Mark 4:33-34

Passage

Jesus spoke with many parables to the crowd, as they were able to hear them.  In fact, we are told that Jesus did not speak to the crowd without a parable.  He explained everything only to His own disciples privately.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

This set of verses always takes me to where I know people don’t want to go.  In our modern world we like to think “Jesus loves everyone equally.”  While on a certain shallow level that may be true – read John 3:16, which does say God loved all the world – the reality is that Jesus treats His disciples differently.  His disciples get special treatment as attested to by this verse.  Jesus does one thing around the crowd and He reserves something special for the disciples.

Do you agree that the witness of scripture is that Jesus treated His disciples differently?  How does this make you feel about God?  How does this challenge what you’ve typically seen growing up in church?

Second Thought:

Around the crowd, Jesus only taught in parables.  At first, we might think that Jesus was kind.  We might think that He was “helping them understand” by making analogies.  But remember what we studied back in Mark 4:10-12.  Also consider what Jesus does with His disciples.  The fact that it says “Jesus explained everything privately to His disciples” tells us that He didn’t explain everything to the crowds!  The parables weren’t a means of making the teaching easier at all!

Rather, here is what is happening.  Jesus teaches in parables to let the crowd sort themselves out.  Those who listen and don’t want to give the time just move on.  But those who are intrigued draw closer to Jesus. As they draw closer to Jesus, they draw closer to His teaching as well as His way of life.  Those who come for a “deeper understanding” are self-selecting and becoming His disciples.  In other words, the parables aren’t a means for making teaching easier; they are a means for separating out the potential future disciples from the rest of the crowd.

What do you think about Jesus’ use of parables?  Have you ever thought of a public speaker speaking to the “crowd” as someone who might be using a tool to allow disciples to choose to separate themselves from the crowd?  If this is true, how do you as a listener separate yourself from the crowd and become a disciple to those public speakers who are speaking truth into your life?

Third Thought:

Jesus explained everything privately to His disciples.  In fact, I love this description here.  The Greek phrase for privately is kata idian (κατ’ ἰδίαν) – which literally means “according to His own.”  Jesus knew who His disciples were: they were His own.  They were separate from the crowd; they were His own.  The ones who have declared that they will follow Jesus, listen to Him, humble themselves to Him, obey Him, be taught be Him – these are the ones to whom Jesus teaches everything.  Jesus is clear here.  In order to get the explanation in plain and certain terms, you must humble yourself and commit to following in a manner of discipleship.  Just being a part of the passing crowd is not enough.

Have you ever considered the difference between the crowd and the disciples?  What would it mean to you to be considered “one of Jesus’ own?”  What kind of expectations did Jesus make in order to truly receive such a designation?  Do you think such expectations are still true today?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 4:35-38