So far in Mark's gospel we've seen so many different responses to Jesus that we might wonder, "How could people who've seen the same thing, heard the same words, and met the same person come away with so many different responses to him?" In Mark 4 Jesus begins a new phase of ministry, He begins to speak through parables. In this opening section of the chapter Jesus explains to his disciples why he is doing that, He tells one of the best-known parables and interprets it to them.

This parable not only explains why Jesus experienced so many different responses, but it tells us why God's Word may not be producing the same fruit in us as it is in other believers' lives.

Notes for this sermon can be found here.