Mark 4:26-29 "The Parable of the Seed"

Introduction:

You may remember when we started looking at Jesus parables, the first one we looked at was the parable of the Sower in verses 1-20.

We saw how the Sower sows the seed of the word of God and it produces depending on what kind of ground that it falls onto.

But the parable before us this morning is dealing with a comparison between the seed that is scattered set in contrast with the dynamic of the Kingdom of God.

And we will see that there are mysterious elements involved for the man who scatters the seed and so it is with the Kingdom of God. Look back at your text to verses 26-27:

I. The Mystery of the Seed (26-27).

Now in ancient times they didn’t know scientifically all that we know about seed germination in our day. In ancient times they were very aware of basic agricultural dynamics of sowing seed and reaping a harvest.

A man needed to sow seed if there was to be a harvest. It is a very simplistic principle. But it appears that the biological principles seed germination and growth are beyond him in Jesus parable.

He scatters and then he sleeps and rises and while he is doing normal daily task there is something that is taking place with the seed that is outside of him and his ability.

The seed is sprouts and grows and the Sower does not know how this happens, he is only aware that is happens because he can see it taking place. But to him it is a mystery.

The Kingdom of God operates outside of the known order of men. Men may go through the motions for Kingdom advancement but mans abilities and actions in sowing are not what makes the seed sprout and grow for the harvest.

At face value we may think it is because in Jesus day this was the human dynamic of sowing and reaping. But there is something else that is far more foundational in order for the seed to be made manifest. Look back to your text to verses 28-29:

II. The Manifestation of the Seed (28-29).

Jesus declares that the earth produces by itself, the blade, the ear, then the full grain in the ear.

When Jesus says, the earth produces by itself, He is explaining that there is an organic dynamic built into God’s design of the earth and the seed that causes the seed to produce apart from the involvement of man.

If this organic dynamic was not ordered into creation man would never be able to sow or reap. It is all by design and by this design the principles of sowing and reaping displayed in agriculture by human hands would never happen.

It is the discovery of God’s order and design in creation that is foundational to produce the grain. Man sows and man harvest but everything in between that relates to the seed germinating to the point of a harvest is a divine dynamic of the created order of almighty God.

But Christian this parable is not primarily about agriculture and the biological principles that make a seed produce a harvest. It is primarily about the spiritual dynamic of the Kingdom of God that is planted in seed form that eventually produces a spiritual harvest.

There is an order and design to it that makes little sense to this fallen world in which we live. The God of the Bible is “transcendent” it is a big word that denotes that God is above the range of normal physical human experience.

He is not bound by space, time and history; nor can human action manipulate Him in His sovereign rule over all things. He has ordered the spiritual dynamic of His Kingdom to be advanced by the Holy Spirit in the world.

When Zechariah recieved his prophesy concerning Zerubbabel rebuilding the temple it came by way of an angel. The temple was to be rebuilt but it would come to pass not through the ordinary means. Zechariah 4:6 tells us how the Lord would build His temple: Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.

God’s design to build His Kingdom with Christ as the head is by the Holy Spirit. This is what makes the gospel effectual to grow the Kingdom. Regenerated man may sow the word but the Kingdom advances by the power of the Holy Spirit. This is why all the glory belongs to God.

As Christians in the Kingdom we must understand this because if we don’t we can become very discouraged in our evangelism efforts. Sometimes I think God has used frustrations in evangelism to wake me up to the misplacement of my faith in other things. Including believing in my abilities and training instead of His order and His ability.

What helps us in cultivating a Kingdom dynamic in our ministry efforts is to committed to prayer as a spiritual discipline for Kingdom advancement. Prayer helps cultivate a dependence upon God to carry out His purposes in the Kingdom as it advances in the world.

Sowing seeds in confidence of the Holy Spirit to work in keeping with God’s order and design for Kingdom advancement is an expression of the Christian faith.

The righteous will live by faith and that means that they will also minister by that same faith. It is a faith to believe that God will do what He has determined by the spiritual order that He has designed for Kingdom advancement. He has commanded us to sow the seed as His covenant people but the increase that come through the seed germinating into a transformed life is His work. Only He can transform the heart.

This is the very thing that should give us confidence and courage in evangelism. We sow the seed but God transforms for the harvest.

The sower sows the seed and it germinates and eventually it is ready for the harvest. Then the sower gets His combine in the modern day and harvest the grain.

Spiritually we sow the word. Not just the job of the pastor and not just in formal sermons. But we all are to be doing it for Kingdom advancement. This is why we have programs in churches. They give us platforms to sow the word into the live of adults and children alike. This is why we encourage parents to sow spiritual seeds into their home lives. We anticipate the harvest.

Conclusion:

This is also why I didn’t preach out of Time or Newsweek magazine or the U.S. Constitution this morning. Because such things are not capable of transforming us from death to life. God has not decreed them to be the means of transformation nor are they seed for the harvest.

Are you a part of His Kingdom today? If you are an unbeliever the seed of the gospel has been scattered on your ground today. And if you are to be His and in His Kingdom one day the seed of the word will grow into a harvest in your life.

And maybe that day is today. Maybe today the harvest is ready. Come to Him in faith in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation. Believe the gospel and be saved.

Believer we come to this table today to feast upon the provision of God to us in Christ. In preparation for this table Scripture tells us we are to examine ourselves. We must come with a clear conscience before Him by faith in His provision of grace to us. Confess your sin and rest in His grace to you Christian as we prepare. Let’s pray!

No closed and Everyone together!