Sermons on Mark (Page 2)
The word of God is always effective: it accomplishes what it intends. To the faithful, it reveals the kingdom of God. To the faithless, it further obscures the kingdom. Listen carefully to Pastor Tony as he helps illuminate what mysteries this parable holds for us today regarding the manner of the kingdom.
As we think about Christ’s church, what should we expect for her trouble and state? Should we expect her to diminish as the wicked world around us prospers? The answer is in the meaning of mystery: what was once hidden is meant to be revealed. We can look back to the promise to Abraham to receive the nations as his heritage and here we are in 2024, in Fort Wayne, IN, and we gentiles have our lives hidden in Christ. God is sovereign and we can trust his promise.
Why did the Kingdom of God appear to come powerlessly? If the kingdom is here, why does it appear so powerless? Why is it that so many people reject it? Why did the religious leaders of Christ’s time reject the kingdom? If the kingdom is here, why haven’t all our enemies been over thrown. Christ’s response to these questions is simple, yet profound: the sower sows a word.
In this sermon, Pastor Tony looks at why Jesus communicated through parables, why his message seemed to come without power, and when the promised punishment would come. Jesus used parables both to reveal secrets of the kingdom to those with faith, but also to conceal his meaning from unbelievers. The sermon focuses on what the Parable of the Sower reveals about the nature and reception of God’s kingdom.
As we come to this text, we see again, that Christ’s ministry and the coming of his kingdom forces a decision. We see two groups of people. One group, the crowds, believe the claims of Christ and they want to draw closer to him–they stand on the inside of the house with him. Second, there’s a group that stands on the outside. Their determination is that he’s insane, or not just that he’s insane, but that he’s evil. These are the very same questions this text forces on us.
Is he deity? Is he delusional? Or, is he a deceiver?
Take heed how you hear this word.
This section of Mark may sound merely routine–it’s just a list of names. God does not give his word with insignificant portions. The Holy Spirit, through Mark is very selective. Rather than just being filler, our text shows us nothing less than that Christ accomplishes the fulfilling of God’s promises. We find in this passage the nation’s re-creation, the calling of the nation, and the cost.