Joel Marcus, "Mark 4:10-12 and Marcan Epistemology," JBL 103 (1984): 557-574.

Marcus points out what he deems to be the rich backgrounds of various motifs in Mark 4:10-12 and parallel Markan texts in Jewish apocalyptic, and concludes that Mark 4:10-12 was designed to encourage the Markan community in its sufferings to recognize that God's purpose was working itself out in a mysterious way involving triumph in apparent defeat. Though Marcus' argument is solid, he fails to follow through on the observation and anchor the Markan community's sufferings and victories in the Christ-event.