Mark 4:10-12 “Mystery, Secret, and Riddle”

Suggested Praise Songs:

• Open the Eyes of My Heart – Paul Baloche
• This I Believe (The Creed) – Hillsong Worship
• Touch The Sky – Hillsong UNITED
• Be Thou My Vision (Lord You Are) | Shane & Shane

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

• A story about a farmer (Mark 4:1-20) – Bible Story for Kids
• You Forgive Me | Holyland Adventure: Egypt VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• I Will Sing Unto the Lord (Horse and Rider) | HLA Wilderness Escape VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• To The Lord | Preschool Worship Song – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth located in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

Many people followed Jesus wherever he went, leaving him with little time to rest. However, he would often withdraw from the crowd to spend quiet moments in reflection. During these times, his disciples would ask him questions about his teachings and actions. After hearing the “Parable of the Sower,” the disciples approached him, seeking to understand its deeper meaning (verse 10).

Jesus explained the parable to them and said, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you” (verse 11). The “kingdom of God” refers not to a physical place but to “God’s reign.” The entire universe and all life exist under His reign. This divine rule is neither visible nor tangible to the hand, so it is described as a “secret.” The Greek word mysterion can also be translated as “mystery.” It refers to something real yet elusive and difficult to comprehend fully. This is the nature of God’s reign. To reveal these truths, Jesus often used parables.

Then Jesus added, “But to those on the outside, everything is said in parables.” Here, the word “parable” translates from the Greek parabole, which can mean “a story to aid understanding” but also “a riddle difficult to solve.” The “outsiders” refer to those who do not believe. When they hear stories about the kingdom of God, they dismiss them as nonsensical or irrelevant.

This situation is not new. God had already foretold through the prophet Isaiah that there would be people who would not understand or respond to God’s message. When God called Isaiah as a prophet, he warned that few would repent and be saved even after hearing God’s word. This happened in the past and is happening again in Jesus’ time.

Meditation:

Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, “God is spirit, and the worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). The Greek word for “spirit,” pneuma, can also be translated as “breath,” “air,” or “wind.” Like the wind, God is unseen but undeniably real. God exists and works, even though God is not visible or tangible.

The entire universe and all life originate from God and exist within Him. The Apostle Paul described God as the one “who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:6) and declared, “In Him, we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Just as our eyes cannot fully see our entire body unless we look in a mirror—because they are a part of our body—we cannot perceive God as an external object because we exist within Him.

Jesus referred to God’s existence and work as “mystērion” (mystery or secret). Humanity, confined by the limitations of our flesh, cannot fully understand God’s existence or His work on our own. We can only know God when He reveals Himself to us, and that is why it is called a “mystery.” Even when God reveals Himself, we cannot fully comprehend or see everything. This is why it remains a “mystery.” Mysteries captivate us; the more we learn, the more we want to know. To believe in God means embracing this mystery and living within it. When we do, this mystery transforms us.

However, not many people open their eyes to God’s mystery or allow themselves to be captivated by it. Some see only what is visible and tangible, believing it is all there is. No matter how extraordinary the evidence they witness, it does not move them. They choose to remain blind and deaf because they prefer to live as they always have, tightly shutting their eyes and covering their ears. This was the case during Isaiah’s time, Jesus’ ministry, and even now. To them, Jesus’ words remain nothing more than riddles.

Prayer:

O Lord, I close my physical eyes and ask you to open the eyes of my heart. I cover my physical ears and pray that you will open the ears of my spirit. Help me see you—above, among, and within us. Help me to recognize that we live and move in you. Open my eyes to see the wondrous, mysterious work you do in us, around us, and through us each day. Lead me to follow your ways faithfully. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: God is a mystery that cannot always be fully understood with our physical eyes or ears, but God reveals Himself to us through His works and Word. To truly know God, we need to open the eyes and ears of our hearts. Believing in God means embracing His mystery, following His ways, and trusting in what we cannot see.

• For Preschool-Elementary
  • What does it mean when we say God is a mystery?
    • Encourage children to share their thoughts about knowing God even when we can’t see Him.
  • How can we open the “eyes of our hearts” to see God better?
    • Prompt them to think about prayer, kindness, and listening to Bible stories.

• For Middle School
  • Why do some people have a hard time believing in God?
    • Discuss how faith is different from things we can see or touch.
• For High School
  • Have you ever experienced a moment where you felt God’s presence mysteriously or unexpectedly?
    • Provide space for students to share personal stories and discuss how these moments strengthen faith.