Focus:
kjv@Revelation:14:12 @ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
(
FaithOfJesus thread begun by r
RandyP )
Today's Verse:
kjv@Mark:4:30-34
kjv@Mark:4:30 @ And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
kjv@Mark:4:31 @ 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:
kjv@Mark:4:32 @ But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.
kjv@Mark:4:33 @ And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.
kjv@Mark:4:34 @ But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
Today's notes:
Context:
- Before - Seed sown
- After - Why are ye so fearful
Key Concepts:
filter:NT-EPISTLES kingdom what the expounded to disciples expounded
What is God's righteousness observed doing?:
- comparing the kingdom to things we would commonly know of
- teaching in parable as we were able to hear it
- expounding on it privately to those that would carry the message forward
- the kingdom is sown in to the earth as a small word and grows to fruitfulness
What does this tell us about God's righteousness?:
- It is all His doing, the effect of His doing substantially more than what anyone of us in particular selfishly require. His doing is as large as what all righteousness requires.
- Righteousness exists in it's fullest form regardless of whether we are able to understand any of it at present. It presses in on us continuously so that we may know more and more about it as we are able.
- There may be good reason for Him not to expound on this any further publicly at present as He saw fit to secure it into a parable. What man might do with it or else that it would fall upon deaf ears must have been part of this equation.
How is man reacting?:
- (not mentioned unless the birds settled in the shadow of it are meant as certain men)
Notes:
The mustard seed is typically thought of as referring to faith, but here it is referring to His kingdom. Yes, faith is necessary to enter into the kingdom. The kingdom however is much more than just our minute faith. To have faith the size of a mustard seed then would be have faith in the size and substance of the kingdom as expounded. To have this faith with power to uproot a fruitless fig tree and plant it into the sea may suggest to use the authority given upon His kingdom to remove the unfruitful product of non-kingdom religious word/works. Faith it is said is the "substance" of things (kingdom?) to come.
Key Messages:
What does this say about our present condition?
- To be in it's shadow may not mean to be part of it. One could crave it's seed and rest in it's shadow and still remain detached from it. Others could also be able to judge it's growth and size, it's strength of substance by what else it is able to attract and support, yet it does not mean that those attracted nor those judging are included inside it's essence. Both could even be aware of and partake of and benefit by but yet not be entered into.
Further Resources:
Comment Board:Mark:4:30-34
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Mark:4:30-34 rwp@Mark:4:30-34 mhcc@Mark:4:30-34
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index