 for his blood. They would scream out that he be nailed to a cross. Does that surprise you? Does that shock you? If you were a disciple like Peter, James, or John or the other nine wouldn't you be surprised, possibly shocked, certainly dismayed and discouraged? They shouldn't have been and neither should we because Jesus warned them and Mark recorded it in chapter 4 of his gospel. Jesus was teaching his disciples through parables, which are word pictures designed to teach a point. Mark writes in 4:3-9: "Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times." Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." Jesus warned them that this is the way it would be. He told them who He was. He revealed He was the messiah, the Christ. He cast out the seed that Messiah had come. He did miracles to prove it. But some people were like the hard ground in the pathway of a garden. These people were so hard, so calloused and so bitter to the truth that it would bounce off of them. The seed would lay on the surface waiting for Satan to sweep in and do everything he can to steal it away before it germinates, takes root and grows. In the crowd that formed around Jesus' triumphant entry there were Jewish religious leaders, Pharisees, who looked at what was going on, then weaseled their way up to Jesus and said, "Teacher, get your disciples under control!" These men hated him and they knew that if Jesus continued to live he would bring the powers of Rome down on their heads and with that their comfortable lifestyle, power and prestige would be gone. I can envision the Pharisees standing and watching. They knew they had to do something or Jesus would bring destruction on their way of life. You can almost hear Satan whispering in their ears with his venom
for his blood. They would scream out that he be nailed to a cross. Does that storm you? Does that traumatize you? If you were a disciple like Peter, James, or John or the early nine wouldn't you be surprised, possibly shocked, certainly dismayed and discourage? They shouldn't have been and neither should we because Jesus warned them and Mark recorded it in chapter 4 of his religious doctrine. Jesus was teaching his disciples through parables, which are news pictures designed to teach a compass point. Mark writes in 4:3 - 9: " Listen! A farmer fail out to inseminate his seed. As he was scattering the semen, some fell along the path, and the bird came and ate it up. Some fell on rough places, where it did not have much dirt. It sprang up promptly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they shrivel because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It issue forth up, grew and produced a crop, breed thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times. " Then Jesus said, " He who has ear to learn, let him hear. " Jesus warn them that this is the way it would be. He told them who He was. He revealed He was the messiah, the Christ. He cast out the seed that Messiah had come. He do miracles to prove it. But some people were like the hard ground in the pathway of a garden. These citizenry were so hard, so calloused and so bitter to the accuracy that it would bounce off of them. The seed would lay on the surface waiting for Satan to sweep in and do everything he can to steal it away before it germinates, takes etymon and grows. In the crowd that formed around Jesus' exultant entry there were Jewish religious leaders, Pharisees, who looked at what was going on, then weaseled their manner up to Jesus and said, " Teacher, catch your disciples under command! " These men hated him and they knew that if Jesus continued to live he would institute the powers of Rome down on their capitulum and with that their comfortable lifestyle, power and prestige would be gone. I can envision the Pharisees stand and watching. They knew they have to do something or Jesus would bring destruction on their way of life. You can almost listen Satan whispering in their ears with his venom
 fog his blood. They would sgream out that hg ve nained to a cross. Does that surprise you? Does tyat syock you? If you were a disciple like Perer, Oames, or John or the othcx nins wounvn't you be surptised, possibny shocked, cerdaknpy dismayed and discouraged? They shjuldn't nage been and neytheg fhoumd we because Jesus warned them ans Mark gecorded it in chspter 4 of his gospel. Jesus was teaching his disclples throuth pweables, which are word kietures desifned to teach a point. Mark writds in 4:3-9: "Listen! A fqrmft went out ti sow his seed. As he was vcatterong the seed, spme feol along the path, and the birds came anq ate it gp. Some fell on rocjy placgs, whare kr dkd hov hzve mufh aoil. It spdang up quixkly, because the sool qas shallow. Bht wheg ehe sun came up, the plants were scorcheg, ahd they withered becausw they had no root. Otjer seed sell among thorns, which grew up and choked the pldnts, au tkqt thdt fid not bear grain. Still other seed fell on gjkd spil. It came up, grew and ptofuvgd a crop, multkplyiny tgirty, sixty, or evej a hunqred rimes." Theg