How The Growing Seed Parables Of The Gospel Of Mark
Introduction
The Gospel of Mark begins, "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God" (1.1). Those opening remarks clearly state the purpose behind the entire composition, a narrative of the good news of the life, death, burial, and resurrection of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Mark is the only writer that records the parables of the "Growing Seed" and "Mustard Seed". These parables were utilized to reveal that the kingdom of God will encounter amazing growth, by God's sovereign hand. Jesus used these seed parables, drawing an analogy from farming, to illuminate the point that salvation is dependent upon God. Only God can provide the necessary ingredients for the transformational process from a dead, …show more content…
dormant seed, to a living, flourishing, productive plant.
The power of one’s evangelistic effort comes from when there is a harvest and that there is a dual aspect of divine authority and human responsibility and thus man must be faithful and leave the results up to God, trusting in His sovereignty.
Literary Context
The traditional view is that Mark was written for a Gentile audience, as opposed to a Jewish audience like the Gospel of Matthew.
This is evidenced through Mark's translation of Aramaic terms for the readers (3:17; 5:41; 7:11; 7:34; 10:46; 14:36; 15:22; 15:34). Mark also explained Jewish customs (7:3-4; 14:12; 15;42) which would be considered unnecessary had the audience been Jewish. In this writing Mark omitted the lengthy Jewish genealogies found in Matthew and Luke. Time calculations are given in accordance to the Roman system (6:48-fourth watch; 13:35-third watch), which also supports this Gospel being written to the believers in Rome. A Roman audience also supported using Latin expressions, as opposed to Greek (5:9-Legion; 6:27-John’s; 12:15–denarius; 12:42-penny; 15:16–governor’s headquarters, …show more content…
battalion;).
The Gospel of Mark is written in the form of a theological narrative, not to be confused with narrative theology. When compared to the other Gospels, Mark omitted sizable portions of discourse, fashioning a more concise narrative of the message of Mark, that is "the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God" (1:1). In chapter 4 of Mark, Jesus taught using parables, some with agrarian references, which would relate to everyday life for the first century church. These parables were narrative teaching aids used by Jesus, to illuminate a deeper truth. Interpreting a parable can present challenges. In some cases, Jesus ensured the parable interpretation was understood by explaining it Himself. Others are left for the reader to interpret, along with divine assistance, utilizing the context of the passage and other scripture. Authorship
The author of the Gospel of Mark is not identified in the text, as is the case with all the gospels. Evidence strongly supports John Mark as the author, which has been unanimously affirmed by the early church fathers. Father Papias of Hieropolis in his writings around 95-140 A.D. describes a close relationship between Mark and Peter, citing the content of the Gospel of Mark was mostly sermons of Peter. Papias' explanation regarding the authorship of the Gospel of Mark is considered acceptable evidence, in that his account occurred early in church history, is well informed and has no competing traditions. Others in the early church suggest equivalently that Mark was writing the memoirs of Peter or documenting the sermons of Peter.
Meaning of the Growing Seed and the Mustard Seed Parables
The parable of the growing seed is a compliment and extension to the parable of the soils taught by Jesus in Mark 4:1-9. Likewise, the parable of the mustard seed acts as a compliment to the growing seed parable. The growing seed parable displays the growth of the kingdom of God along with the obedience and dependence of the sower upon the preparation of the soil. The mustard seed exhibits the growth of the kingdom of God as a part of the process described in the preceding parables.
After Jesus taught the soils parable from the Sea of Galilee, He inquired of the disciples if they understood the teaching.
Discerning their answer Jesus questioned “how then will you understand all the parables” (4:13)? Understanding the soils parable was critical for the disciples to interpret the other parables Jesus was about to teach. Jesus persisted in his teaching as he interpreted the meaning of the soils parable (4:14-20), which would later promote discernment amongst the disciples. It is incumbent upon us to gain an understanding of the parable of the soils, to illuminate the true meaning of the growing seed and mustard seed
parables.
The Kingdom of God
Jesus employed the use of an agrarian analogy throughout these parables in Mark 4 to illustrate his teaching regarding the kingdom of God. Both the parable of the growing seed and the parable of the mustard seed begin by Jesus pronouncing, “The kingdom of God” (4:26, 30). Throughout the ministry of Jesus, He pronounced the “reign of God” was drawing near. It is Jesus’ intent through the parables to provide the listener with a glimpse into this kingdom. In the soils parable Jesus provided interpretations to key aspects of the parable. Interestingly, He did not specifically identify the meaning of “kingdom of God”. With no definitive answer provided discussion prevails between probable explanations.
Earlier in the book of Mark, Jesus came to Galilee “preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God” stating “the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” (1:14-15). Jesus was proclaiming the kingdom of God is here, salvation in and through Him. It is reasonable to conclude this teaching resonated with the disciples and there was no need to repeat the meaning in the soils parable. One also finds when Jesus was teaching, and the Pharisees inquired of Him when the kingdom of God would come, He proclaimed, “the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21). Based on the Scripture one should conclude the “kingdom of God” referenced in these parables is a reference to the spreading of the gospel and salvation through Jesus Christ for those who believe. This is supported by the mustard seed parable and its comparison to the “kingdom of God” (4:30). The mustard seed comes from humble beginnings, being the one of the smallest seeds know to the original audience of the parable, nevertheless when it grows it “becomes the greatest of all the shrubs”. The advancement of the gospel in the growing seed parable will continue through time, until the “kingdom of God” has grown like the mighty mustard seed. Jesus began with the soils parable describing the good soil and expanded the understanding by including the seed parables showing what it would be like in the final days. As part of Jesus’ first advent He began revealing the “kingdom of God” and will come again at the second advent to “establish His glorious kingdom”. The growth of the kingdom began as a small seed, but will grow and grow, impacting generation after generation into eternity.
