The Reason for the Parables.

       When HE was alone, the Twelve and HIS other companions aske HIM about the parables. HE told them, "To you has been granted knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of GOD, but to those outside, everything comes in parables, so that

       'they may look and see but not perceive,

          and hear and listen but fail to understand,

          lest they be converted and be forgiven.' "

GOSPEL OF MARK: CHAPTER 4, VERSES 10 - 12

The Parable of the Sower.

On another occasion HE began to teach by the side of the lake. However, such a large crowd gathered that HE got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while the whole crowd gathered on the shore facing the lake. Then HE taught them many things in parables.

       In the course of HIS teaching, HE said to them: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. As he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where there was little soil. It sprouted quickly, since the soil had no depth, but when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it lacked roots, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it produced no crop. But some seed fell onto rich soil and brought forth grain, increasing and yielding thirty, sixty, and a hundred times what was sown." HE then added, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

GOSPEL OF MARK: CHAPTER 4, VERSES 1 - 9

The True Family of JESUS.

       Then HIS mother and HIS brethren arrived, and, standing outside, they sent someone in to call HIM. A crowd was sitting around HIM, and they said, "Behold, YOUR mother and YOUR brethren are outside asking for YOU." HE replied, "Who are MY mother and MY brethren?" Then, looking around at those who were near HIM, HE said: "Behold, MY mother and MY brethren. Whoever does the will of GOD is MY brother and sister and mother."

GOSPEL OF MARK: CHAPTER 3, VERSES 31 - 35

The Blasphemy of the Scribes.

       Meanwhile, the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem said, "HE is possessed by Beelzebul," and "HE casts out demons by the prince of demons." Summoning them to HIM, HE spoke to them in parables, "How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot survive. And if a household is divided against itself, that household will not be able to survive. If Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot survive; he is doomed.

       "But no one can break into a strong man's house and steal his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man; then he can ransack the house.

       "Amen, I say to you, all sins that people commit and whatever blasphemies they utter will be forgiven. But whoever blasphemes against THE HOLY SPIRIT will not be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin." HE said this because they had claimed HE was possessed by an unclean spirit.

GOSPEL OF MARK: CHAPTER 3, VERSES 22 - 30

The Concern of JESUS' Relatives.

       JESUS then returned home, and once again such a great crowd collected around them that they did not even find it possible to eat. When HIS relatives heard about this, they went out to take charge of HIM, saying, "HE has gone out of HIS mind."

GOSPEL OF MARK: CHAPTER 3, VERSES 20 & 21

JESUS Establishes the Group of the Disciples.

       JESUS then went up onto the mountain and summoned those whom HE wanted, and they came to HIM. HE appointed twelve--whom HE also named apostles--that they might be HIS companions and that HE might send them out to proclaim the message, with the authority to drive out demons. The twelve HE appointed were: Simon, to whom HE gave the name Peter; James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom HE gave the name Boanerges, that is, "Sons of Thunder"; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus; Thaddaeus, Simon the zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed HIM.

GOSPEL OF MARK: CHAPTER 3, VERSES 13 - 19

Summary of the Activity of JESUS.

       Thereupon JESUS withdrew with HIS disciples to the lakeshore, and a great multitude of people from Galilee followed HIM. In addition, having heard of all HE was doing, large numbers also came to HIM from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and the region of Tyre and Sidon.

       HE instructed HIS disciples to have a small boat ready for HIM so that HE would not be crushed by the crowds. For HE had healed so many that all who were afflicted in any way came crowding around to touch HIM. And whenever unclean spirits saw HIM, they would fall at HIS feet and shout, "YOU are THE SON OF GOD." But HE strictly ordered them not to make HIM known.

GOSPEL OF MARK: CHAPTER 3, VERSES 7 - 12

A Man with a Withered Hand.

Again, JESUS entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. They watched HIM closely to see whether HE would cure him on the Sabbath so that they might accuse HIM.

       HE said to the man with the withered hand, "Come here." Then HE said to the onlookers, "Is it lawful to do good or to do evil on the Sabbath, to save life or to kill?" But they offered no reply. Looking at them with anger, HE was saddened at the hardness of their hearts, and HE said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. Then the Pharisees went out and immediately began to plot with the Herodians how they might put HIM to death.

GOSPEL OF MARK: CHAPTER 3, VERSES 1 - 6

Picking Grain on the Sabbath.

       One day, as JESUS was passing through a field of grain on the Sabbath, HIS disciples began to pick some heads of grain as they walked along. The Pharisees said to HIM, "Behold, why are YOUR disciples doing what is forbidden on the Sabbath?"

       HE answered, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? He entered the house of GOD when Abiathar was high priest and ate the sacred bread that only the priests were permitted to eat, and he shared it with his companions." Then HE said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. That is why THE SON OF MAN is LORD even of the Sabbath."

GOSPEL OF MARK: CHAPTER 2, VERSES 23 - 28

A Time of Joy and Grace.

       John's disciples and the Pharisees were observing a fast. Some people came to JESUS and asked, "Why do John's disciples and those of the Pharisees fast but YOUR disciples do not do so?" JESUS answered, "How can the wedding guests fast while THE BRIDEGROOM is still with them? As long as they have THE BRIDEGROOM with them, they cannot fast. But the time will come when THE BRIDEGROOM is taken away from them, and then on that day they will fast.

       "No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear results. Nor does anyone pour new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and then the wine and the skins are both lost. Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins."

GOSPEL OF MARK: CHAPTER 2, VERSES 18 - 22