The “Kingdom” according to Mark 4-5 (Pt. 1)

What is your favorite candy? How about favorite place to go…or favorite music? (A. Moser Roth Dark Chocolate; B. Philips Ave. Sioux Falls; C. Hymns done in a Celtic style…one of my favorite music forms anyway) So what are yours? Now whatever it is I am sure of one thing regarding what you picked…if you only ever ate that or went to that place or listened to that musician you would get bored with it…maybe even grow to dislike it.

Nature was designed to be enjoyed by variety. As is commonly said: Variety is the spice of life. True I love Moser Roth 85% Dark Chocolate…but you will also see me with a butter finger or Night Crawler Gummy Worms…a variety is enjoyable.

In a similar but obviously greater way God has kindly given us a variety of examples and demonstrations as to how His kingdom took on a greater presences and existence in the coming of Jesus. To put it in the way of one of my favorite Christian poets Timothy Brindle: “The kingdom arrived because the King had arrived.” This must be held in our minds as we read of and think of the kingdom of God. Yes there is a future in which it fully manifests, yet at the same time it took a great step of manifestation 2,000 years ago in Christ’s first appearing. How can we say that God’s Kingdom did not become more manifest when the King himself was among us on earth (Luke 11:20).

As I began earlier, God communicates this step of Kingdom coming in a variety of ways throughout Mark. In the last post we saw the proclamation of the kingdom (Mark 1:1-15), this week we will see the demonstration of the kingdom (Mark 4-5). This post will be part one followed up with a post (pt. 2) in a few days.

An Intro to Mark 4-5

Many points of introduction could be written about these two chapters for better understanding of how the kingdom of God is demonstrated in this lengthy passage, However, for our purposes I will limit it to a few. First, allow me to give credit to my friend and fellow pastor Bryan Anderson for helping me understand what I am about to unpack regarding the relation of Jesus’ parables and power. Checkout his book in which he explains how narratives are to be read. Although he and I may arrive at some different conclusions, still he has been a tremendous help in learning how to study the narratives of the Bible. Brotherhood with unity amid differing opinions can be such a great display of the love of God in the hearts of the believer.

1. These two chapters are a unit. To pursue a healthy understanding of these two chapters they need to be approached together. They form a unite by way of complimenting one another. There are three parables about the kingdom (4:1-34) matched by three demonstrations of the Kings power (4:35-5:43).
2. The meaning of the parables are one. It was a common Jewish method to make one point by means of several illustrations (i.e. the lost sheep, coin, and son in Luke 15). Parables are often given in groups. The teacher has one big point to be made and he approaches it from different angles.
3. The miracles display the fullness of power of the King. Just as there were three parables in which Jesus demonstrates the kingdom in word, so now there are three acts of power to demonstrate the kingdom as seen in the power of the King.

The Kingdom Demonstrated in Parables (Mark 4:1-34)

The parables were a common way of communicating deep and needed truth in ancient middle east culture of Jesus’ day. It was a teaching method in which the Rabbi utilized common things to display greater truths (i.e. fields, seeds, plants, etc.). Jesus speaks into his cultural context in a way that his audience was accustomed to. How merciful is God that he approaches us in a way that is coherent to us.

In our text Jesus great point is: The word of God is the seed that grows the Kingdom of God abundantly, mysteriously, and progressively from small to greatness.

1. In 4:1-20 we read of the abundant results where the word/seed is received well: “And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold…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.” On a personal level, for that is where Christ’s salvific kingship begins, in the heart, the work of God as king grows and grows.
2. Then in 4:26-29 we read of the mysterious growth of the kingdom. It is a growth that happens apart from human power and wisdom. Its growth is from God, therefore when we have the rare occasion to observe it we are left without an explanation. Human reason is often confounded. Biblically we find explanations of how the King uses kings (Prov. 21:1). The bold rebel who is thought crude by the worst sinner surrenders his life to the King. God’s purposes never fail nor are frustrated. We often sit back without explanation save that God is at work. There is mystery to the work and development of the Kingdom.
3. Finally we come to 4:30-34 where in we see the progression of the kingdom. It goes from seed to plant; from smallest to greatest (Check out Daniel 2:31-45). I’ve referenced Luke a couple times above; now allow me to quickly use his second book, Acts, to display this progression…and I will do so quickly. Jesus ascends leaving 120 Followers of the Way. On the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit fills and empowers the disciples to preach resulting in the salvation of 3,000. A few chapters later we read of their number growing to 5,000, followed by the Pharisees observing how the whole city had been filled with the teaching of of Christ by the disciples. From there persecution pushes them out to Samaria and the outer reaches of the Roman Empire. In the span of a generation the gospel goes from the small city of Jerusalem to Africa, Asia, and Europe. Churches are established with elders and deacons who strive to further the proclamation of the Kingdom (Acts 28:30-31). Today, wherever you sit reading you can look at a globe from any angle and find placeS (plural) made up of different languages, tribes, and peoples who gather on the Lord’s Day for the worship of God in Word and song. I sit here in the midwest, clear on the other side of the world from Jerusalem, writing about my salvation and the kingdom to which I belong. The mustard seed was planted in Jerusalem and the branches of the plant are growing up into a large tree which continuous to fill the whole earth. His Kingdom progressively grows until it is manifest with Jesus sitting enthroned on this planet when he returns.

