Throughout this chapter Jesus addresses His use of parables. We learn that those who believed in Jesus could understand what was meant by the parables. We also learn that those who resisted the truth of who Jesus was would never understand the truth of the parables. Jesus' disciples were among those who were given the ability to understand. Sadly, there were many who wanted life to keep on going the way it was and had no desire to learn these new teachings and truths. Jesus said that the things He taught were important and that anyone with ears should listen. Just as today, there were many that heard but few that understood. He also spoke of those with closed minds who would see and hear what He did and said but would not understand. He states that if they were open to Him, they would hear, see, understand, and be forgiven. When the truth of Jesus is desired and He is accepted as Lord, that truth and understanding leads to forgiveness.
The secret of the kingdom of God in this parable is His plan of sowing seeds in the world. Jesus taught that as the sower (who the sower is is not defined- it could likely be Jesus and those who follow His example) sows the seed (Jesus' message, the Word of God), those truths fall on all kinds of listeners. As large crowds are spoken to, many are there for a variety of reasons and all have different experiences and responses to what is taught. That was the same with Jesus' teaching.
Some of what He taught was heard by people who were not open to what He was teaching and never really let it settle into their mind or heart. As they listened it would be easy to see them frown and listen in disbelief. Satan would be close at hand as such people listened and would quickly take away any impact it might have in their hearts and minds (that is the seed that fell on the footpath and the birds immediately ate it). If the sower would stop and watch how his efforts of sowing turned out at that point, he would see that his efforts produced nothing. An uncommitted sower might give up at that point in time. However, the parable shows the sower continuing to sow. I think we can take that as a lesson of encouragement to not give up based on preliminary results but rather to keep sowing.
The sower then continues to sow. This time we see people in the crowd hear His teaching and get excited by what He taught. In fact, they are filled with joy for what He offers and want to follow. The problem is that this group of people, while excited about the teaching, don't hang on to it for long. Their depth of conviction is shallow and when their thoughts wander back to things of the world and when hard times come along or they are mocked for their faith, they let go of it and return to what they were before hearing the truth of His teachings. (These are those who are defined as a shallow layer of earth over a rocky bed. What they heard excited them and they accepted it eagerly but when things got tough they fell away and their faith died, just as a plant in shallow dirt cannot survive the heat of the day).
Again, the sower keeps sowing, he never gives up. If we think of Jesus as the sower, isn't it amazing and comforting to see that now matter whether people accept or reject Him, He continues to reach out, to make the effort that more and more people are given the opportunity to hear and believe. Also notice that He doesn't force His seed to grow. He doesn't sow it then stand over it and wave His almighty hand making it take root. The crop that is to come is dependent on the condition of the surface the seed falls on.
This time Jesus' teachings to the crowd is heard by another type of person. While this person hears what Jesus teaches, his heart and mind become consumed by his thoughts of all the problems of his life, chasing after wealth or a stronger desire for things other than what Jesus offers. What he heard Jesus say to him is quickly overpowered by his worldly concerns and while there may be a glimmer deep inside, nothing ever happens and he never acts on what he hears nor does he share what he heard with others. (This is the seed that falls in an area full of weeds. The weeds (or concerns of a worldly life) choke the plant, stopping it from growing into the great plant it could be. Such a plant never becomes mature thus never bearing fruit.)
The sower continues to sow. He never gives up. He is on a mission and is determined to see it come true. His desire is to see a huge field of healthy thriving plants that will bear fruit and feed many.
So, Jesus continued teaching. This time His teaching is heard by those who listen intently. These people hear what He teaches and accept the Word of God. Jesus' teaching and words settle deep within them and their life in Christ grows. They not only live in the awesomeness of a relationship with Him but they share what they have learned. Then those that they shared with share with others and those share with still others. By the Word planted in such people, multitudes of people hear the Word of God and share with even more people. (These are the seeds that fell on fertile soil.) This is the parable of the sower.
If we look at the progression of the state of the soil that the truth of Jesus fell on and compare it to the ages it has been being taught, we can see that initially the world at the time was evil and consumed by darkness. The world was hard hearted and determined to not accept anything that would change it. Those people then simply rejected what Christ offered and went on living the life they had been living. As time passed, some heard His teachings and were excited. Perhaps they didn't fully understand and because they were attacked for following Jesus, they gave up. Still later, there were those who heard and believed but their desire for the kingdom that Jesus offered did not compete with the worldly kingdom they desired. They were more interested in riches and fame and power than a life in Christ. While they heard and maybe had some belief, the things of the world prevented them from becoming mature in what they heard an understood. These people might even be seen as believers but not believers who do anything with their faith. Then we see a time where many believe and they share what they have learned and believe. Now we see many times more come to a faith in Christ than were initially exposed to His Word. The message is multiplied over and over again and the fields grow full of those who follow Jesus.
