Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said:
“Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”
Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”
When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that,
“‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,
and ever hearing but never understanding;
otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’”
Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seeds along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.” (New International Version)
All four of the New Testament Gospels have their own particular angle and focus upon the life of Jesus Christ. For Mark, he wrote to demonstrate and prove the established authority of Christ over everything.
God’s power is expressed in and through Christ. So, when Mark tells a story, he is concerned to communicate that God’s kingdom – God’s rule and reign on this earth – comes through Jesus as the Sovereign over this realm of the universe and our world.
By means of a parable – a farmer going out and scattering seeds – Jesus was making some points about the kingdom of God: it will be successful; it is thoroughly under divine control; and it’s inclusive.
God’s Reign Will Succeed
History is inexorably moving toward a climax. God’s sovereign rule has broken into human history. Christ’s authoritative rule is taking root, growing, and shall eventually envelope all the world.
It may not presently seem as if that’s going to happen. But appearances can be deceiving. Although much, if not most, of the good gospel seeds spread about this earth never produce a harvest of righteousness, there is enough good soil for those seeds to succeed.
Even though there is a lot of unproductive and ineffective soil in this world, good seeds in good soil will germinate and take root. They will grow, develop, mature, and ripen. An abundant yield of crops will more than satisfy the needs of the earth. And it will blow the imagination of even the wisest and best farmer.
One person, having realized the incredible fruit of the Spirit, makes a broad, deep, and expansive impact on dozens, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, and even millions of people. It certainly doesn’t happen overnight; but goodness, truth, beauty, and righteousness are making their way slowly – and will overtake and overwhelm all evil.
If you make disciples who make more disciples, that is multiplication. Jesus made disciples, and called his followers to do the same. He spent three years training twelve men; and then commissioned them to go out and reproduce the process with others. (Matthew 28:18-20)
Beginning in Jerusalem, the earliest disciples of Jesus began making more disciples, following Christ’s ascension, and that movement has never stopped. Jesus started a movement of a few seeds multiplying into many seeds, so that the Church would grow exponentially. Not even the gates of hell can stop the process from happening. (Acts 1:1-8; Matthew 16:17-19)
God’s Reign Is Ruled by God
That may seem like a ridiculously obvious statement, yet it still needs to be said. God is authoritatively in control, not only of God’s own kingdom, but of all things. This means that God’s rule and reign is the result of God’s action, not ours. The only thing we need to do is scatter the seed and be a simple farmer. Everything else is up to God.
Our ability to do anything is animated by God’s gracious work in our lives. The power to effect making disciples comes from the Lord. Since we are dependent upon God for our next breath, we are also completely under the authority and sustaining presence of God for everything in life.
Both the subject and object of every biblical story is God. In this unfolding drama of redemptive history that we are experiencing, God is the writer, producer, director, and lead actor; we only have some bit parts in the whole thing. It’s our job to respond – and not to try and take over the show.
God’s Reign Is Inclusive
When gospel seeds are established in good soil, eventually producing an abundant harvest, it will feed the entire world. It will include all kinds of people. The produce which is available is not limited to a particular group of people. God’s grace and goodness are shown to people without prejudice or favoritism.
The best things in life begin as small as a mustard seed. That’s because every good thing we have is a result of humility. And from that place – the hummus of the earth – God creates life, gives new life, and does the improbable and the impossible of transforming a tiny little seed into a tall expansive plant which blesses many.
Conclusion
As simple humble farmers of faith, we need to pay attention to what we have, so that we don’t become complacent. The forces of evil – the spiritual tornados and tsunamis – are still very much active on this earth. Those powers temporarily oppose the good power and authority of Christ.
The good word spread to us can be snatched and taken away by the ravens of Satan. Although other good words make some effective headway, all the weeds around them can choke the plants until they wither and die. All sorts of existential conditions surrounding the plants can cause a failure to thrive.
Whenever Christians face opposition – or when they observe young believers lost to those surrounding forces – they need not become discouraged. Why? Because this is all a part of the ministry to which every follower of Jesus is called. Our part is to keep sowing and planting. The rest is up to God.
Sovereign and almighty God:
Give me strength to live faithfully this day;
Let me not turn coward because of difficulties, or become irresponsible to my duties;
Let me not lose faith in other people;
Keep me sweet and sound of heart, in spite of ingratitude, treachery or meanness;
Preserve me from minding little stings or giving them;
Help me to keep my heart clean and to live so honestly and fearlessly that no outward failure can dishearten me or take away the joy of conscious integrity;
Open wide the eyes of my soul that I may see good in all things;
Grant me this day some new vision of your truth;
Inspire me with the spirit of joy and gladness, and make me the fertilizer to suffering souls; in the name of the strong Deliverer, our only Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Rev. Tim Ehrhardt 