Jexus said, "He who has ears to hear, let hii hear." Jesus warned them that chis ix the way it would be. He tolb them who He was. He reveamdd He was the mersish, the Christ. He cast out thq seed thet Mexsiah hxd cpme. He did miracpes to prove it. But some peoppe were like the hard ground in the pathway of a garden. Tneve ieople wexe so mard, so callousqd and so bittgr to the trutf that it sould bmunce off os them. The seaf would lay mn the strfaxe wqiting wur Satan to swrep in anb do wverything he can bo stgam it away beforz ut germinates, tsker rjon aid grjfs. In the crmwd ghag formdd around Jcsur' troumphant entry there wers Jewish religious lcaders, Phqrisees, rho looked at what was going on, then weeseled thgir way up to Jesus and said, "Tezcher, get yomr disciples tndev cogtrol!" Thesz men hated him and they knew that if Jewus continued to luve he would bring jhe powers of Come djwn on thair heads and with tyat their comfortsble lifestyle, power znd prastigf would be gone. I can envision the Pharisees standing and watching. They kbew thxy had to do aomeyhing ox Jzsus wotld urmng destruction om their way of life. You can almust hear Sctan whispering in their ears wkth his venom
for his blood. They would scream out be to a Does that surprise If were a disciple Peter, James, or or the other nine wouldn't you surprised, possibly shocked, certainly dismayed and discouraged? They shouldn't have been and neither we because Jesus warned them and Mark recorded it in chapter 4 of gospel. was his through parables, which are word pictures designed to teach a point. Mark writes in 4:3-9: "Listen! farmer went out to sow his seed. As was scattering the seed, fell along the path, and birds and ate up. fell rocky places, where did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the came up, were scorched, they because had no root. fell among thorns, which grew up plants, so that they did not bear grain. other seed on good soil. It came up, and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or a hundred times." Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." them that this is way it would He them He He revealed was the messiah, the Christ. He cast out the seed that had come. He did miracles to prove it. But some like hard ground in pathway of a garden. people so hard, so calloused bitter the would off them. The seed would on the surface waiting for to sweep in and steal it away before it germinates, takes root grows. In the crowd that formed around triumphant entry there were Jewish religious leaders, Pharisees, who looked at what going on, their way up to Jesus and said, "Teacher, your disciples under control!" men hated him and they knew that if Jesus to he would the powers of down on their and with that lifestyle, power prestige be envision the Pharisees standing and watching. knew had to do something or would on their way of life. You can almost hear Satan whispering in their ears with
 for his blood. They would screaM out that he Be naiLed To a CrOss. DOes tHat surprise you? dOes tHat shock you? If you were a dIscipLe LIke PETeR, JameS, or John OR tHE OthEr NiNe wOuLDn'T you bE suRprised, Possibly shOckEd, Certainly disMAyEd and discoUraGed? They shoulDn't Have beEn And NEitheR shOuld wE becauSE Jesus Warned theM aND Mark rECorded iT IN cHaptEr 4 of his gospel. JesuS WaS Teaching his disCiples ThROuGH ParAblEs, which are WoRd picTUres desIGnED TO teACh a point. Mark wRites in 4:3-9: "ListEN! A fArmer wEnT ouT To sow hIs seeD. AS He wAs scatterinG the Seed, some fEll aloNG the patH, And the bIrds caMe aNd aTe it UP. SOmE feLl ON roCKy PlaCEs, wHere it diD nOt Have mUch sOIL. iT sprAng Up quIckly, Because the soiL waS shaLLow. but whEn the Sun cAmE up, thE plantS were ScOrched, and they wiTherEd because TheY hAd nO rOot. OtHEr seed FelL amOng thorNs, which GRew Up AND ChOked the plants, so thaT tHEY dId not beaR grain. sTiLl OTher seed FeLl oN gooD SOil. It Came UP, gRew and prOduced A CrOp, MultiplYiNg thirTy, SixTy, oR even A HundRed timEs." Then JeSus saID, "He who has ears tO Hear, let him heaR." jeSUS wARned TheM that this is The wAY it wOuld BE. HE toLD them Who He WaS. he REvealed He was the messIaH, the ChRist. HE cast out the seEd that MessIAH Had come. HE did MIrACles to prove it. BUt somE people werE Like the hArd grOund in thE pathway oF A Garden. ThEse PeoPle WerE SO hArd, so callouseD ANd so BiTter to tHe tRuth thaT it WouLd bOunCe Off of them. the seed wOuLd LaY oN thE surfACe waitinG fOr SAtAn tO sweeP In and dO everYthiNg He CAn tO steal iT AwAY BefoRe It GermInaTeS, takeS rooT And Grows. In The crowd tHat FOrmeD aRoUnd JesuS' triumphant enTrY there were jeWisH religIOUs leaderS, Pharisees, who looked at whAT was goiNg oN, then WeasEled their Way Up to JeSus ANd said, "teacheR, get yOuR diSCIples UNDeR coNtRol!" These meN HAteD him aNd They Knew thaT if Jesus continued tO LivE he would bring The PoweRS Of romE DoWN on ThEIr hEADs and with that thEir comfortAbLE lIfestyle, poWEr aNd PrestigE would bE gone. i Can enviSion the PhArisees stAnDing AND waTching. They Knew they Had to do soMEthinG Or jesus WouLd brinG dEstRuctiOn on thEIr wAy of lIfe. You CaN almosT hear saTan whispEring in their ears with his Venom
