Powerpoint Pictures: Hand behind ear; Someone wearing glasses; Ear with lots of earrings; Person balancing; Dumbo flying

What are some of the things you can use your ears for? [Hearing; Wearing Glasses; Decorating; Balancing; Flying]

Jesus has been travelling around doing lots of incredible things like turning water into wine, calling people to follow Him, healing those who were sick and forgiving sins.  Something else He did a lot of was teach, and one way He taught people was by telling them stories or parables.

On one occasion He told a story about a farmer who scattered seed all over a field.  Some of the seed landed on a path, some on rocky ground, some amongst thorns, and some on good soil.  The seed that fell on the path, rocky ground, and among the thorns didn’t produce a crop, but the seed that fell on good soil did.

After telling this story, Jesus turned to the crowd, and said: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Mark 4:9)

Why did He say this?  The crowd surely had ears to hear, after all they heard Him tell the story.  But what Jesus meant was do you understand what the story means?

The story wasn’t really about seed and soils.  It was about how people respond to God’s Word about Jesus.

Jesus was saying that when people hear about Him, about who He is and all that He’s done, they will either follow Him like the seed that fell on good soil, or they won’t like the seed that fell on the path, rocky ground, and among thorns.

There are only two ways that people can respond to Jesus.  Either they will follow Him or they will not.