Give Me Jesus: Jesus as the Sower: Mark 4:1-20

I. Jesus Shows Us What is Going on Around Us vs. 1-12

A. Jesus has such a large crowd that He has to teach from a boat. There were many coming to faith in that crowd, while others were hardening their hearts.

B. All these “soils” were in the crowd.

C. Jesus tells this parable because those who believe will understand, while those who were coming to faith would understand, while others who were hardening their hearts would not understand.

Jeremiah 5:21 NASB95

‘Now hear this, O foolish and senseless people, Who have eyes but do not see; Who have ears but do not hear.

1 Corinthians 2:14–16 NASB95

But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

II. Jesus Tells Us What’s Going on Around Us vs. 13-20

A. The sower sows the word. This is in this case, Jesus. In other instances there are preachers, or regular Christians.

B. The roadside are those who hear the word, but Satan makes sure that they do not understand it, and that they are distracted.

2 Corinthians 4:3–4 NASB95

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

C. The rocky soil are those who have an emotional experience, but when hard times come, they fall away. They usually say things like “I’ve tried Christianity and it wasn’t for me” or “If Christianity is real then why did___ happen?

1 John 2:19 NASB95

They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.

D. The thorny soil are those who can look and often act the part, but something else was their real god. For some it’s money and careers. Others it’s family over God. (Prosperity gospel “believers” ex).

Matthew 7:22–23 NASB95

“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

E. Then there are those, to whom the gospel takes root, and slowly, but surely bear fruit. “The Christian life is one of trusting in Christ, struggling against sin and striving for the prize. There will be times of pruning, stagnation, and even regress. Yet over the full course of time, there will be advanced in sanctification and fruitfulness will be evident”- Paul Washer.

III. Jesus Gives Us a Command Concerning What’s Going Around Us: John 4:35-38

A. Jesus tells His disciples at another time, that there is a harvest around us, if we would go and gather it. We can’t sit down and wait for the harvest to bring itself in!

B. We must realize all those “soils” are here today, and outside, but we must call all to repentance and faith. (Duck call and decoy ex)

C. Sometimes you sow, sometimes you water, and other times you reap. But we must go.