'Shoulder Of The Road'

Are you like me? Once I have something figured out an idea I don't want to do anything to it? I like putting it in a 'cubbie hole' and leaving it there till I need it.

So if you are like me, then you may struggle with this parable in Mark 4 like I am. I MUST take this 'figured out' parable out of the 'cubbie hole', think it through AGAIN, and then RE-CONSIDER my conclusions.

This code talk about soil quality has been familiar since childhood. I have spend most of my studies and sermons on either Matthew's or Luke's account. But studying Mark's chapter 4 version has forced at least 3 changes in my thinking about the first of the soils.

The first change deals with where the seed goes. I read several versions like NKJV, KJV, NASB, NIV, Youngs Literal Translation., The Message, Easy To Read V., and others. The translations (or paraphrases) differed as to where the seed went. So, I used a Greek interlinear bible with translation abilities. It has a neat word ("PARA") meaning beside or near. The seed fell NEAR / BESIDE THE ROAD. 

For years I considered these folks to not have the ability or opportunity to be responsive to God's word. They were the highway, so hard packed, like pavement or concrete, that God's powerful message COULD NOT GET IN. 

But Mark records this as being the 'shoulder of the highway', a notable difference. Some highway shoulders, in Arkansas at least, have grass flourishing through the asphalt. These people are reachable. God's word is getting in. It says "when they hear..." Rom. 10:17 says this is the beginning point for faith. I am rethinking their possibilities.

The second point being reconsidered is based on "akouswsin", to hear. This word, sounding much like "accoustics", includes the hearing of sound. Generally, it means more. It includes "perceiving", "considering what is being / has been heard, and "comprehending" a thought.

These meanings carry heavyweight implications. This implies a PERCEIVING the word (seed) as being from God. COMPREHENSION is present. They CONSIDER what is being heard. God' word is at work. 

I had previously thought these folk COULD NOT be reached because the message was removed too quickly. I did not know what God was going to do with these people on judgment day. Now I know. They PERCEIVED, COMPREHENDED, and CONSIDERED God' message of love, grace, and consequences, and chose to nothing. Doing nothing equals deciding against. They will receive God flaming vengence.

The third item to be re-considered is based on the first and second, namely why Satan is able to remove the word so quickly. Certainly Satan wants it gone as quickly as possible, before it can have its full effect. Satan can not remove God's word by force. But Satan can and will remove the word from anyone not positively choosing God's way. 

Since these 'shoulder-of-the-road' souls have considered the message and selected against acceptance of God, Satan moves quickly before they can do any re-considering. He "carries away" anything without roots. 

Are these souls worth my effort at evangelizing? Yes, since I can't easily tell how 'hard packed' a heart is. God has made me, a servant, into a seed sower (with your help in this blog). And now that I know they are capable of dealing with God's message on an intellectual basis, it is my responsibility to make sure they have a chance. 

It not be terrible if on the judgment day on of these "hard packed" people looked at me and said, "You never mentioned Him to me."

How Deep Is The Well?

Up till recently, I had spent almost 25 years using a 35-foot deep x 3-foot diameter well. For many years, even with seven of us at home it was sufficient. But a few years ago, supporting two families and a very dry summer, the old well 'went dry' eight times. 

For those readers with a constant supply of 'city' water, let me explain. A 'dry' or 'near-dry' well translates into no showers, only wash cloth bathing. It means carrying the clothes to the coin-operated laundry. Don't wash the car or anything else.

What was the problem with my well? It was too shallow. It had no depth to serve as a reservoir.

There is a direct correlation between my old well and some people Jesus talked about in Mark 4:5-6, 16-17. The correlation is based on depth.

A near-literal translation of the passage finds Jesus telling us of a commonly known fact: Some people are like "ground full of rocks". This section of mankind "do not possess much ground" and their "soil is not deep," the text says. They are like my well, not much there to work with.

At this point I see two possibilities that Mark does not answer. Is Jesus speaking of their intellect? I really do not think so, but can not say for sure. Or is Jesus saying they have not placed the "seed" DEEP "in themselves". This would seem to fit the context. I think Jesus is NOT talking about their ability, but about how people prioritize His seed or word. 

Seed must be planted deep enough to allow the plant enough root to provide plenty of moisture for transpiration, life processes, and reserve. Plant seeds too shallow and the plant will be tortured by the intense heat of the summer sun. Death by drying is certain.

And remember, all plants will face the heat.

Jesus' explanation of the code talk (parables) said these with 'stony ground' interest will "feel the heat" of peer pressure, opposition, tribulation, being 'between a rock and a hard place', or some type of persecution (according to the Greek word). 

Jesus said when these difficult times come, the stony-ground-ers will SKANDALIZO (Transliterated Greek word). (Do we get the English word 'Scandal' from it? Maybe.) They cause a scandal by:

• showing how displeased they are.
• showing how indignantly treated they are.
• showing how they can not be trusted
• promote the distrust of someone who should be trusted and obeyed.

These are worse than the 'hard-hearted' people. They are scandalous because they work against the word.

So who am I? Or, who are you?

PLEASE make sure you plant God's word DEEP. How?

• Read it! Read it! Read it! If you do not read, YOU WILL BE TOO SHALLOW!
• Memorize, memorize, memorize. What did the Psalmist say?
• Think about it. Think about it. Think about it.

What happens when we do? Psa 1:3 says "He shall be like a TREE, PLANTED BY THE RIVERS OF WATER, that brings forth its fruit in its season, WHOSE LEAF WILL NOT WITHER, and whatever he does shall prosper." (NKJV; emphasis mine). 

That makes it worth the struggle!

Underlying Causes

As a teenager I remember going to the doctor with a sharp pain in the back of my right hand. If I did anything with my fingers, the pain would stab. After a few days my handwriting at school went from awful to illegible, and teachers began to complain. I spoke to my folks, and off to the doctor we went.

