17 Jun Mark 4:5 “When the word of God falls on Stony ground”. Part 2 of a 4 part series of “The four types of people who hear the word”

Knowing your weaknesses is just as important as knowing your strengths. Knowing how you react in certain situations allows you to change your behavior when you are in that type of situation again.

We are creatures of habit. We tend to do the same thing over and over again, even when it’s detrimental to us spiritually. I have come to acknowledge that we must take inventory on our lives. Meaning, we must record and document our actions. Like having a journal. Something we can go back to and read through.

We need to revisit history so we don’t repeat it. I can’t remember everything. I can’t remember all the times the Lord has saved me. I can remember today, but I soon forget tomorrow, when a new set of troubles arise.

The new troubles in your life can either help you forget about the things God has done for you, or remind you of the things God has done for you. I tend to do the former, and I am not ashamed to admit it. Admission is necessary for growth. Denial will keep you in the boat with one oar, tirelessly going in circles.

Mark is a powerful book. We see Jesus at the top of the book, teaching the multitude by the sea. Jesus retreats to the boat for safety. The multitude is so enormous, it is the only safe place for him to teach the people.

The people were starved for the word of God. This is a direct judgement against the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Had they been teaching the people, and feeding them proper doctrine, the people would not have been so starved.

Jesus was not being an opportunist. He did not suffer from narcissism. The multitude was a direct reflection of the lack of teaching that the Jewish leaders were doing at this time. I don’t care how big a Church building may be, or how beautifully constructed, if the people who truly seek God are starving, when someone like Jesus comes along, they will flock to such an individual.

The countless number of false teachers we are seeing today, is due to lack of knowledge of God’s people, and the lust of the things of this world. False teaching cannot survive unless these 2 things are prevalent.

Jesus is preaching from a boat in the sea, and there is a great crowd gathered. The bible says he taught them many things by parables. Jesus used real life illustrations to teach spiritual concepts.

I personally speak a lot of times using analogies. I’m very good with them. I tend to use sports alot for many of my analogies when I’m looking to explain a concept or idea in terms that I think will be digestible to most people.

We see here Jesus doing the same thing. Except his medium is a farmer or a sower, and not an athletic club or team. I am so grateful to be teaching on this topic, because I have not heard many teachings on it. Honestly I have not.

Jesus says in Mark 4:5-6 “And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away“.

This was one of multiple parables Jesus preached from the sea to the people. We discover in Mark 4:10, that Jesus is not just teaching the people, but the Apostles as well, as they did not understand the parables Jesus was teaching. They waited until they were able to get Jesus alone and asked him what the parables meant.

Jesus proceeds to answer them, but he says two very important things to them before providing the answer they’re looking for. Oftentimes, the answer we seek, is not the most important answer we need. The Apostles are seeking understanding of the parables, at the same time revealing their lack of spiritual foundation.

At this point, they are no different intellectually as the people listening to Jesus teach, yet they are his servants working side-by-side with him. They have the same understanding or lack of understanding as the people in the crowd.

In the crowd as well were some of the Jewish leaders.  Those that were educated in the law of Moses.  Though they were highly academic and educated in the law, they were found to be the more ignorant of the bunch, because they believed they knew much.

There was only 1 difference between the Apostles at this point and the people in the crowd listening to Jesus teach, and Jesus tells them what that difference is. He says in the next chapter, Mark 4:11, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God”.

This is what separated them from the multitude. Jesus did not say, “Because you are so handsome I will give you the mysteries of the Kingdom”. He did not say “Because you are so talented I will give you the mysteries of the Kingdom”. He did not say “Because you are so smart I will give you the mysteries of the Kingdom”. He said to you it has been given.

God’s choosing is what separates you from others. Lest you stumble like the Jews did, and think of yourself highly amongst those who don’t know God. The Apostles were standing right next to God and did not understand these parables.

The first step towards understanding is admitting ignorance. I admit fully I am ignorant, so I can accept fully what Jesus says. Knowing God is not a right, it is a privilege. A privilege given and not earned should not come with boasting, but with gratefulness, to understand what it is that most people don’t.

Jesus lets them know, you are privy to things that many of the people in the crowd are not privy to, because not all of them are here for the right reasons. The right reasons.

We must come to Jesus for the right reasons. To be redeemed from sins. Period! That’s it! There is no other reason. If you are coming to Jesus with any other reason then that, then you are like many in the crowd that came seeking a miracle.

