Has it Grown

Mark 4:30 (KJV) And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?

Mark 4:31 (KJV) It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:

Another word picture of a “SEED.” The chapter started out with the sower going out to sow. Then we read about the growing seed, can’t stay a seed. Now a recap about a small seed that grows into a large tree.  Our faith in Christ Jesus starts out so small but it shouldn’t stay small, why? Because of the storms of this life that will come. It would be nice if after we accepted Christ as our savior there would never be any more problems.  But that’s not the case, problems do come and we are about to read of such a storm that’s  about to come into these disciples' lives and shake their world. Well the question is not for these disciples, the question is for each of us. What have we done with the mustard seed? Has it grown? Is it growing? Do we want it to grow? Really, is it that important? My question is how will you handle the storms of this life? This day in these disciples life is about to change. Just like it does in our life. All is going great, why it wasn’t but just a little while ago you told somebody that asked you “how is life treating you.” You responded “if it were any better I would be twins.” Watch out  verse 35 says the same day!

Mark chapter 4 starts off with teaching by the sea side and ends that evening. Remember Jesus is teaching leaders, oh these men may not see themselves as leaders but Jesus has already seen them as such. Remember back on July 26  I wrote about what Vince Lombardi said: "Leaders aren't born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work." Jesus had been teaching, now the question is have these men been learning? The only way for these men to know is to be tested on what they had been taught. 

Mark 4:35 (KJV) And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. This didn’t seem like much of a test but these men are about to be tested on Fear and Faith.  They get into a ship, they should have felt comfortable or at least some of them should. We know Peter, Andrew, James and John had spent most of their lives on a ship fishing for a living. It may have seemed like a nice evening. The half moon and the stars were shining, the wind blew softly across these men’s faces. Jesus had laid down and went to sleep.  What a nice night to sail. But it wasn’t long before nice became awful and danger turned into fear because things were way out of control.  Mark 4:37 (KJV) And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. The waves, The wind and The water were all they could see. This moment in time fear had overtaken their faith. Hold on, let's stop and remember the first thing Jesus said before this journey started.  

Mark 4:35 (KJV) And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. These disciples weren't paying attention to the other side; all they saw was doom and death. All while Jesus was sleeping and trusting in His Word. Remember what was first taught. Mark 4:13 (KJV) And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

Mark 4:14 (KJV) The sower soweth the word.. There’s the key “the word” what was the Word “he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side” 🙋🏽Question? We’re they on the other side yet? No they were not! God's Word has power to be planted in the heart, to grow and to mature. So what happened? What did Jesus have to say to these men? Had this been a test on paper ❌ F 

Mark 4:40 (KJV) And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

Don’t be so hard on these men for we all face these moments in life. Have you ever said Why Me? Maybe not but you thought it. We must never forget God’s Word.  Hebrews 13:5 (KJV) Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Well what about these men on such a horrifying night? Jesus never left them in the storm and Jesus kept His Word. “Let us pass over unto the other side.”

Mark 5:1 (KJV) And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.