The doctor did the usual palpation finding nothing, but noticed my grimaces. He X-rayed the hand and found something distinctly triangle shaped on the film. With dad's permission, he gave me a shot of Novocain to deaden the area, and made an incision at the base of my hand's palm. “Hmmm... Nurse, bring me the forceps,” he said. He lifted an entire sharped tip of a pencil out of my hand. Then I remembered that six to eight week previous I had stuck the pencil in my hand, but saw nothing in the wound and my puncture wound healed. Little did I know that the tip of the now-lost pencil was in my hand.

Pain in the back of my hand was not the problem. There was an 'underlying cause' for the problem not related to the pain. The cause had occurred earlier.

Jesus encountered a group of people oblivious to the problem and even less knowledgeable about their underlying cause. Read Mark 7:1-13

The Pharisees and some scribes were oblivious to their problem. Approaching Jesus, they were saying Jesus had a problem with his disciples not following the ceremonial washing of the hands before eating.  Mark records in verse 3 how they did this washing in a special way. Their problem was not related to the ceremonially 'dirty' hands, but was in their “holding” the traditions of the elders. They were treating the ceremony of washing hands as equal to any other of God's commands.

Follow along as 'Doctor' Jesus dissects their problem of treating something men say or do as equal to what God has said. Check out verse 4 where the Spirit, through Mark, says they had many things they have “received and hold.” The Pharisees and scribes, in speaking to Jesus, openly spoke of the traditions, not recognize it as the underlying cause. Verse 5 has them saying Jesus' disciples do not walk “...according to the traditions of the elders.” Jesus quotes Isaiah's vain worship passage in verse 7 concluding the unforgettable phrase, “teaching as doctrine the commandments of men.” Then 'the doctor' applies Isaiah's thoughts to them, exposing the underlying cause plainly. “...you hold the tradition of men...” after they have laid aside God's commands.

Jesus continues to excise the problem and reveal the underlying cause. He illustrates his point by showing how they would set aside God's command to “Honor your father and your mother,” so they could “keep” their tradition.

Unfortunately, their tradition-keeping had invalidated the word of almighty God. God's word was of “no effect” because of the traditions they had “handed down”.

Have you ever “been to church” and walked away with that empty feeling? Have you left wondering what was accomplished? Could it be that you need Jesus to show you the underlying cause?

Our “preacher Paul” recently spoke of a time when Paul the apostle came to town and wanted to meet with the saints. This is Lynn Anderson's account of what might have happened.

“Oh look! Here come the apostle Paul riding up Central Boulevard on a donkey and looking for the church.  

'Well,' we explain, 'there is the church at the corner of Fifth and Jackson, and the Pleasant Hills church, and the congregation near the new subdivision, and ...'

Paul's eyes widen and he asks: 'What are the brethren doing in all these places?'

'Oh,' we explain again, 'that is where the building are?' 

'Buildings?' [Paul questions with a confused look on his face.] 

'Yes, church buildings, of course.' 

Paul leans forward with curiosity: 'What is a church building?' 

'Well, its where the pews and the pulpit are.' 

'And what are those?' Paul asks. 

'Well, the pews are where the members sit when the communion trays are passed,' we answer. 

'And what are communion trays?' asks our beloved and bewildered apostle. 

This line of discussion isn't getting us anywhere very quickly, so we shift direction: 'The pulpit is the place where the song leader stands and ...' 

'Excuse me,' Paul interrupts, 'I'm not familiar with a song leader.

What or who is that?' 

'Oh, he tells us where to open our hymnbooks and leads us in praise before we go to our Bible classes in the educational wing.' 

Poor Paul is having a hard time understanding our ideas of church.

'Forgive me again, but I don't understand these hymnbooks, Bible classes, and educational wings that you have mentioned.' 

This guided tour rambles on as we lead Paul through explanations of the baptistery, the foyer, the nursery, the fellowship hall, youth ministry, bulletins, our worship times, and so forth, as we describe 'church,' or at least what we think when we think of church”.

In addition to this humor, I have many friends, maybe some of you, who practice religious ideas passed down to you by good-meaning people, but have nullified God's word. Would you let Jesus show you the underlying cause of your dissatisfaction with religion?

Preparing for War

The American military is publicized as the best prepared military in the world. I have seen, nor heard any reason to think otherwise.

They make this claim based on the amount and types of preparation demanded from our troops. Eight weeks of 'boot camp' is just the beginning. There are continually drills to keep soldiers physically ready. Exercises are habitually forced on GIs to test their mental metal. The are prepared for the worst of enemies.

Those who teach or preach that once you are a Christian everything will be lovely are simply, but kindly, wrong.  They neglect their enemy. My enemy is out to do me harm now that I claim to be a disciple of Jesus.

The Bible repeatedly presents the devil as injuring God's warriors.

     * Nehemiah recognized the plot of Sanballet & Geshem as they planned "to do me harm."
     * Anger, Wrath and Fretting "only causes harm".
     * The devil is called my "adversary".
     * Jesus says the Devil is a murderer and the father of lies. 
     * On occasions the "wicked one" "snatches" the "word of the kingdom" from individuals.
     * We all know how he tempted Eve, and the sad outcome of that confrontation.
     * What did Satan do to Job, God's servant?
     * When Satan won the battle with Judas, what was the end result? Betrayal?
     * Satan infiltrates our ranks when he "transforms" himself.
     * He decimates God's army with with fake wonders & signs.

So if anyone thinks Christian living is like being on the playground, the need to reconsider. He just WANTS you to think its a playground. Its really a deadly battlefield.

The Devil is going to fight you with every gun he has until you are back in his powerful army. It is a life or death struggle everyday.