Or seeking a financial blessing. Or seeking a job promotion. Or seeking a brand new beautiful home. Many seek Jesus for what they can gain, not because they are sorry for their sins.

When telling people about Jesus, do not sell them on what he will do for their lives externally. We are to share Jesus, not sell him. It is our heart that is so twisted, we can hardly feel anything toward our sins. Sure we hate the consequences sin brings, but we have a hard time feeling sorry for committing them.

God wants us to get to a place where we feel bad for sinning, and not just because of the consequences it brings. Our hearts are naturally twisted towards God, and bent towards sin.

Paul explains this is not our fault. We were born into terrible conditions. We must seek Jesus to fix our broken condition, not to give us earthly fortunes. Those who seek Jesus for these means, will easily be offended.

Why? Because coming to Jesus did not wield the result they were seeking. Instead of earthly fortune and comfort, they received hardship and afflictions. Jesus says it plainly in Mark 4:16-17 , explaining the parable to the Apostles at their request. Jesus says “And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended”.

I want you to pay attention to the word “sake”. The last line says “when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake”. That word “sake”, in this sentence means to “preserve”. When something is “preserved”, it is kept or maintained in its original state or condition. Things that have value are preserved. Things that are delicate.

If not preserved properly they spoil. God’s word is delicate. The moment it hits our ears it must be preserved in our hearts. If it is not, satan will come and spoil it. Many who were present at the sea, heart Jesus teach and were zealous for his word. They received it.

But they never allowed it to take root in their hearts. That is where Jesus lives. Our hearts are where God’s word is preserved. It is the only place it can live in its original state without spoiling.

When you listen to your favorite Preacher preach; Or your favorite Teacher teach; Or you read something someone wrote; Maybe even what I’m writing now; and it resonates with you, but you do not preserve it in your heart, the excitement of the message will soon wear off.

And that is what happened. They received it with gladness, but because they did not preserve it in their hearts, the trials of life stripped it from them. Because Jesus lives in our hearts, the only way to preserve his word is to invite him in our hearts.

We must make a conscious effort daily to commune with him. The world is working 24/7, to strip us of our faith. Even in our dreams.

The goal of our afflictions, our persecutions, our judgement, our trials, is to strip away from us what Jesus has preserved in our hearts. This is only done when the branch is separated from the vine, because the vine is what supplies the branches with life.

Because many have come to Jesus without the right intentions, they walk away disgruntled and disappointed. What makes most people walk away from Jesus doing hardships? Could it be that we are secretly disappointed with him?

If Jesus said yes to everyone’s wish and desire, the whole world would follow God. The world would love God. How could they not? He would be the granter of all wishes. But that is not his character. We know his character. It is the fruit of the spirit.

If you seek anything more than these things, you will walk away disappointed. Please do not take away from this that Jesus does not provide. He does provide. He would not be Messiah if he was not able to do that.

What woman would follow a man who can feed his Wife and Family, but chooses not to out of spite? That is not a Father nor a Husband nor a Brother. That man is a fool and an infidel. Jesus is no fool. In all your foolish behavior, has God ever withheld food, or clothing, or air, or shelter, because of it?

We all deserve many things, including death, but God did not break his word, he sent his son ANYWAY, despite our foolishness. Who can lay a claim against Jesus?

No claim can be made, if we seek him purely. If we seek him for earthly gain, then we can lay much at his feet. This is the thing we are privileged to know. That God in spite of all our foolish behavior, and when I say that I mean sin, did not become spiteful and hold back his son; No, he sent him so that this day we can live with him in his kingdom.

This is the secret wisdom that we’ve been giving. The joy of Christ is not for the “things of this world”, it is for the privilege of relationship with him. We’ve been chosen for that purpose. Jesus states this in Mark.

Many have and will walk away disappointed, but to those who have been chosen will not be disappointed. God did not choose some while allowing others to hell. All heard, but not all believed. God will not make you believe.

He will not take away your choice to believe or not to believe. What you do with a parable that has been spoken to you by someone God has sent, it is up to you. It is so hard to accept what Jesus has spoken, because it is so hard to accept the truth.

I sound like a broken record when I say this, but I will continue to repeat it as much as God allows me too. There is not one person, Male or Female, that has had an easy life in the Lord. Not one.

God would have used the afflictions and the trials for his good, for his purpose in their lives, but because they did not preserve his word in their hearts, they fell away. We see this with John Mark who is a relative of Barnabas.

This story is fantastic for us. It is fantastic for others. It is fantastic for the world! In the book of Acts 15:36-41, we see Paul and Barnabas go their separate ways. Not over anything they did to one another, but over a disciple by the name of John Mark.

