Mark 4:1–20 “Let Us Desire the Word”
The Word is Powerful.
The Word transforms our lives.
Let us desire the Word.
Today’s passage is known as the Parable of the Sower—or the story of the four kinds of soil.
Let’s look at it together from two perspectives.
1. Before believing in Jesus
Why did Jesus use a seed in this parable?
Because a seed has power. The power of life.
If you bury a diamond in the ground, nothing happens. But if you plant a seed, life begins. It sprouts, grows, and bears fruit.
Jesus is saying that His Word is like that seed—it carries the power of life.
Normally, farmers sow seed only in good soil. But this sower scattered seed everywhere—on the path, on rocky ground, among thorns, and on good soil.
Here we find grace.
In the world, no one wastes seed on bad ground. But our Lord does.
He throws His Word everywhere—because His grace reaches everyone.
The seed is the Word, and the Word is Jesus Himself.
The Word became flesh. The Living Word came down and became the Seed that fell to the ground and died.
John 12:24 says, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”
Jesus came for all. He died for all. On the cross, He became the sacrifice that reconciled us to God.
Through His death, He made us—sinners—into righteous ones.
He turned us—once hard paths, rocky and thorny fields—into good soil.
We could never make ourselves good soil.
No amount of good deeds or effort can make us righteous.
But Jesus, by His love and by His death, transformed us into good soil through the life-giving Word of the gospel.
2. After believing in Jesus
Even after becoming good soil, we may sometimes find our hearts like the path, the rocky ground, or the thorny field.
(1) The Path
The enemy comes and snatches the Word away.
Why can Satan take it so easily? Because it never entered the heart.
This was the case for the Pharisees and religious leaders who rejected Jesus Himself.
When your family or friends seem unable to receive the Word, we may not have all the answers. But we can pray. We can intercede.
(2) The Rocky Ground
These are people who gladly receive the Word but have no root.
They enjoy the sermon, they read the Bible—but the Word doesn’t go deep.
It’s like the disciples who saw the miracle of five loaves and two fish but didn’t yet know that Jesus was the Savior.
When hardship or persecution comes, they fall away.
But we must not judge them—we must pray that they truly experience the Word and find hope in it.
When the Word takes root deep inside, it gives strength to endure trials.
Then we can keep our eyes fixed on Jesus no matter what.
(3) The Thorny Ground
Here, the worries of the world, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things choke the Word.
Worry, greed, and desire block the work of the Word.
When worry comes, hold on to God’s promise: “Do not fear, for I am with you.”
When money tempts you, when the world tries to make you foolish, hold on to the eternal Christ.
When you know the better treasure, you can resist the lesser one.
Jesus shared this parable with a great crowd, but He explained it only to His disciples. Why?
Verse 11 says, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God.”
Jesus would make each of them into good soil. Through them—through His disciples, through His church—He would continue His work.
That’s why He explained it to them. He was saying:
“Through your obedience, through your service, through the seed of My Word, people will be saved. Hearts will become good soil. So hope. Don’t give up. Be strong.”
Maybe you’ve asked, “Why haven’t my family members or friends met the Lord yet?”
Jesus answers: “Have hope. Don’t give up. Keep sowing.”
Luke 8:15 says, “As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.”
Running towards the Lord's word is not by our strength and ability, but by the Holy Spirit. We must hold onto it firmly in faith, with the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, and endure.
We are called to look to the Lord, hope in the Lord, and cling to the Lord.
He will surely accomplish this work. I earnestly hope that we can become those who do.
