a leper…to live without the touch of another human!
• 5.26: one cure offered by physicians “suggests fetching a barley grain from the dung of a white mule. When she eats it and holds it in one day, her discharge will cease for one day, if for two days, her discharge will cease for two days, if for three days, it will cease forever.” (Zondervan Illustrated Bible Background Commentary)
• 5.34: the connection with faith is an important one. The power to heal is in Jesus, but it is accessed by faith. See Mark 16.16.
• 5.41: “By providing the translation, ‘Little girl, rise,’ Mark makes it clear that it was not some arcane, magical formula. Eating food proves that the child is really alive and not some disembodied spirit (cf. Luke 24:39–43).” (Zondervan Illustrated Bible Background Commentary)

Using the text in evangelism:

1. A lesson about hearing. The parables naturally lend themselves to evangelism; they show what is possible through the word of God. However, Jesus’ reasoning for teaching in parables is also important to note. As we’ve seen, the gospel is meant to be understood (see 4.21-22), but that understanding is dependent on our willingness to hear (4.9,23). We will not understand God’s word without listening to Him, asking questions and letting Him provide the answers. We can’t rely on our presuppositions or on what we’ve been told. If we are going to bear fruit we must listen to Jesus.
2. Hope of the hopeless. As I said at the beginning of this lesson, I make sure to cover all of chapter 5 in one lesson. Jesus’ interacted with three people, all of whom were in “hopeless” situations. One was “hopelessly” possessed, one was “hopelessly” impure and one was “hopelessly” dead. No efforts by man could do anything for them (see 5.3-4,26). But Jesus freed the man who was possessed, purified the impure woman and gave life to the little girl who was dead; Jesus is the hope of the hopeless. These accounts should resonate with all of us, because were all in “hopeless” situations; our sins enslaved us, made us unclean… and killed us. Praise God, hope is restored in Jesus! However, we must remember that while Jesus has the power to free, purify and make alive, we must put our faith in Him to access that power (5.34,36). It is important to establish this point now so that the stipulation in Mark 16.16 will make sense in the light of the gospel.