The Gospel of MarkSample

Jesus was not like other teachers and religious leaders. He taught with authority, yet much of His teaching was in parables. Jesus revealed Himself strategically, and mostly only to His disciples. His teaching in parables was one of the ways He waited to reveal Himself until the appointed time. Mark gave his readers insight into these intimate moments between Jesus and His disciples to further prove His main point: Jesus is the Son of God.

In the parable of the sower we see clearly how we should seek to be like the good soil, hearing and receiving the Word and bearing much fruit. Jesus is the sower, spreading the Word to those around Him. In the previous four chapters, Mark had described the people who represented these different types of soil. The disciples saw these examples first hand. 

While Jesus encouraged, though indirectly, His disciples to be like good soil, hearing and receiving the Word in faith, they would fail many times. Like the disciples, we too may fail to accept God’s Word in faith at times. We can rest in the truth that the Sower we trust is good and gracious and will continue His work in us.

Lord, help me to be faithful with Your Word. Help me to see where I am like good soil and where I need to change my response to truth. Help me to trust that You are always at work, changing my heart to be like good soil. In Your name, amen.