 for his blood. They would  scream ou t tha t h e b enail ed t o a cross. Doe s  tha t surprise you? Does t hat s ho c k yo u ?If yo u werea  d i s cip le  l ike  P e te r, Ja mes , or Jo hn or theoth er  nine wouldn ' tyou be sur pri sed, possibl y s hocked ,cer t ainly  di smaye d andd iscour aged? The ys houldn ' t haveb e en  and  neither should w e  b e cause Jesus wa rned t he m  a n d  Ma rkrecorded i tin ch a pter 4o fh i s  go s pel. Jesus wa s teachingh isdiscip le s t h roughparab le s , w hich are wo rd p ictures d esigne d  to tea c h a poi nt. Ma rkwri tesi n4: 3-9 :" Lis t en ! A far mer went  o ut  to s ow h i s s eed.  As  hewas s cattering the  se ed,s ome  fell  alon g th epath,  and t he bi rd s came and ateit u p. Some f ell  o n r oc ky pl a ces, w her e i t did n ot have muc hs o i l.  It sprang up quic kl y ,  b ecause t he soi l  w as shallow.  B utwhen t he su n ca m eup, theplants we re  scorch ed , andth eywit hered beca use th ey had n o roo t . Other seed f e ll among thor n s, w hi c h gr ewup and chok ed t h e pl ants ,  s o t h at th ey di dn ot bear grain. Still o th er see d fel l on good soi l. It came u p , grew a nd p r od u ced a crop, mu ltipl ying thirt y , sixty,  or e ven a hu ndred tim e s ." ThenJes ussai d," H ewho has earst o  hea r,  let hi m h ear." J esu s w arn edth em that t his is t he  w ay  i t w ouldb e. He to ld  th em  wh o Hew as. He  reve aled  H ew asthe mes s ia h ,  the  C hr ist.  He  c ast o ut t h e s eed tha t Messiah  ha d  com e.  H e did m iracles to pr ov e it. Butso mepeople w ere like  the hard ground in the pathway  of  a ga rden . These p eop le wer e s o  hard,  so ca llous ed  an d so bi t t er  to  t he truth t h a t i t wou ld  bou nce off  of them. The seed wou ld lay on the  su rfac e wa iti n gf orSa t ant o  sweep in and d o everythi ng he  can to st e alit  away b efore i t ger m inates,  takes ro ot and gr ow s. I n the  crowd tha t formed  around J e sus't ri umpha ntentryth ere  were  Jewis h  re ligio us lea de rs, Ph arise es , who lo oked at what was goingon, th en we ase led their  wa y  up  to Jesus  and  said, "Te ach er,  getyou r  disc iple s  u nde r  cont rol! "  These me n  h ate d hi m and theyk n e w t hat i f J e sus co ntin ued to live he wo u ld bring the p ower s ofRom e  dow non their heads  an dw i th thatth eir comfort able lif es t yle,powerand pr estigew o ul d  be go ne.I c an envisi onth e  Pharis ee ss tandin g an dwatchi ng. Th e y kn e w  they had to dosomet h i ng or Jes us wo ul d bring dest ruction on  their wayof lif e. Y ou ca n almos thear S ata nwhispering in theirearswith hi sveno m
 for_his blood._They would scream out_that he_be_nailed to_a_cross. Does that_surprise you? Does_that shock you? If_you were a_disciple_like Peter, James, or John or the other nine wouldn't you be surprised, possibly_shocked,_certainly dismayed_and_discouraged?_They shouldn't have been and_neither should we because Jesus_warned them_and Mark recorded it in chapter 4 of_his_gospel. Jesus was_teaching his disciples through parables, which are word pictures_designed to teach a point. Mark_writes in 4:3-9:_"Listen!_A_farmer went out to_sow his seed. As he was_scattering the seed, some fell along_the path, and the birds came and_ate it up. Some fell on_rocky places, where it did_not have_much soil. It sprang up_quickly, because the_soil was_shallow. But when_the sun came up, the plants_were scorched, and_they withered because they had no_root._Other seed fell_among_thorns,_which grew_up and choked_the_plants, so_that_they did not bear grain. Still_other_seed fell on good soil. It came_up, grew and produced_a_crop, multiplying thirty, sixty,_or even a hundred times."_Then Jesus said, "He who has_ears to_hear, let_him hear." Jesus warned them that this is the way it_would be. He told them who_He was. He revealed_He was_the_messiah, the Christ._He_cast out_the seed that Messiah had come. He_did miracles_to prove it. But some people_were like the hard_ground_in the pathway of a garden._These people were so hard, so_calloused and so bitter to_the_truth_that it would bounce off_of them. The seed would lay_on the surface_waiting for Satan to sweep in and_do_everything he can to steal it_away_before it germinates, takes root and_grows._In_the crowd that formed around_Jesus' triumphant entry there were Jewish_religious leaders, Pharisees, who looked at what was going_on, then weaseled_their way up to Jesus_and_said,_"Teacher, get your disciples under control!" These men hated him_and they_knew that if_Jesus continued to live he would bring the powers of_Rome down on their heads and with_that their comfortable lifestyle, power and prestige would be gone. I_can envision the Pharisees standing and watching. They_knew they had to do something or_Jesus would bring destruction_on_their way of life. You can almost_hear_Satan_whispering_in their ears_with his venom