THE MYSTERY OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD--MARK 4:11

THE MYSTERY OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

MARK 4:11

Mark 4:11, “And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:”

Introduction:

It is impossible to believe that Jesus was trying to prevent people from understanding Him and being reconciled with the Father, so we must take Mark’s forceful words to mean that Jesus used parables to provoke a crisis in the faith of the hearer.

The hearer had to enter into the stories to understand and thus were provoked to consider what Jesus was telling them through these stories.

I. “UNTO YOU IT IS GIVEN TO KNOW…”

A. The Mystery of His Will, Ephesians 1:9, “Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to HIS GOOD PLEASURE which he hath purposed in himself:”

1. He is NOT WILLING that any should PERISH, 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us–ward, NOT WILLING that any should PERISH, but that all should come to REPENTANCE.”

2. God has NO PLEASURE in the DEATH of the WICKED, but that he REPENT and LIVE, Ezekiel 33:11, “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have NO PLEASURE in the DEATH of the wicked; but that the wicked TURN from his way AND LIVE: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”

B. The mystery of FAITH, 1 Timothy 3:9, “Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.”

1. Faith = things to be BELIEVED:

a. That God is ABLE, Matthew 9:28, “And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, BELIEVE YE THAT I AM ABLE TO DO THIS? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.”

b. There is NO FEAR in faith, Mark 5:36, “As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto
the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.”

c. Prayer is INEFFECTIVE WITHOUT belief in results, Mark 11:24, “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, WHEN YE PRAY, BELIEVE that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”

2. The OBJECT of Faith – CHRIST, John 1:12, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that BELIEVE ON HIS NAME:”

a. Those who have BELIEVED on His Name KNOW that they HAVE eternal life, 1 John 5:13, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW THAT YE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

b. Jesus ASSURES US that WE are HIS CHOICE also, John 15:16, “He have not chosen me, but I HAVE CHOSEN YOU, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”

II. “UNTO THEM THAT ARE WITHOUT…”

A. These things were wrapped up in DARK SAYINGS or parables that were not understood, Luke 10:21-22, “In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. 22- All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.”

1. What makes us different is that we RECEIVED the Gospel and others did not, 1 Corinthians 4:7, “For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?”

2. Salvation is of the Lord, Jonah 2:9, “But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.”

B. “Many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see,” Luke 10:23-24, “And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: 24- For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which YE see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.”

C. Jesus speaks of the BLESSEDNESS of His disciples because they had RECEIVED the TRUTH, Matthew 5:13-16, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14- Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15- Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16- Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

D. Conversely, the UNBELIEVING HEARERS were CONDEMNED to experience the WRATH of God, John 3:36, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that BELIEVETH NOT the Son SHALL NOT SEE LIFE; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

CONCLUSION

The mystery of the Kingdom of God is a great study of how the Lord has dealt with men about their eternal destiny. We have only begun to study for the subject of God’s mercy and grace is vast.