The word of God is the seed that grows the Kingdom of God abundantly, mysteriously, and progressively from small to greatness.

Conclusion

All three of these parables work together and should be read as a unite. In them Jesus demonstrates what the kingdom is and how we should think about it. And I echo Jesus in encouraging you to see what the Word says about how we should understand the kingdom in which we are apart of right now. I know thus far I have given much emphasis to the present reality of the kingdom and not so much on the future of this kingdom. My reason is simple; my honest and personal opinion is that within the country I live too much emphasis is given to the future of the Kingdom when Jesus will reign on earth. I do not say “too much” in the way that we can talk to much about it, but it is too much by comparison with how much attention is given to the kingdom reality we live in right now. There is teaching on the Lord’s Prayer encouraging us to pray for the kingdom to come. There are sermons galore on the future kingdom. But let us give attention to what Jesus said about the kingdom as a whole. He held the two in balance. The abundant, mysterious, and progressive growth is the reality from the first coming of Jesus unto his second and into eternity. To give study to how we should see the kingdom as we live in it now is not to the negation of an appreciation for our future enjoyment of the kingdom in its fullness. Let us seek a balance.

To say the Kingdom is now, and has been since the King arrived is not to deny the future fullness. So also you can speak of a future kingdom without denying that Jesus is very much enthroned now (Psalm 110:1; Dan. 7:13-14; Matt. 28:18-20; Eph. 1:21; Phil. 2:9; Col. 1:16; 2:10; Heb. 1:4). We must hold both together. The present reality enables and emboldens us in our walk with God while the latter encourages us to push on to the end.

Two Applications:

1. In 4:21-25 we find a private word to the followers of Christ. By implication if you have put your faith and hope in Christ this word is just as much for you. In 4:21-22 Jesus is expressing that although we lack understanding in reading the Bible, for it is the word of the all wise and infinite God, nonetheless it is given by God also with the intention of shedding light. In this is seen the mercy of God. Yes God does give a word which we cannot comprehend on our own, yet if it be his intention that it be understood he will not fail. Thus he gives His very Spirit to enlighten us. Therefore we ask God for a hearing ear (4:23). But with that also give your mind to seeking truth (4:24-25). When Jesus says that “the measure you use it will be measured to you” is to say: “The effort you put in to ‘hearing’ will be matched by God’s mercy in enlightening you…and more, abundantly more.” God does give understanding, but he does not do so if we are not seeking. Hear Paul, “Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything” (2 Tim. 2:7). Think, contemplate, ponder and “the Lord will give you understanding in everything.”
2. Mark also shows us that our life in the kingdom and the seeking of understanding is not strict religion, although religion is not excluded, nor is it mere academic pursuit. In Mark 4:34 we read, “He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.” He “privately” explained things to his disciples. When do you have a private time with Jesus in the reading of the Bible and prayer? When else and how else is Jesus to enlighten your mind as to how you are to live today? Do you think that you will be better off rushing into the busy day without starting with your Lord? Which is of more value to the course of your day: sleeping through the alarm or reading God’s revelation to us in words that we can read and mentally digest with hopes of joy? Which is going to be of more value when you get that bad news or enter into a frustrating situation: the extra sleep or the attention you gave to the truth of the gospel that sent you into the day exclaiming “Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul!!!” Amen!?! Engage your mind in the truth so that your heart may be filled with joy. Learn what the Bible teaches about the kingdom now, so as to enable us to live, and what it says of the future so as to encourage us to endure to the end.