Mark Study 19
The Hidden Secret of the Kingdom
Mark Study #19 by Michael Spencer
Step into the study, pour yourself a cup of coffee, get comfortable and let's enjoy the Gospel of Mark. 
Our scripture this week is Mark 4:9 Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, "'they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!'"
One of our certainties about Jesus is that he was a great teacher. His use of parables and stories is masterful; his ability to shape a truth in a memorable and relevant way is unsurpassed. No one can read Jesus' words and not be effected and we sense the profound effect his teaching skill had on his disciples. So it is always puzzling when we come across one of those places where Jesus' teaching seems enigmatic and "hard." This passage is puzzling to many who read it. I certainly doubt it is a favorite sermon text. Yet I believe it is more important- in many ways- than the surrounding parable. Mark has placed these words here intentionally- right in the middle of the parable of the soils- so that we will not miss what Jesus is saying. A great teacher sometimes teaches the most when he sends his students home upset!
As we read the Bible, we must be aware of the presuppositions we bring to the text. The obvious ones are cultural, i.e. expecting the Bible to portray a modern western culture, when in actual fact it portrays a much different culture with quite different expectations and mores. Many of our presuppositions are religious. We expect Jesus to easily fit into our theology and religious traditions. When he doesn't, we often begin "editing" the Bible so that we are not disturbed by what doesn't "fit." I grew up in a church that frequently and strongly preached complete abstinence from all forms of alcohol. When we would read about Jesus turning the water into wine (John 2) the teacher or preacher would always explain that this was grape juice, not real wine. (Greek word= "welchos.) Of course, this interpretation was ridiculous, yet it allowed us to read the Bible with our presuppositions intact.
Some of our presuppositions are literary in nature. We expect the text to conform to our expectations of how a story should be told or how a writer should write. I've seen many Christians get very upset at the suggestion that the story of the prodigal son- and other stories- are fictional. This upsets those who have a presupposition that Jesus only used real life examples- a requirement that is absurd and unreasonable of both Jesus and the Gospel writers. We expect the text to be straightforward and understandable in the way we like- no literary curve balls. So when the Bible uses a literary device such as humor or sarcasm, we are caught off guard. "Why is he talking like that?" we wonder. "That doesn't sound like Jesus?" The fact is Jesus "sounds like" the Bible- not like our presuppositions.
This passage depends on the use of intentional sarcasm. I find this interesting because we generally put a value judgement on sarcasm and say it is never appropriate, yet here is Jesus using it and the sarcasm is even stronger in the underlying text in Isaiah. In a book I am currently working in, I explore the premise that the presentation of Jesus in Mark is a model of communication for evangelism. Here is a prime example. In order to intentionally provoke his audience to thought, Jesus used a literary device that is completely backwards in its message, stressing that the condition of the heart takes priority over the content of communication. I wonder how many of us will allow the actual truth of Jesus words to hit us rather than scramble off to find an explanation that lets us say "Well, of course he really didn't mean that."?
Before we look at Jesus words, we should talk about the passage Jesus quotes from Isaiah 6:9,10. The preceding passage, Isaiah 6:1-8, is one of the most familiar passages in the Old Testament. It is a model for worship; it is essential for a Biblical theology of salvation; it is a foundational passage to any understanding of a "call" to ministry. When the forgiven Isaiah hears the Lord say "Who will go for us?" he responds with "Here I am. Send me." But how many who have heard that passage many times could then tell us what message Isaiah was given? Here it is! Isaiah 6::9-12 He said, "Go and tell this people: "'Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.' Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed." Then I said, "For how long, O Lord?" And he answered: "Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant, until the houses are left deserted and the fields ruined and ravaged, until the LORD has sent everyone far away and the land is utterly forsaken.
The message to Isaiah is not one of hope (though the verse following does give a "seed" of hope.) It is an announcement that the message of the prophet will make the ears and heart and eyes of the people dull and closed! It is an announcement- in brutal sarcasm- that the people will refuse the truth because of the possibility it might heal their brokenness. This refusal to hear will continue until judgement falls and the truth of God becomes obvious. If we do not recognize the literary device, we will completely miss what is happening here. Isaiah is to bring the message of God's truth for Israel, but the greater truth is that their hearts, ears and eyes are already closed. They will refuse to hear any message that does not fit with their refusal to acknowledge the Lord's sending of judgment. Therefore, God speaks to them in words intended to be upsetting; words calculated to shake their complacency and show them that their own hearts, not God's ways or the prophet's message, are the problem.
Now we return to Mark 4. And we hear Jesus saying "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." (4:9) This distinctive phrase connects directly with the Isaiah passage (revealing again Jesus deep acquaintance with the Old Testament scriptures.) Jesus is commenting on his use of parables. And what he has to say is shocking. Parables are not told for the purpose of making things plain to everyone, but for the purpose of revealing the truth to those whose hearts are open and ready. To those whose hearts are closed, Jesus parables will be another example of Isaiah's message: an announcement of the refusal of people to hear the truth. This is a real shock to those who assume that parables are meant to make the message simple; even obvious by way of illustration. Their image of Jesus doesn't allow them to see the master teacher announcing that the message is made less plain by the use of a story. Yet, true to form, Jesus explains this parable to his disciples and not to the crowd who heard the parable! Listen to Matthew's account of the same incident: Matthew 13:11 He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. And then verses 16-17 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. Jesus words are certainly shocking! What kind of communication method is this? And to top it all off, listen to Jesus in Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. Wow!
