A SPIRITUAL EKG

“Again He began to teach by the sea, and a very large crowd gathered around Him. So He got into a boat on the sea and sat down, while the whole crowd was on the shore facing the sea. He taught them many things in parables, and in His teaching He said to them:…

He would speak the word to them with many parables like these, as they were able to understand. And He did not speak to them without a parable. Privately, however, He would explain everything to His own disciples.” (Mark 4:1-2; 33-34)

Each year when I have my physical, they hook a bunch of wires to my chest, that connect to a machine to help determine the condition of my heart. It is called an EKG, from the German “elektrokardiogramm,” which we have anglicized to “electrocardiogram.” It is a test that measures the electrical activity of the heartbeat. It is used to help determine heart health and detect heart problems.

What is the condition of your heart? I mean—spiritually?

There is a spiritual EKG that the Great Physician, Jesus Christ, administered to His patients. It is called a “parable.” This brought a diagnosis of the heart—was it a true heart of faith or a wicked heart of unbelief? In fact, in Luke’s account that additional thought is stated: “But the seed in the good ground — these are the ones who having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring, bear fruit.” (Lk.8:15)

The word parable is a composite term from two words: para—beside (as in parallel) and balle—to throw (as in ball, an object thrown). So, parables are earthly illustrations with eternal implications—a human analogy which has a corresponding heavenly application.

The parable did not so much result in heart health, as it revealed heart health. If the heart was right with God, the hearer would receive the truth and if the heart was resistant to God the hearer would reject the truth.

But these parables—as in all of the teaching of truth—meant that one’s spiritual heart condition would not stay the same. Once insight is obtained, even more understanding is shared—and the heart gets healthier. Where insight is obscured, even less understanding is secured—and the heart grows harder. So, Jesus said in the context of His parabolic teaching,

“If anyone has ears to hear, he should listen!” Then He said to them, ‘Pay attention to what you hear. By the measure you use, it will be measured and added to you. For to the one who has, it will be given, and from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.’” (Mark 4:23-25)

The Word of God ALWAYS makes a difference. God’s unfailing promise is this:

“For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return there without saturating the earth and making it germinate and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, so My word that comes from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.” (Isa.55:10-11)

Every Sunday 100% of those who hear me respond to the message and leave differently than they entered the sanctuary. Some are more conformed to the Word and some are more callused by the Word, but all are changed by the Word—for good or for bad.

The impact of the message is stated this way:

“When He was alone with the Twelve, those who were around Him asked Him about the parables. He answered them, ‘The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those outside, everything comes in parables so that they may look and look, yet not perceive; they may listen and listen, yet not understand; otherwise, they might turn back —and be forgiven.’” (Mark 4:10-12)

A surface reading of these verses might make it seem that Jesus didn’t want people to be saved. Yet, that was His purpose in coming into this world! The problem was that a number of people had come into proximity of the Gospel without becoming partakers of the Gospel. Of the multitudes that were coming close to Jesus, a relative few were actually connecting with Him. Even among the twelve closest, one was a charlatan. Weeds were sown among the wheat by Satan the enemy and the leaven of sin would be placed in the lump of dough. Bad fish would be pulled in by the same Gospel net that gathered the good ones—and would have to be sorted out in the end. Matthew shares this in his record of the parable:

“‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while people were sleeping, his enemy came, sowed weeds among the wheat, and left. When the plants sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds also appeared. The landowner’s slaves came to him and said, “Master, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Then where did the weeds come from? “ “An enemy did this!” he told them.’ “So, do you want us to go and gather them up?” the slaves asked him.’ “No,” he said. “When you gather up the weeds, you might also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I’ll tell the reapers: Gather the weeds first and tie them in bundles to burn them, but store the wheat in my barn.”’” (Matt.13:24-30)

“Then He dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples approached Him and said, ‘Explain the parable of the weeds in the field to us.’ He replied: ‘The One who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world; and the good seed — these are the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Therefore, just as the weeds are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather from His kingdom everything that causes sin and those guilty of lawlessness. They will throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Anyone who has ears should listen!’” (Matt.13:36-43)

“He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into 50 pounds of flour until it spread through all of it.’” (Matt.13:33)

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a large net thrown into the sea. It collected every kind of fish, and when it was full, they dragged it ashore, sat down, and gathered the good fish into containers, but threw out the worthless ones. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out, separate the evil people from the righteous, and throw them into the blazing furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matt.13:47-50)

Those who were genuine converts would be initiated into the secrets of the Kingdom. Those who were false confessors would walk away. They didn’t get it.

