Mark 4:21-41

“The King is coming!” Throughout history those words have evoked joy and fear. The fact that Jesus Christ, King of kings, is coming again, also brings joy or fear to hearers. Jesus announced His kingdom, but few of those to whom He preached believed. To those who believe, He reveals hidden truths…and He teaches them lessons for the journey.

Four Parables
The Lamp – Kingdom truth is not to be _______hidden__________!


The Measure – Your Kingdom understanding will _____grow_____!


The Seed – The Kingdom is growing toward a ____harvest_______!


The Mustard Seed – The Kingdom harvest will be ____great______!


An Encounter at Sea
Sleeping in a storm

Stilling the storm

Seeking for faith


Jesus and Jonah: Calming the Storms of Life

“Why are you so fearful?
How is it that you have no faith?”
Jesus, Mark 4:40

For Further Study

1. Mark records four parables in quick succession in the second half of Mark 4: Let’s look at them each briefly. These parables were all evidently spoken to Jesus’ closest followers alone (see 4:10). Different meanings are suggested for the parable of the lamp (21-23): 1) Jesus hid His message from some, but His followers would bring truth out in the open; 2) the light of Jesus’ teaching would bring the hidden motives of men’s hearts to light; 3) Jesus’ Kingdom is hidden now, but will be revealed in the future. What meaning do you see here? Why?

2. The parable of the measure (24-25) contains both a promise and a warning. If we hear and believe truth, what will God give us? If we hear but do not receive truth, what will God do? Read James 1:22-25. How do these two passages reflect each other?

3. The parables of the growing seed (26-29) and the mustard seed (30-32) both describe truth concerning the Kingdom of God. What does the parable of the growing seed illustrate? How can this help us when we don’t see fruit for our labors? What is the implicit promise in v29?

4. The parable of the mustard seed is famous, again dealing with the growth of the Kingdom of God. What is significant about a mustard seed – in contrast to the mustard tree? What implicitly is Jesus promising here? Compare His words in Matt. 16:18b.

5. Mark ties the telling of the parables together with the boat trip across Galilee by telling us that they occurred “the same day” (35). Of course, the storm made the disciples forget Jesus’ words, as they thought they were going to die. How did their experience, and Jesus calming the storm, relate to the parables? Focus especially on their words to Jesus (38), and Jesus’ words to them (40). Put yourself in the disciples’ place: What are you coming to realize? What are you feeling? How would this day change you?

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