This is not the way the average Christian sees Jesus or thinks about the gospel message. Yet, this is the way Jesus sees it and does it. I think the point is obvious: The condition of the heart precedes the communication of the truth; the response to the truth reveals the condition of the heart. This is, in my opinion, a foundational statement about human beings and communicating with them in the Christian worldview. The current popular model of communication in Christianity is what I call the "blank paper" model: People are blank pieces of paper on whom any communicator may write with whatever skill and content he/she possesses. If the truth is not received in this model, then it is the entire fault of the communicator. Therefore, ever more intense and aggressive methods of communication are necessary to "write" on the blank page.
Jesus seems to using another model, a model that we might call "presuppositional" or, to be simpler, the "echo" model. By "echo" I mean that whatever we communicate produces an "echo" from what the person already believes and is already committed to. In this model, communication is an interaction of basic worldviews. The truth present in the Christian message elicits a reaction that reveals an open or closed heart. He who has ears...hears! They will hear, but never understand so they will never be forgiven. This model of communication seems disturbing to many, but it is not fatalistic or hopeless. It is dependent on the work of the Holy Spirit. Listen to Paul in I Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. And also in I Corinthians 2:1-5 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.
This approach to communication brings tremendous judgment on much of what evangelicals do in the name of effectiveness. It brings me to a realization that God's power, prayer and plain presentation should be at a premium. When Christian's begin to worship at the altar of lowest-common-denominator communication, the Gospel quickly suffers and what is communicated, though it may be interesting, entertaining, practical and memorable- may simply not be true. In I Thessalonians 1:5 Paul says because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. This is our goal-not simply words, but a demonstration of the Spirit's power that actually changes hearts and hearers. A miracle of God's divine interruption of the human realm that allows a message that cannot be understood by the human mind or measured in human words to be embraced and trusted by human hearts, coming like children.
I would like to briefly note Jesus' mention that the Kingdom of God is a "secret.". A strange thing for a proclaimer to say, but the fact is that the true center of the Christian message is a secret, a mystery in the world. It cannot be understood without the revelation of Jesus Christ to the individual human heart. Mark's gospel is full of this; in fact, some would say it drives the Gospel. The true identity of Jesus is a secret. The fact that the Kingdom comes not politically, but personally in Jesus, is a mystery. True faith in Jesus comes when the Spirit opens the eyes of the heart to this mystery as we will see profoundly in Mark 8. Paul was aware of this in Ephesians 6:19-20 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. We should fearlessly declare the truth of the Gospel, even as we realize it is a mystery on the human plane and the supernatural is essential. The Holy Spirit cannot be overlooked or replaced.
As Christians we confess that scripture is our authority. We say that Jesus is Lord. Is scripture not only our message, but is it also the authority for how we declare that message? Do we declare the truth as Jesus did- boldly and plainly, but in full awareness that the human heart is shut without the awakening power of the Spirit? Do we acknowledge that we are not sufficient in ourselves to communicate the simplest truth to the most brilliant mind? The secret of the Kingdom of God is given, according to Jesus. Lord, send your power, that hearts might be awakened, your Gospel believed and your people healed and forgiven.
Questions
Has an effective teacher ever used an unorthodox method to teach an effective lesson?
Michael often says that he has learned the most when he was upset! have you ever had an experience of being motivated to learn by being upset or angry?
What common KINDS of presuppositions do people often bring to the Bible? What specific examples can you give of how your own presuppositions about the Bible have been revealed to you?
What would be your reaction to a preacher who used sarcasm towards his audience in a sermon?
How do you imagine Isaiah actually delivered this message to the people? How did it influence his communication and their reaction?
What hard saying of Jesus has troubled you at any time? What should we do if the Bible says something that offends our mind or disagrees with our sense of what ought to be?
Michael says the condition of the heart precedes the content of the message. Do you agree or disagree?
What does Michael mean by "blank page" communication versus "echo" or "presuppositional" communication?
If any communication is a clash of deeply held beliefs, then why even try to communicate?
Jesus actually says that parables are "inside" communication and their meaning must be "given" rather than obvious. How does the is impact our desire to "explain everything" to people so they will understand it in their "own way?"
Matthew says God hides and reveals "for His own good pleasure." Can God be glorified when sinners refuse the truth? How should unbelievers react to the truth of the Bible?
Michael believes that Christians are increasingly dependent on methods and media rather than on the power of the Holy Spirit. What do you think?
How does prayer relate to communicating the Bible's truth to non-Christians? WHy should prayer make any difference; people hear what they hear, right? ;-)
Paul say Christian communication is foolishness to those who are perishing. Should we actively seek to present the message in a foolish way? Why should our presentation to polished and appealing if unbelievers see it as foolish?
What should be our emotional reaction when unbelievers see the message as foolish?
The Bible calls the Kingdom a "secret" and a "mystery." What is the point?
In preaching to hundreds of teenagers, Michael often hears that the message should be entertaining so the students will be interested. His usual response is that if the Gospel is made entertaining, we've compromised its truth. What do you think?
Should be the Bible be a book of methods as well as message?
WHo do you believe is an excellent Christian communicator and why?
Share a situation where you would like to communicate the gospel, but you feel frustrated. Pray will others that God will allow you to "fearlessly declare the mystery."
RECOMMENDED RESOURCE: A Godward Life by John Piper, Multnomah. Not about Mark. Piper is my favorite preacher and is a fine writer. These 120 short pieces are masterful examples of Christian communication.