The Key

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MARK

THE KEY

Mark 4:13-20

13 Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14 The farmer sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop — thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown." 

NIV

The explanation of the parable as plain and simple as it can be is want we are faced with here. Since we have already examined the truth of this parable during the narrative of the parable, mainly due to us understanding it, we really need not seek more or a different truth in the explanation. However there is the question which Jesus asks. How are we to understand any parable? He is giving us the key to understanding what the Kingdom of God is like. If we are to be citizens of the Kingdom of God rather than of this world then it would make perfect sense we should know how our country runs.  When we were children we were supposed to learn how this country we currently reside in operates, it form of government, it type of economy, and its social structure. Now that we are children of God and citizens of His Kingdom we should learn how it operates, it form of government, it type of economy and it social structure. Jesus teaches all of that within many parables he tells. If we understand the key then we can learn all we must know about how we are to live within His kingdom. Of course we have a lot of help from some of the Apostles in further explanations that seem to be greater detail, but the fact remains all the truth we need to know about the Kingdom of God is in the words of Jesus. It is true that some of our behaviors need more attention, but if we what to know about where we live, listen to Jesus. Yes we still live in the world, but we are not supposed to live of, or like the world. We are supposed to live as if we are already living in the Kingdom of God, which in fact we are, because Jesus said the kingdom is already here. So we need the key to understand about our world, the place of our citizenship, the place of our rebirth place, the place of our inheritance. Understanding this parable gives us that key which opens the door to our mind, our soul, our spirit.