Mark 4
Again the Lord entered a ship and taught many things by parables.
He began with the parable of a sower who went forth to sow. Some of his seeds fell on the wayside and were devoured by the fowls. If the Word (the seed) sown in the heart is not valued, souls are drawn away by Satan. There is profession because the Word is sown in the heart, though there is no fruit.
Some seed fell on stony ground which immediately sprang up, but it was soon withered by the sun, having no root. Immediately they received the Word gladly, and because they had no root in themselves (repentance), they endured only for a time. When affliction or persecution arose for the Word's sake, they turned aside and so there was no fruit. Repentance forms the root.
Some fell among thorns and immediately the thorns growing up choked it. There was no fruit. How the thorns, the cares of this life, take up man's time so that he neglects the important things, the eternal things. Beside the cares, there are other thorns such as the pursuit of riches, an unequal yoke in business or marriage, and the lust of desire for other things.
Those who hear the Word and receive it in the heart and conscience bear fruit, some thirty, some sixty and some a hundredfold. The increase from thirty to sixty to one hundred is an encouragement for the servant to labor energetically so that there might be fruit to his account.
If man only knew the meaning of this parable and believed it, his soul would be saved from hell. One who is not interested will suffer eternal loss.
Testimony
A candle should be set on a candlestick. This speaks of testimony-being out and out for Christ. The candle should not be hid by our business (the bushel), nor should we be lazy (the bed) about our testimony.
There is nothing hid-the day will come when everything will be made known. We should take heed to what we hear and do, because we will receive again what we do and more will be added to it. If one does not value the Word of God in his heart, it is mere profession, and whatever he may seem to have spiritually will be taken away.
We little realize that the work in our souls is the work of the Holy Spirit. Day after day and night after night passes, finally the seed springs up and grows: the blade first, then the ear, and after that, the full corn in the ear. Such is the work of the Holy Spirit in our souls. When Jesus returns for the harvest, the fruit, or lack of it, will be seen.
Mustard Seed
The kingdom of God is likened to a grain of mustard seed which is smaller than other seeds. After sowing and growing, it turns out to be greater than all herbs, producing large branches (Christendom) for the birds of heaven (demons) to introduce evil doctrine into the Christian testimony. This answers to the great profession of Christianity which is without life, having given up the truth and turned to fables.
In public He spoke only by parables; alone with His disciples He explained their meaning.
The Ship in the Storm
Sending the multitudes away, Jesus was taken just as He was into the ship. Other little ships were also with Him. A great storm of wind arose, beating water into the ship until it was full. Being asleep on a pillow in the hinder part of the ship, Jesus was awakened by the disciples saying, "Master, carest Thou not that we perish?" Arising, He rebuked the wind, saying to the sea, "Peace, be still."
The other little ships no doubt weathered the storm because He was on the sea with them. However, they were not in the ship that He was in with His disciples.
When the wind ceased there was a great calm. One word from Him shows He is the Creator. Rebuking the disciples, Jesus said, "Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?" Today Jesus is just as interested in us as He was in the disciples in the boat.
Fearing greatly, they spoke together, "What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?" The fishermen knew that after a storm the waters would not be calm for hours. This to them was a great miracle, because the waters were immediately calm.
We cannot criticize the disciples when we surround ourselves with things that show that we do not trust the Lord. Can we not trust Him?