Jesus continued with another parable. He spoke of the purpose of a lamp. He showed that no one ever lights a lamp with the purpose of not using it in the way it was intended to be used. A lamp is lit intending to light a room, so for it to be lit then covered over was a misuse of the light the lamp gives off. When a lamp is lit and put in a place that it lights the entire room up, everything in the room will easily be seen and nothing will be hidden. Again, Jesus said that everyone should pay attention to His teaching.
I have read many thoughts on the meaning of this parable and they vary quite a bit. I think that the fact that it followed the parable of the sower is significant. The truth of who Jesus is and His message illuminates the darkness, lies, and misdirection caused by the things of the world. The light is His truth that exposes all things. Jesus came to earth to teach and illuminate the world. He came to show the powers of darkness up for what they really are. Without Chirst and His teachings, we would all still wander in darkness having no idea that there was anything other than what we saw in a worldy sense. Jesus did not come to earth to be kept a well hidden secret but to be the one who teaches the truth of what life and death are all about.
When Christ comes into our lives, He should light up our lives. He should light up every area and aspect of our lives. We should see our lives more clearly and we should see how we live understanding the good ways we live and the wrong ways we live. Having this understanding we can then make the right choices, adjustments, and decisions, and share what we have learned with those who come into our circle of life.
In the sower parable we get an idea of what kind of people we can be when the Word is sown in us. Christ is the Light of the world, He is the way, the truth, and the light. In Him is hope, forgiveness, and salvation. Only through Him can we come to the Father. He was sent into the world to be the light of the world. Now what do we do with that information? Do we put it under a bushel or cover it up? No, we put it on a stand for all to see so that their life becomes illuminated by the truth of who he is.
Again, Jesus instructs to pay close attention to what you hear. The closer we listen and the more we pay attention, the more we will understand. In verse 25 He tells us that those of us who listen to His teaching will receive more understanding but for those who are not paying attention, for those who do not listen, even what little they did understand, they will lose.
In the following parable we see a different view of the farmer. Previously, the farmer scatters the seed. That is his job and once he scatters the seed he waits patiently. And we see that no matter what, whether he is awake or asleep something is happening. The seed begins to grow. With no further involvement on his part, the seed sprouts and grows. The farmer or sower doesn't know how this happens but watches as it does. When the seed takes root in the earth, the crop is produced on it's own. First it breaks ground, then the heads of wheat form and finally the grain ripens. The farmer/sower watches this happen with no help from him. When the time is right, he harvests the crop. At just the right time, the reaper is sent forth to reap the harvest of his labor.
Again, there are several views on this parable but parables are comparisons and often speak to each of us in different ways. I look at it as when the seeds that grew and finally became mature and ripe with no further intervention on the part of the sower, he then harvests them unto himself. Perhaps, Jesus came and planted the seeds of truth about who He is and that He is God. That seed grew in those who heard Him teach it directly. The truth fell on good hearts and minds and it grew and they shared what they had been taught with others until the whole of earth has heard the Good News. When all the seeds have been sown and all the seed that has fallen on open hearts and minds have grown and matured, Christ gathers them all to Himself for a life eternal with Him.
Next, Jesus again offers a parable about the kingdom of God. He likens it to a mustard seed. The mustard seed is the smallest of all garden seeds yet when fully grown it is the largest of all the garden plants. It is so large that while all the other plants are too small for birds to nest in, they nest in the mustard plant.
This makes me think of all the mighty powers of earth, boasting in their military might and financial power. We see tons of special interest groups flexing their muscles and imposing their might on those around them. We see and hear how big and mighty companies are like Walmart and others. We see all these groups marketing and reaching for more to become bigger and bigger. We daily watch adds on television coaxing us to help them attain massive growth by giving them our money. We see and hear it in political parties. In Jesus' time, it was the Roman Empire. There have been such powers as the Philistines, Alexander the Great, Stalin, Hitler, Nebuchadnezzar, mighty Babylon, the Persians, the egyptians of old. We have seen and read of their conquests and might and power, but where are they now. Where is any world power of the past today? Where are any of the mightiest of leaders?
