Have you ever wondered why Jesus spoke in parables? So did his disciples. As a master artist, Jesus was not concerned about communicative clarity; he wanted to be known. He wanted people to dig deep and follow Him.

In Mark 4, Jesus gives the parable of the four soils, which is less about "who's in; who's out", and more an invitation to how will we respond to Jesus' words and life? With cold indifference? Or as an apprentice, who is willing to let the gardner do His work of pruning in us?