The Power of Parable

 Mark 4:10 And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11 And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, 12 so that
“‘they may indeed see but not perceive,
    and may indeed hear but not understand,
lest they should turn and be forgiven.’”
13 And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?

In this chapter, Jesus began to teach in parables, beginning with the parable of the Sower, the seed, and the soil.  These were short and simple stories with strong spiritual lessons.  Yet, many seemed to struggle to understand what the most child-like could.  Parables had the power to divide true seekers from those who wanted to "get it", but not really change.  The seed is planted to grow into something different, just as lamps are meant to shine not to draw the attention to themselves, but to what is really there. After saying the same things a few different ways with parables, Jesus then calms the storm.  His demonstration of such power was to add punch to His words, His parables.  They were to be heeded and obeyed just as the sea did.