“Therefore, when many of His disciples heard this, they said, ‘This teaching is hard! Who can accept it?’ Jesus, knowing in Himself that His disciples were complaining about this, asked them, ‘Does this offend you? Then what if you were to observe the Son of Man ascending to where He was before? The Spirit is the One who gives life. The flesh doesn’t help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. But there are some among you who don’t believe.’ (For Jesus knew from the beginning
those who would not believe and the one who would betray Him.) He said, ‘This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless it is granted to him by the Father.’

From that moment many of His disciples turned back and no longer accompanied Him. Therefore Jesus said to the Twelve, ‘You don’t want to go away too, do you?’

Simon Peter answered, ‘Lord, who will we go to? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that You are the Holy One of God!’

Jesus replied to them, ‘Didn’t I choose you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is the Devil!’ He was referring to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, one of the Twelve, because he was going to betray Him.” (John 6:60-71)

The messianic kingdom was being offered to Israel and they were rejecting it. Religious leaders already branded Jesus as of the devil. Thus, Jesus will explain the mystery form of the kingdom—what would happen in between the time of the Kingdom Israel refused when Christ came the first time and the Kingdom they will receive when He comes the second time. The messianic kingdom of Old Testament prophecy will be set aside temporarily and the kingdom would develop in its mystery form—a hidden truth now revealed.

These parables focus on the Kingdom of God. Each of them deals with some facet of kingdom growth. You have to be in the Kingdom to grasp the message of the Kingdom.

Do you have ears to hear? Let’s see what we can learn.

The first parable is about SOWING THE GOSPEL SEED.

“Again He began to teach by the sea, and a very large crowd gathered around Him. So He got into a boat on the sea and sat down, while the whole crowd was on the shore facing the sea. He taught them many things in parables, and in His teaching He said to them: ‘Listen! Consider the sower who went out to sow. As he sowed, this occurred: Some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn’t have much soil, and it sprang up right away, since it didn’t have deep soil. When the sun came up, it was scorched, and since it didn’t have a root, it withered. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it didn’t produce a crop. Still others fell on good ground and produced a crop that increased 30, 60, and 100 times what was sown.’ Then He said, ‘Anyone who has ears to hear should listen!’ When He was alone with the Twelve, those who were around Him asked Him about the parables. He answered them, ‘The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those outside, everything comes in parables so that they may look and look, yet not perceive; they may listen and listen, yet not understand; otherwise, they might turn back —and be forgiven.’ Then He said to them: ‘Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any of the parables? The sower sows the word. These are the ones along the path where the word is sown: when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, immediately they receive it with joy. But they have no root in themselves; they are short-lived. When pressure or persecution comes because of the word, they immediately stumble. Others are sown among thorns; these are the ones who hear the word, but the worries of this age, the seduction of wealth, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But the ones sown on good ground are those who hear the word, welcome it, and produce a crop: 30, 60, and 100 times what was sown’” (Mark 4:1-20)

This has often been referred to as the parable of the sower, but it might also be called the parable of the soils. The state of the soil symbolizes the state of the soul. There are those who are stone-hard soil that the Word of God cannot affect, like the packed dirt alongside the garden where the farmer walks. Seed falls, never penetrates and the Devil swoops in like a bird and devours the Gospel seed before it makes any difference. Then there are those like the shallow soil where there is an emotional response, but no root in grace to sustain them, and thus no fruit from grace to save them. A third fruitless soil is that which is strangled by weeds—the things of this world choke out the potential life. Only those who bear fruit are good soil. These are the spiritual soil.

The church’s business is to sow the Gospel seed—and the more that is sown, the more that will be reaped. God’s business is to determine the state of the soil. He is the Sovereign in election and we are the servants in evangelism.

It should be evident from this and, indeed, all the parables that the world will not be won to Christ. There will be a great blood-washed throng in heaven, of course. But compared with the billions and billions of people who have lived, only a small number proportionately will be saved. Jesus said, “How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it. “ (Matt.7:14) And He stressed, “For many are invited, but few are chosen.” (Matt.22:14)

The second parable in Mark chapter four is about SHINING THE GOSPEL LIGHT.

“He also said to them, ‘Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn’t it to be put on a lampstand? For nothing is concealed except to be revealed, and nothing hidden except to come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, he should listen!’ Then He said to them, ‘Pay attention to what you hear. By the measure you use, it will be measured and added to you. For to the one who has, it will be given, and from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.” (Mark 4:.21-25)

Jesus uses the analogy of an oil lamp as the Gospel witness. A lamp is meant to shine. It must be fueled and ignited. It mustn’t be hidden. Are we letting out light shine into the darkness of this world?

