“1 Again Jesus began to teach beside the sea. Such a very large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the sea and sat there, while the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. 2 He began to teach them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: 3 ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell on a path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil. 6 And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 8 Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.’ 9 And he said, ‘If you have ears to hear, then hear’” Mark 4:1-9!
This is one of the major parables of Jesus because in it Jesus evaluates our various responses to His teachings and actions in our lives. What starts out so poorly, ends spectacularly! This parable, however, is intended to inspire us and encourage us to stay the course and not give up on God. In spite of all of our failures and experiences of others who oppose us or criticize us, God brings forth a triumphal end which He has always promised. Clearly the major point is that a good crop depends entirely on the soil.
Now if this is just a farmer telling this parable, it is not particularly inspiring. But the fact that Jesus is telling this story is key. For sowing is a metaphor for God’s work. Mark wants us to see Jesus as the One who goes out to sow the Word of God, which implies that Jesus came to renew Israel and each of us. And how you and I respond to His teachings decides whether we will be included or excluded.
Notice that Jesus sows His Word everywhere, on everyone, on good soil and bad soil. No one can tell God, “You didn’t give me a fair chance!” No, the seed falls everywhere, in good areas and in bad areas. Jesus sows lavishly and generously, so the question is, “How receptive will you and I be to the Word of God?”
Despite then reversals caused by hungry birds, scorching heat, skimpy soil, and thorns, the farmer still gets a good harvest. In other words, the Word of God will not fail!
This parable also tells us something we experience all the time: Evil doesn’t vanish with the coming of Christ, and we all don’t universally respond to Christ. We can throw out the Word of God, whittle it down to something insignificant, or reject the truth of Jesus Christ no matter how He comes.
Sometime we will see nothing and understand nothing.
But clearly, seed that bears good fruit is the essential mark in the Kingdom of God. In this parable Jesus is summoning us to obey the commands of God, and to do the will of God. We must allow the Word of God to harvest good fruit in our lives.
So today, consider in prayer, and pray for, living your remaining days and hours harvesting what god has sown in His Word. Turn to god today and be obedient to Him.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments” John 14:15.
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” James 1:22.
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you” Luke 6:46?
“Jesus answered him, ‘If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him’” John 14:23.
“But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men and women” Acts 5:29.
Comments