Mark 4:1-20: parables, their problems and their explanations

In these twenty verses, three things happen:
1. Jesus tells a parable
2. Jesus explains why parables can sometimes be a hindrance to understanding the gospel
3. Jesus explains the parable he just told

The first thing Jesus does is tell a parable, the parable of the sower.  It's probably one that many of us are familiar with.  My experience has been that we usually focus our attention on either the various types of soil, or on the seed.  Both are important, as Jesus explains towards the end of the passage, but we miss something if we fail to consider how the seed and soil work together to produce growth, and eventually a harvest.  It's the parable of the sower, not the parable of the planter.  In other words, God broadcasts the good news of Jesus Christ and the invitation to participate in the in-breaking of His kingdom universally.  The seed falls on all types of soil, this itself is the definition of grace.  God does not choose only the soil that is "good enough".  It is not up to us to make the growth happen, our job is to simply make room in our heart for the word that God wants to plant there.  An interesting note about the type of soils is that the rocky soil is actually described as petrodes, a word that shares the same root as the name of the Apostle Peter.  This could be coincidence, but even so it teaches us a valuable lesson.  All of us, whether apostle or new believer, have some rocks or thorns in the soil of our heart.  When we see Peter's journey, from one who would cower at the thought of being associated with Jesus, to one who would boldly proclaim His death and resurrection, we see that the sowing of the seed is the beginning, rather than the end of God's work.  When Jesus speaks of the harvest to come, he gives us a glimpse into the miraculous future that God will produce through our faith in His Son.

Why then does Jesus speak of parables confusing people?  Is Jesus being deliberately misleading?  Is he trying to hide the truth?  On the contrary, Jesus is revealing the truth through the parable that He gives.  His point is that the parables are not meant to give us an answer, but rather to jump-start our own imagination when it comes to envisioning how God is at work in the world.  Many of the people were coming to Jesus because they wanted simple answers.  Jesus' response is that faith is not simple, and unless we are willing to engage our imagination and the very mind that we have been blessed with, our eyes and ears will never be opened to all that God is doing in the world around us.  

The section ends with Jesus explaining the parable that he just gave to them.  He says, "to you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God".  The word secret is also translated mystery, which I think is more appropriate.  It is the only time in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) that this word is used.  Jesus brings it up to show us that the point is not to explain the mystery.  Much division has resulted in the Christian world because we feel the need to explain everything, even the inexplicable.  The point is to embrace the mystery, and allow it to sink deep into our hearts, just as good soil embraces a seed.     Our own failure to understand how the seed grows, and the harvest is produced, robs the process of none of its wonder.  In fact, it's what makes it such a visible manifestation of grace, the very work of God among us.