People are then responsible for what they hear. They can come to the light or try to hide from its brightness. The more light people are willing to seek, the more illumination of Divine truth they receive. Those who reject that small light will go into greater darkness—and to continue in that path will lead to outer darkness. To shut your eyes to the truth is to remain blind to its light and to stop your ears to the truth is to remain deaf to its message. Such lose even the limited understanding they did have.

The third parable is the only one unique to Mark’s Gospel. It is one about STORING THE GOSPEL CROP.

““The kingdom of God is like this,’ He said. ‘A man scatters seed on the ground; he sleeps and rises—night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows — he doesn’t know how. The soil produces a crop by itself — first the blade, then the head, and then the ripe grain on the head. But as soon as the crop is ready, he sends for the sickle, because the harvest has come.’” (Mark 4:26-29)

This parable takes up where the parable of the sower leaves off. Here we observe how the good seed grows. The Gospel seed is sown in a person’s life. That seed has life in it and will grow in those who receive it. There is gradual growth—sometimes it seems so slow—but it is there nonetheless. There is a crop produced—real evidence of life—in varying degrees of fruitfulness, nevertheless, no complete barrenness. This fruit if the fruit of the Spirit (Gal.5:22-23). We become more like Jesus.

This is God’s work in people’s lives in bringing them into the kingdom and extending that kingdom influence in them and through them. When the bride of Christ is complete, Christ is coming for her—the harvest occurs. We do not know when Jesus is coming back, but we know when the last soul is won to faith that completes the church—and God knows that number—the rapture occurs. What an incentive for evangelism! None of the fruit will be lost—all of God’s redeemed will be gathered into His granary in glory.

But, we will have a struggle on our hands, as related in a parable about SUSTAINING THE GOSPEL TRUTH.

“And He said: ‘How can we illustrate the kingdom of God, or what can we use to describe it? It’s like a mustard seed that, when sown in the soil, is smaller than all the seeds on the ground. And when sown, it comes up and grows taller than all the vegetables, and produces large branches, so that the birds of the sky can nest in its shade.” (Mark 4:30-34)

This has often been interpreted as meaning the church will grow from a small start to become a mighty movement. Yet, wouldn’t this run contrary to the parable of the sower, and other teaching in the Word of God about the course of the kingdom—that is Christendom—where there is the true church, but also this organized ecclesiastical system that is apostate?

Jesus said that as it was in the days of Noah and Lot so it would be in the days of His return (Luke 17:26 ff) and asking, “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find that faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8b) Christ called His followers a “little flock.” (Luke 12:32). Paul wrote of a great falling away (2 Thess.2:3 and 2 Tim.3:1); Peter and Jude describe the last days as a time of scoffers and heretics abounding. Revelation shows seven churches representing seven periods of church history, that culminates with Laodecia—a church that is vomited out of God’s mouth. This is the downgrade of Christendom which we see accelerating today.

In the Lord’s parable of the mustard seed, we see how the seed grows into something abnormal and provides a nesting place for birds (which if consistent with the earlier parable, Jesus explained as symbolizing Satan’s activity).

Christendom began as a small movement and grew during the Apostolic era. Then it became wed to Rome in an unholy alliance of paganism and Christianity; the church became a worldly power. This apostate church will become the one-world religious system of the end times—the great harlot, Mystery Babylon (read Rev.17)

Yet, always God has a people—those who have received Christ by faith, born from above by His Spirit. Sometimes we are denser than we should be, yet Christ is faithful to develop us. Look how He patiently taught the disciples here. We might be slow to learn, but we are sure to grow, for it is the Spirit’s job to instruct us.

“Children, it is the last hour. And as you have heard, ‘Antichrist is coming,’ even now many antichrists have come. We know from this that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belongs to us.

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you have knowledge. I have not written to you because you don’t know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie comes from the truth. Who is the liar, if not the one who denies that Jesus is the Messiah? This one is the antichrist: the one who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son can have the Father; he who confesses the Son has the Father as well.

What you have heard from the beginning must remain in you. If what you have heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the and in the Father. And this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal life. I have written these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.

The anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you don’t need anyone to teach you. Instead, His anointing teaches you about all things and is true and is not a lie; just as He has taught you, remain in Him.” (1 John 2:18-27)

In these days when so many are diluting the truth and departing from faith, the true church will stand on the Word and sustain the Gospel in its purity.