The Gospel of Mark for Readers | Page 4

was no good
soil. It sprang up quickly. But, because it had no roots, it was scorched
by the sunlight and withered away.
Some seed fell among thorns. The thorns grew up and choked it, and it
yielded no fruit. Other seed fell on good ground. This did 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,