The 3 Parables Mark 4:21-34

-Jesus uses 3 different parables to explain spiritual principles to His disciples

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Understanding, Lack Of

Some of us are like Christopher Columbus when it comes to our understanding:

He didn’t know where he was going.

He didn’t know where he was when he got there.

He didn’t know where he had been when he returned.1443

I. The Parable of the Lamp vv. 21-25

Our passage tonight begins with the parable of the lamp, which gives light in dark places: It is an invitation to listen and receive the Word of God

The light of the lamp is an image for us of the Word of the Lord, the message of Good News proclaimed into the world

The light of the lamp exposes the truth:

It reveals hardened hearts

It reveals secret sins that we treasure

We need to pay attention, because this is what happens under the rule of Jesus: the truth comes out

How we respond to Jesus reveals who we are, whose we are, and what we will be

The more you receive the message of Jesus, the more of His Kingdom, His life, and His power you will receive

Likewise, the less of it we receive, we will lose even the little bit of it you have currently

This is the very serious danger that is before us: if we deny the truth that we see in the light, we are bound for destruction

However, if we live in accord with the light, we find life and blessing

750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers and Writers 384: Light

Bob Woods, in Pulpit Digest, tells the story of a couple who took their son, 11, and daughter, 7, to Carlsbad Caverns. As always, when the tour reached the deepest point in the cavern, the guide turned off all the lights to dramatize how completely dark and silent it is below the earth’s surface.

The little girl, suddenly enveloped in utter darkness, was frightened and began to cry.

Immediately was heard the voice of her brother: “Don’t cry. Somebody here knows how to turn on the lights.”

In a real sense, that is the message of the gospel: light is available, even when darkness seems overwhelming.

II. The Parable of the Sower vv. 26-29

In the second parable, we are invited to patiently wait on the Kingdom of God

The Kingdom is like a seed that is planted on the ground

It does not grow on the basis of the effort of the farmer, but on the work of God

It grows slowly, not suddenly and requires patience

It produces fruit when it is ready and we should be ready to harvest when the time has come

There are two dangers we have to avoid:

Impatience- God does not always bring the Kingdom in the time that we want

Micromanagement- God does not always bring the Kingdom in the way that we want

Our responsibility is to be ready to respond when it comes!

When He brings His authority to bear on a situation, we will be driven to a place of decision

In that moment, we will either obey or disobey, but until those moments come, we must be found faithful in the waiting.

1000 Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching God’s Patience

When Robert Ingersoll, the famous atheist, was lecturing, he once took out his watch and declared, “I will give God five minutes to strike me dead for the things I have said.” The minutes ticked off as he held the watch and waited. In about four-and-a-half minutes, some women began fainting, but nothing happened. When the five minutes were up, Ingersoll put the watch into his pocket. When that incident reached the ears of a certain preacher, Joseph Parker, he asked, “And did the gentleman think he could exhaust the patience of the Eternal God in five minutes?”

III. The Parable of the Seed vv. 30-34

In the final parable, we are invited to hope in the Kingdom of God

The Kingdom’s beginning can seem small and insignificant

Whatever this is, it doesn’t look like much of a Kingdom

However, God is working in profound ways all around us

What begins in small ways will become ultimately transformed and grow beyond what we can imagine

We are guilty of despising the day of small beginnings

However, in those small beginnings there are seeds of a greater hope to be fulfilled under the reign of Jesus

These lessons are there for those who will listen, but we have to be willing to listen to what the Lord says!

The story is told of Franklin Roosevelt, who often endured long receiving lines at the White House. He complained that no one really paid any attention to what was said. One day, during a reception, he decided to try an experiment. To each person who passed down the line and shook his hand, he murmured, "I murdered my grandmother this morning." The guests responded with phrases like, "Marvelous! Keep up the good work. We are proud of you. God bless you, sir." It was not till the end of the line, while greeting the ambassador from Bolivia, that his words were actually heard. Nonplussed, the ambassador leaned over and whispered, "I'm sure she had it coming."