The Apostle Paul wanted to go back and revisit some of the cities where he and Barnbas had preached to check on the well-being of the brethren. Barnabas thought this was a good idea, and wanted to bring John Mark along with them.

Paul disagreed. In fact, Paul would not budge off his position. So much so, he and Barnabas went their separate ways. Why was Paul so dead set against taking John Mark with them to minister to the brethren?

Well, we see earlier in Acts 13:13-14, that while John Mark was with Barnabas and Paul doing ministry, John Mark leaves them and heads back to Jerusalem. Much has happened prior to John Mark’s departure. We see a miracle being performed by Paul on a sorcerer while preaching to the Jews in the temple.

We see an intelligent man of influence by the name of Sergius Paulus who was a Govenor, believe in Christ. And when Paul and company head to Perga to preach some more, the Bible says John Mark decides to go back to Jerusalem.

The ministry work was not yet finished, but John Mark departed anyway. We found out later in verses 36-41 Acts ch.15, that John Marks departure was not a request from Paul or Barnabas.

John Mark did not proceed with them to finish the work, instead he retreated to the comforts of Jerusalem. Ministry, especially at those times, was dangerous work!  It was definitely uncomfortable, unprofitable economically, and it could cost you your freedom and your life. 

It was not financially profitable like it is today. True ministry is still not. But that is another discussion for another day.

This was a pivotal moment in John Mark’s life.

He heard the word, received it with gladness, believed, and when the affliction and persecution came for the words sake, he departed. Paul was done with John Mark at this point. But Barnabas wasn’t.

Paul gets so much praise for righting the new Testament. And rightfully so. He was the most powerful Apostle ever! He is who I look to for honest and direct doctrine. And he is by far my favorite Apostle if I can say that. But Paul could be critical. He could be, dare I say, harsh.

But oh how we need more people like Barnabas. He was willing to give John Mark a second chance. Barnabas was a man of second chances. In a strange but fitting way, Barnabas and Paul displayed the two sides of Christ. Divine judgement and grace. Jesus is all about second chances. He is about giving 500 hundred chances. He is about however many chances it takes for you to get it, to those that are called.

Honestly we need it. We wouldn’t make it if we only got a second chance. I blew my second chance decades ago. I blew my second chance when I was still in diapers. I needed ten thousand chances just this week! I need a Barnabas in my life. You need a Barnabas in your life.

Jesus is our Barnabas. He gives us a life full of second chances. You may not have been ready for the work then, but Jesus knows you’re ready for the work now. If you’re on your ten thousandth chance, then praise God.

If you’re on your twenty thousandth chance, then I got you all beat, because I’m on my one millionth chance! Paul said he is the greatest sinner he’s ever seen. Well Paul has never met me. He doesn’t know the things I thought, the things I’ve said, the things I intended, nor the things I stored up in my heart.

In my eyes I am the chief of all sins. If you don’t see yourself that way, then the word of God has not been preserved in your heart.

John Mark had changed, before Paul saw it. But when Paul was in prison, in 2 Timothy 4:11, he writes to Timothy and requests that he brings John Mark, he says “Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry”.

What Paul couldn’t see back then, he see’s now. While in his old age his physical sight was failing, his spiritual site was increasing. This is the fantastic news. Just because a person has walked away from the Gospel due to afflictions and trials, does not mean Jesus has walked away from them.

They can come back, because Jesus will never cease to pursue the ones he loves. He is the good shepherd. Every sheep is precious. Every life counts. Even those driven away due to affliction and persecution. Barnabas was praying for John Mark.

He tried to walk away, but came back. How many of you have tried to walk away, but came back. You left the work to go back to Jerusalem, back to your old life, but came back. You can keep going back to Jerusalem and keep coming back to Jesus your whole life, if that’s the life you want.

Or you can go to the work that he has called for you, and reclaim the privilege that he has given you, which is relationship. The ones who never return, are the ones whose hearts never preserved the word.

The ones that come back, are the one’s called by faith. That can’t stay away. Because Jesus is the good shepherd. And he lay down his life for one.

Abraham said “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked”?. And the Lord replied, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.”

It is my privilege to share the Gospel with you. It is my fortune. In part 3 of this sowing series, we look at the other type of person who here’s the word of God, but is swallowed up by the fowls of the air.

Stay safe. And as always I pray God keeps you. Until next time. Please leave in comments or questions below. God Bless you.