Mark 4 - 5, Matthew 8: 14 - 34 (15th October) - Junming

Mark 4-5

The parable of the sower - The four kinds of soil

1.Footpath
This talks about hard-hearted people. When God's word is sown, Satan immediately comes and take it away.

2.Rocky place
People who receive God's word but have shallow foundation, and they fall away immediately when trials come.

3.Thorny ground
People who are choked by too many issues concerning their lives, and as a result become unfruitful.

4.Good soil
People who receive God's word, accept it, and produce a crop. Multiplication

I believe many of us fall in the 3rd group. While we all love God, there are just too many distractions around us. Studies, work, hobbies, relationships.. Reflect on them. Is God glorified through them? Or is God at the backseat? Prioritise.

A lamp on a stand
Looking at it in the context of the previous parable, Jesus is the lamp. So when he comes into our lives, where do we put him? People in the 3rd group would be the ones to put him under the bed. Yes, Jesus is still in the room, but His light does not shine and brighten your room.

People in group 4 would put him on a stand, so that his light fills the room, such that even people from far away can see the bright and lighted room. God's word is meant to be disclosed to the world. And whoever works towards it will get his reward and more=) But whoever does not, what you have will be taken from you. Looks like there's only one choice no?

The parable of the growing seed
This parable talks about the mysterious power of the seed to grow by itself. Yes, it sprouts then it germinates, or vice-versa then it somehow grows. I didnt ace my biology. Hated it. But God created all those processes. There lies the similarity to His kingdom. Once sowed, it grows, as long as we water it. Then we harvest it when it is ripe. Those who wants to draw close to God but you just don't know how, start with getting close to His word. Commit yourself to reading and talking to Him. The seed will grow. Mysteriously.

The parable of the mustard seed
Everything starts small. But God will make a small seed grow into a huge tree, where it will provide shade and rest for your cat, the squirrels, some bats, many kinds of insects and soldiers training under a hot sun. If God has put something into your heart, do not think that a small step forward is insignificant. The first step is always the toughest, but with God, He's going to carry you the rest of the journey till you see fruits. And the creatures taking shade under you.

Jesus calming the storm
Reminds me of the verse Exo 14:14. ''The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.''
Jesus can calm any storms that you are going through. Just give them up to God.

The death of 2000 pigs
I always like this story. I see the funny side of how 2000 pigs just rushed themselves off a cliff into a river. Those who watched Ice Age, it reminds me of the Dodo birds. Ha. But Jesus drove out a legion of very powerful demons and probably tricked them into killing themselves. The villagers who saw it were probably fearful. A powerful man was in their midst, and he might kill the rest of the pigs in their land. So they plead with him to leave. If only they knew who he was. And the person who had been demon-possessed was instructed to tell of God's goodness back home, which he did. Those of us with unsaved families, please check your own behaviour at home. It is God's intention to save your family through you.

A dead girl and a sick woman
Jesus heals! By faith, claim his healing powers.

Matt 8:14-34

The passages are similar except for one which was not recorded in Mark

The cost of following Jesus
Reminds me of the parable of the sower. Those of us who truly want to follow Jesus, check your priorities. Everything else we do is for the glory of God. We cannot serve 2 masters. Nor can we serve 284352.93 masters, as some of us are doing. Do not crowd Jesus out with all the other commitments we have. Pick your commitments wisely.