The Gospel of Mark for Readers | Page 4

yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth some thirty, some sixty, and some a hundredfold. And Jesus finished by saying, He that has ears to hear, let him hear.
After this, when the twelve were alone with Jesus, they asked Him about the parable and why He told the people a parable. Jesus said to them, To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God. But, to those who are without, the teachings are in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
And Jesus said to them, Know ye not this parable? The sower sows the word. And these are the people by the wayside, where the word is sown. When they have heard, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.
And these are likewise those who are sown on stony ground. When they have heard the word, they receive it with gladness. But they have no root and endure only for a while. When affliction or persecution arises for the word's sake, they are offended.
And these are also the seed sown among the thorns of the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things. All these thorns enter in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. And, finally, are those who are sown on good ground. In hearing the word, they receive it and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundredfold.
Then Jesus said, Is a candle lighted to be put under a bushel, or under a bed instead of set on a candlestick? You see, if there is nothing hidden which shall not be manifested, then there is nothing kept secret, which shall not be uncovered. If any man has ears to hear, let him hear.
And He said to them, Take heed what ye hear. With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you. And to you that hear, more shall be given. For he that has, to him shall be given. He that has not, from him shall be taken away even that which he has.
Then Jesus said, Such is the kingdom of God like a man who casts seed into the ground. He passes nights and days, and the seed springs up and grows, he knows not how. For the earth brings forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, and, after that, the full ear of corn. When the fruit is ripe, immediately he puts the sickle to it because the harvest is come.
And He said, Whereto shall we liken the kingdom of God? With what shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, it is less than all the seeds on earth. But when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all. It shoots out branches so great that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it. To those without, Jesus spoke in parables. He explained all these things to His disciples when they were alone.
That evening, Jesus told His disciples that they should cross over to the other side. And when they sent away the multitude, they took Him even as He was in the boat. There were also other little ships. And there arose a great storm. Wind and waves beat into the boat and it was now full of water. Jesus was in the back part of the boat, asleep on a pillow. They woke Him and said, Master, carest thou not that we perish? Then Jesus arose, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Peace, be still.
The wind ceased and there was a great calm. Jesus said to them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith? Then those nearby said one to another, What kind of man is this that even the wind and the sea obey?
5 They arrived on the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, He was immediately met by a man who came out of his dwelling place in the tombs. The man had an unclean spirit and no man could bind him. Whenever he had been bound with fetters and chains, he plucked the chains asunder and broke the fetters in pieces. No one could tame him and night and day he was in the mountains or in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
Yet, when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshipped Him. The man cried with a loud voice, What have I to