My daughter, Jamie, offered a thought that just has to be added regarding the mustard seed. She took it to a personal level. Can we see that way back the Word of God (the mustard seed) was planted in us (as the garden)? That little tiny seed just sat there, growing little by little, quietly but steadily. All the while we were running about trying a variety of lifestyles, changing our highest priorities over and over. Seeking and finding but then what we found may not have been all that we hoped it would be. So what did we do? We sought and found and sought and found. We had plants of hundreds of varieties in our garden. But none of them ever took center stage, none of them ever fulfilled us.
All the years of seeking, the little mustard seed (the Word of God) kept doing it's thing. It grew and grew until one day it became the largest of all the plants in our garden. One day it took center stage and here we are today. Followers of Christ in ways we never even thought of. WOW.
In the time of the Romans, a light came to earth and a seed was planted. It was Jesus telling the world of the kingdom of God and His mighty plan. For centuries, the world (or garden) has grown. Plants have become mighty and fallen. Then other plants and still others. Yet all that time, the seed of the kingdom of God has quietly continued to grow. It grows and grows and grows. No fanfare, no marketing, no boasting of power and might. It just grows slowly and steadily. When all is done and earth has run it's course, the kingdom of God will stand strong and mighty in the garden. It will stand as the only plant in the garden that can offer safety and comfort to the creatures of the garden.
Mark 4 ends with the story of Jesus and his disciples getting into the boat to cross to the other side of the lake. We have all read or heard this story many times but I want you to pay particular attention to a few words in verse 36, which I will put in bold letters. Verse 36 is as follows (NLT) "So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind, although other boats followed." The story goes on to tell that soon a fierce storm came up and waves were washing over into the boat (also into the boats that followed, I would imagine). Jesus was sleeping in the boat and the disciples were panicking for they feared they were going to drown. They said to Him, "Don't you care that we are going to drown?" Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and waves and suddenly there was a great calm. Jesus then asked them why they were afraid. He asked "do you still have no faith?"
So, here are my thoughts; what were the guys in the other boats thinking? What were they going through? Here they are following those who were closest to Jesus. They were following those who believed in Jesus and have committed their lives to Him. All was nice and comfy and cozy as they floated across the calm water on a lovely evening. In fact, the experience of those in the boats following them was no different from those who were in the boat with Jesus. Out of nowhere a big storm pops up. Huge waves are bouncing the boats around like corks in a Jacuzzi. Let's consider those in the boats who are following Jesus' boat. They must have panicked too. They must have thought they were going to drown.
Okay, now let's think of what is going through their minds as they are watching the disciples panic. Here is a bunch of guys who live day after day with a guy who does miracles. They are in the boat with the same guy they tell everyone about. They talk of His power and might, His goodness and oh yes, that He is the Son of God, and yet, they are in a boat with Him in a storm fearing for their lives. What kind of witness is that? What kind of example of belief in what they are telling people is that? What kind of support of their beliefs are they exhibiting? Sure it's easy to believe in this guy when there is smooth sailing but what did they do when things got tough?
The disciples eagerly jumped in the boat with Jesus when things were calm, would they have eagerly jumped in if the storm was active when they started out? Sure they jumped in when the journey looked easy but when it got tough, they cried out "Don't you care about us?" Jesus told them over and over how much He loved them and all people. He showed them through teachings, healing, and miracles. He showed them in every way imaginable how much He cared. But even with all that, when things got tough, they had no faith that He cared. I think that is what Jesus was saying. I don't think He questioned their faith about His ability to calm things down. I think this was all about believing Jesus cared enough to save them.
I will end this with something for us to think about. In this chapter there are many challenges to us to hear and learn, to share, teach and spread the Good News and to be part of the mightiest plant in the garden. It comes down to this. We may believe and do all the things the Lord would have us do. We may teach and preach, help and be kind, be generous and loving. We may know every story of Christ in the Bible and do our daily devotions. All those things are wonderful and important and we need to practice them. But our walk with Jesus is a personal one. We often refer to it as a "personal relationship" with Him. So what does that relationship look like. When life gets sideways and things fall apart do we maintain a faith that knows He cares? When we lose homes or jobs or our health, do we maintain a faith that believes He cares? When the storms of life pop up and all about us is in chaos and we fear the worst, do we maintain a faith that is sure He cares? What is our witness of faith to those in the boats following us in our walk with Jesus? What do they see when they are in the storms of life with those of us who are believers in Christ? Is our witness of faith and trust in Him the same in hard times as in times of easy sailing? Do we cry out, "Jesus, don't you care?" Honestly, I have and on more than one occassion. After this blog today, I am alerted to my faith and perhaps how it waivers during some of the tough times. Hmmm. Something for me to repent of and work on. How about you?