Previously, we watched the Pharisees trying to trap Jesus into blasphemy. (See Pharisees Looking to Catch Jesus in a Gotcha Moment.) They were highly unsuccessful…
Later that very same day, Jesus and His apostles traveled to the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus is now being followed by large crowds wherever He makes a public appearance.
This multitude was so great that Jesus entered a boat and rowed away from the shore so that He might address them from an equal vantage point.
As we’ve seen in the recent past, we know that Christ taught the Pharisees a parable (See What Is the Methodology Behind the Parables of Jesus?).
Now, Jesus is ready to use this same method to reveal spiritual and / or moral lessons designed to be understood by His audience, which were typically farmers and shepherds.
On this day, He teaches the ‘parable of the sower’, which addresses the barriers that may crop up when trying to discern His salvation message:
“Listen carefully: a sower went out to sow [seed in his field]; and as he sowed, some seed fell beside the road [between the fields], and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil; and at once they sprang up because they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and thorns came up and choked them out. Other seed fell on good soil and yielded grain, some a hundred times as much [as was sown], some sixty [times as much], and some thirty. He who has ears [to hear], let him hear and heed My words.” Mt. 13:3 – 9. AMP
Later, Jesus would gather with the apostles privately, because they had difficulty in understanding the parable. This was the first time they heard Him teach the people via a parable. Christ taught this parable to address some in His audience, (including the Pharisees), that were rejecting His message. He elaborates for His disciples:
He said to them, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you [who have teachable hearts], but those who are outside [the unbelievers, the spiritually blind] get everything in parables, so that they will continually look but not see, and they will continually hear but not understand, otherwise they might turn [from their rejection of the truth] and be forgiven.” Mk. 4:11, 12. AMP
Jesus is alluding to how some of the present-day Jews were rejecting Him exactly as how their ancestors rejected His Father when Jehovah sent the prophet Isaiah to try to unite His children with His salvation. Unfortunately, many of the Hebrews spurned Him. He left them to the devastation of their own design:
And He said, “Go, and tell this people:
‘Keep on listening, but do not understand;
Keep on looking, but do not comprehend.’
“Make the heart of this people insensitive,
Their ears dull,
And their eyes dim,
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
Hear with their ears,
Understand with their hearts,
And return and be healed.” Is. 6:9, 10. AMP
Isaiah asked God how long this punishment must continue. He answers:
“Until cities are devastated and without inhabitant,
And houses are without people
And the land is utterly desolate,
The Lord has removed [His] people far away…” Is. 6:11, 12. AMP
Jesus is trying to save the Jews in the present, with His message. Now, He explains the parable to His apostles in detail:
The sower sows the word [of God, the good news regarding the way of salvation]. These [in the first group] are the ones along the road where the word is sown; but when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them.
In a similar way these [in the second group] are the ones on whom seed was sown on rocky ground, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy [but accept it only superficially]; and they have no real root in themselves, so they endure only for a little while; then, when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately they [are offended and displeased at being associated with Me and] stumble and fall away.
And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries and cares of the world [the distractions of this age with its worldly pleasures], and the deceitfulness [and the false security or glamour] of wealth [or fame], and the passionate desires for all the other things creep in and choke out the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
And those [in the last group] are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word [of God, the good news regarding the way of salvation] and accept it and bear fruit—thirty, sixty, and a hundred times as much [as was sown].” Mk. 4:14 -20. AMP
Thankfully, Jesus steers us towards our salvation as He further addresses the apostles:
“A lamp is not brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed, is it? Is it not [brought in] to be put on the lampstand? For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been kept secret, but that it would come to light [that is, things are hidden only temporarily, until the appropriate time comes for them to be known]. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear and heed My words.”
“Pay attention to what you hear. By your own standard of measurement [that is, to the extent that you study spiritual truth and apply godly wisdom] it will be measured to you [and you will be given even greater ability to respond]—and more will be given to you besides. For whoever has [a teachable heart], to him more [understanding] will be given; and whoever does not have [a yearning for truth], even what he has will be taken away from him.” Mk. 4:21 – 25. AMP
Christ again addressed the crowd, this time with the ‘parable of the wheat and tares’, to further demonstrate the plight of those who reject His Gospel:
“The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds [resembling wheat] among the wheat, and went away. So when the plants sprouted and formed grain, the weeds appeared also. The servants of the owner came to him and said, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? Then how does it have weeds in it?’ He replied to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’
The servants asked him, ‘Then do you want us to go and pull them out?’ But he said, ‘No; because as you pull out the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First gather the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’” Mt. 13:24 – 30. AMP
Again, Jesus would take His apostles aside and give them greater clarity about this parable as well:
“The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, and the field is the world; and [as for] the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the weeds are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels.
So just as the weeds are gathered up and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age.The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend [those things by which people are led into sin], and all who practice evil [leading others into sin], and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping [over sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [over distress and anger].