The Gospel of Mark begins, "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God" (1.1). Those opening remarks clearly state the purpose behind the entire composition, a narrative of the good news of the life, death, burial, and resurrection of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Mark is the only writer that records the parables of the "Growing Seed" and "Mustard Seed". These parables were utilized to reveal that the kingdom of God will encounter amazing growth, by God's sovereign hand. Jesus used these seed parables, drawing an analogy from farming, to illuminate the point that salvation is dependent upon God. Only God can provide the necessary ingredients for the transformational process from a dead, …show more content…
dormant seed, to a living, flourishing, productive plant.
The power of one’s evangelistic effort comes from when there is a harvest and that there is a dual aspect of divine authority and human responsibility and thus man must be faithful and leave the results up to God, trusting in His sovereignty.
Literary Context
The traditional view is that Mark was written for a Gentile audience, as opposed to a Jewish audience like the Gospel of Matthew.
This is evidenced through Mark's translation of Aramaic terms for the readers (3:17; 5:41; 7:11; 7:34; 10:46; 14:36; 15:22; 15:34). Mark also explained Jewish customs (7:3-4; 14:12; 15;42) which would be considered unnecessary had the audience been Jewish. In this writing Mark omitted the lengthy Jewish genealogies found in Matthew and Luke. Time calculations are given in accordance to the Roman system (6:48-fourth watch; 13:35-third watch), which also supports this Gospel being written to the believers in Rome. A Roman audience also supported using Latin expressions, as opposed to Greek (5:9-Legion; 6:27-John’s; 12:15–denarius; 12:42-penny; 15:16–governor’s headquarters, …show more content…
battalion;).
The Gospel of Mark is written in the form of a theological narrative, not to be confused with narrative theology. When compared to the other Gospels, Mark omitted sizable portions of discourse, fashioning a more concise narrative of the message of Mark, that is "the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God" (1:1). In chapter 4 of Mark, Jesus taught using parables, some with agrarian references, which would relate to everyday life for the first century church. These parables were narrative teaching aids used by Jesus, to illuminate a deeper truth. Interpreting a parable can present challenges. In some cases, Jesus ensured the parable interpretation was understood by explaining it Himself. Others are left for the reader to interpret, along with divine assistance, utilizing the context of the passage and other scripture. Authorship
The author of the Gospel of Mark is not identified in the text, as is the case with all the gospels. Evidence strongly supports John Mark as the author, which has been unanimously affirmed by the early church fathers. Father Papias of Hieropolis in his writings around 95-140 A.D. describes a close relationship between Mark and Peter, citing the content of the Gospel of Mark was mostly sermons of Peter. Papias' explanation regarding the authorship of the Gospel of Mark is considered acceptable evidence, in that his account occurred early in church history, is well informed and has no competing traditions. Others in the early church suggest equivalently that Mark was writing the memoirs of Peter or documenting the sermons of Peter.
Meaning of the Growing Seed and the Mustard Seed Parables
The parable of the growing seed is a compliment and extension to the parable of the soils taught by Jesus in Mark 4:1-9. Likewise, the parable of the mustard seed acts as a compliment to the growing seed parable. The growing seed parable displays the growth of the kingdom of God along with the obedience and dependence of the sower upon the preparation of the soil. The mustard seed exhibits the growth of the kingdom of God as a part of the process described in the preceding parables.
After Jesus taught the soils parable from the Sea of Galilee, He inquired of the disciples if they understood the teaching.
Discerning their answer Jesus questioned “how then will you understand all the parables” (4:13)? Understanding the soils parable was critical for the disciples to interpret the other parables Jesus was about to teach. Jesus persisted in his teaching as he interpreted the meaning of the soils parable (4:14-20), which would later promote discernment amongst the disciples. It is incumbent upon us to gain an understanding of the parable of the soils, to illuminate the true meaning of the growing seed and mustard seed
parables.
The Kingdom of God
Jesus employed the use of an agrarian analogy throughout these parables in Mark 4 to illustrate his teaching regarding the kingdom of God. Both the parable of the growing seed and the parable of the mustard seed begin by Jesus pronouncing, “The kingdom of God” (4:26, 30). Throughout the ministry of Jesus, He pronounced the “reign of God” was drawing near. It is Jesus’ intent through the parables to provide the listener with a glimpse into this kingdom. In the soils parable Jesus provided interpretations to key aspects of the parable. Interestingly, He did not specifically identify the meaning of “kingdom of God”. With no definitive answer provided discussion prevails between probable explanations.
Earlier in the book of Mark, Jesus came to Galilee “preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God” stating “the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” (1:14-15). Jesus was proclaiming the kingdom of God is here, salvation in and through Him. It is reasonable to conclude this teaching resonated with the disciples and there was no need to repeat the meaning in the soils parable. One also finds when Jesus was teaching, and the Pharisees inquired of Him when the kingdom of God would come, He proclaimed, “the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21). Based on the Scripture one should conclude the “kingdom of God” referenced in these parables is a reference to the spreading of the gospel and salvation through Jesus Christ for those who believe. This is supported by the mustard seed parable and its comparison to the “kingdom of God” (4:30). The mustard seed comes from humble beginnings, being the one of the smallest seeds know to the original audience of the parable, nevertheless when it grows it “becomes the greatest of all the shrubs”. The advancement of the gospel in the growing seed parable will continue through time, until the “kingdom of God” has grown like the mighty mustard seed. Jesus began with the soils parable describing the good soil and expanded the understanding by including the seed parables showing what it would be like in the final days. As part of Jesus’ first advent He began revealing the “kingdom of God” and will come again at the second advent to “establish His glorious kingdom”. The growth of the kingdom began as a small seed, but will grow and grow, impacting generation after generation into eternity.