Then the righteous [those who seek the will of God] will shine forth [radiating the new life] like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears [to hear], let him hear and heed My words.” Mt. 13:37 – 43. AMP
That is some serious information Christ is relaying – life or death information. Ignore it at your peril, because things don’t look good for the unrepentant when He returns:
(But understand this, that in the last days dangerous times [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear]. For people will be lovers of self [narcissistic, self-focused], lovers of money [impelled by greed], boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane, [and they will be] unloving [devoid of natural human affection, calloused and inhumane], irreconcilable, malicious gossips, devoid of self-control [intemperate, immoral], brutal, haters of good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of [sensual] pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith]. Avoid such people and keep far away from them.) 2 Tm. 3:1 – 5. AMP
(…everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.
But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.) 2 Tm. 3:12 – 15. NLT
Jesus continues to teach parables to the crowd. One of them likened the Kingdom of Heaven to a mustard seed – one of the smallest of plant seeds. Yet, it grows into an enormous tree that nurtures the birds that inhabit it. It alludes to the gradual growth of the Kingdom that cultivates the believers of Christ.[1]
In another, Jesus likens the Kingdom to ‘yeast’, saying that like leaven that transforms flour into edible bread, likewise, the Kingdom converts the follower of the Gospel.
In still another, He creates a Kingdom metaphor, as both hidden treasure[2] and as a pearl of great value.[3]
Finally, Christ speaks a ‘parable of the dragnet’, which was tossed into the sea and when drawn back up, the catch was divided – the good from the bad, stressing a warning to His listeners:
“So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw the wicked into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping [over sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [over distress and anger].” Mt. 13:49, 50. AMP
Jesus and the apostles then sailed across the Sea of Galilee. He fell asleep. Suddenly, a storm arose. The disciples panicked and woke Him up. Christ responds:
And He got up and [sternly] rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still (muzzled)!” And the wind died down [as if it had grown weary] and there was [at once] a great calm [a perfect peacefulness]. Jesus said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith and confidence [in Me]?” Mk. 4:39, 40. AMP
Wow! That is some kind of power that Christ wields; and He continues to do so.
They disembarked in the region of the Gadarenes, located on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus is immediately confronted by a demon-possessed man who lived among tombs, cutting himself with rocks and screaming with wild abandon.
He was terrorizing the region, so wild that even chains could not constrain him. Yet, upon confronting the Son of God, he dropped to his knees in front of Him and cried out:
“What do you have to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you before God, don’t torment me!” For he had told him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”
“What is your name?” he asked him.
“My name is Legion,” he answered him, “because we are many.” Mk. 5:7 – 9. CSB
Knowing that Jesus’ imperative must be obeyed, the demons within the man begged Him to let them inhabit a nearby herd of swine. [There was a large population of Gentiles in this area, thus the presence of the pigs (unclean animals for Jews)].
Jesus agrees, the demons enter the pigs, and they stampede into the Sea and drown themselves. The Gentile inhabitants were upset over the loss of their herd, neglecting the fact that He had liberated them from their demonic oppression.
Christ and company sailed back across the Sea of Galilee where they were met by another crowd on the opposite shore. A Pharisee by the name of Jairus fell at His feet, begging Him to come to his house and heal his dying daughter. He agrees and the crowd follows in tow.
During the journey, a woman who suffered from a non-stop menstrual flow for 12 years, saw Him from afar, and thought to herself that if she could just touch His garments, she would be healed.
The moment she touched Him, she was instantly healed. Jesus stopped in His tracks, feeling some of His power go out of Him and asked who had touched Him. The woman confessed.[4] Jesus responds:
“Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” Lk. 8:48 NLT
Resuming His journey to Jairus’ house, He is met along the way by some people who were coming from that very same residence, sadly telling Jesus and Jarius that his daughter was dead.
Jesus turns to Jairus and says:
“Do not be afraid; only keep on believing [in Me and my power].” Mk. 5:36 AMP
When they got to the house, there was a group of hired mourners wailing. Jesus told them that it was unnecessary because she was only sleeping. They scoffed at His comment.
Jesus took Peter, James and John as witnesses, as well as Jairus and his wife to where his daughter laid upon her bed. He took the child’s hand and told her to arise, and she did![5]
As Jesus was leaving, He was approached by two blind men who pleaded with Him to give them sight. He asked them if they had faith in His ability to do so. They answered in the affirmative, and He did that as well![6]
Coming back to our title question, we can surely say that Jesus’ power is limitless. Why? He is the Son of God. He does what the Father does, and God can do anything.[7]
Goodnight and God bless.
[1] Mt. 13:31, 32.
[2] Mt. 13:44
[3] Mt. 13:45, 46.
[4] Lk. 8:43 – 47.
[5] Mk. 5:41, 42.
[6] Mt. 9:28, 29.
[7] Jn. 5:19