Growing from the Word
Mark 2026 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick? For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath. And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come. And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.
And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
Introduction
Introduction
Jesus continues to use parables in His teaching as we look at our passage this morning. The parables are illuminating truths that Jesus want His believing hearers to grasp. Let’s see what truths Jesus has for our spiritual growth today.
Mark was likely the first Gospel written. Under the inspiration of God, he writes with an intent to point his readers toward the Cross and the Empty Tomb. Those who read are faced with a question: who is this Jesus?
As we grow in our walk with God this year, we want to be Following in the Life of Faith. That means that we must begin with the correct Person to put our faith in. Mark gives us the message of Jesus to all people.
Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Will you commit each day to believe God and His promises? Will you confess your sins and choose to grow in relationship to Him? If you have not yet, will you believe in Him for salvation? Let’s Follow in the Life of Faith this year and see God do what He says He will!
Growth in the Christian life is shown through fruit. In the parable of the Sower, Jesus pointed out the reaction by various people to the preaching of the Word of God. Preaching is the most important part of our church service because the focus of all that we have ought to be on the Living Word of God who is revealed through the written Word of God. Jesus must be our center as a church.
Preaching has had a varied history since the time of Jesus. During the early church, there was a difference of opinion on how to interpret Scripture for preaching. Some taught that the Bible should be taken literally. Others, following the example of some Jewish scholars, took the Bible allegorically and tried to show hidden meanings for application in preaching.
As the years have passed, there have been many who are seeking to stick to exactly what the Bible says. This is so important because the authority of the preacher is based on the Word of God. This is the purpose of Jesus using these parables. The understanding of the clear Word of God is necessary for salvation. We must know that we are sinners and that He is the Saviour who has taken away our sin.
In our passage this morning, Jesus moves from the response to preaching to the response of the believer to continued preaching. Preaching is a marathon, not a sprint. Being present each week where the Bible is preached is necessary for consistent, spiritual growth. What truths can we learn from these parables about the spiritual growth of a believer?
Declaration
Declaration
God's kingdom will grow according to His perfect plan, despite any opposition. Jesus is making it clear that growth is the work of the Word in the heart of the receptive believer. Today, we must grow in our understanding of the Word and work of God. There are three principles of growth that we should apply today in our spiritual lives.
1. Growth Begins with What We Have
1. Growth Begins with What We Have
And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick? For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.
The first of the parables that Jesus tells in this section changes the description of the Christian life to a lamp. Jesus is teaching here that Growth begins with what we have. Jesus often uses light and darkness to show the influence of God on the sin of the world.
In verse 21, we see that Jesus begins with two questions: would you put a candle unter a basket or under a bedroll? The answer is surely no to these. The bushel basket was used for snuffing out a candle in some situations. However, covering the candle is not effective in providing light to the room. This is a simple illustration that Jesus used in the Sermon on the Mount as well. There, in chapter 5, He is pointing out the importance of shining a believer’s testimony to the world. Here, He uses this for a different purpose.
Verse 22 gives the purpose of this picture. Jesus is showing forth the Word of God, the gospel of the kingdom. Salvation has now come and the people must repent and believe. What was before unknown is now found in Jesus Himself. This Word is a guide to a relationship with God.
NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path.
Growth begins with what we have. We have a choice today whether to be diligent with the knowledge that God has given us or whether to hide it. In verses 23-25, Jesus begins applying this principle.
First, we need to listen to the Word of God. Verse 23 echos verse 9 in a call to hear the words of Jesus. If we are not under the preaching of the Word of God, we will have trouble growing in our Christian life. This is not a plead for a person as in the preacher. This is not a call for time or money. Instead, this is the call of Jesus to be growing in our relationship with Him. People will listen to someone for their own encouragement. Choose to make that someone who is preaching the clear Word of God!
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Second, we need to live out what we know of the Word of God. Faithful obedience equals growing in grace. Jesus promises that those who use what they have will have more in verses 24-25. Do you want to know what to do next in your spiritual life? Use the knowledge that you have and obey the Word of God in your life. Growth is something that occurs when you begin where you are.
Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
I recently have begun running again. In fact, I started last week as the weather has gotten warmer. Running is something that I hate doing but it is good for your health. I enjoy listening to podcasts as I run. Thinking helps take my mind off the tiredness and soreness. What you learn if you start running is that you begin with what you have. Growing in your stamina and reaching new milestones in your distance takes work. You begin where you are push on to where you are going.
Jesus is saying the same thing here. Those who have knowledge need to obey it and use it. In verse 25, He gives the opposite truth. Those who do not use their understanding of growth will not have any. God has given each of us His entire word and He calls to us today to begin the process of growth where we are and with what we have. Dr. Goetsch at college often said, “the only thing that prevents revival is obedience to the decisions we have already made.” May we choose to grow today.
2. Growth Happens According to God’s Time
2. Growth Happens According to God’s Time
And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
The second parable that Jesus uses is pointed toward the preacher himself. This parable has been personally enlightening and challenging to me. Growth happens according to God’s time. When we try to force growth on a person or in a church or in the kingdom of God, we are trying to take the authority and power that is not ours.
In verse 26, Jesus changes the description again back to a farming situation. The farmer plants the seed into the ground. He goes to sleep after a long day. The “night and day” show us the Jewish concept of next day beginning at six in the evening. The next morning, he gets up and nothing has changed. This goes on for days and days until one day. “…and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth for fruit of herself…”
God is the One who brings forth the growth through the seed, the Word of God. The farmer can do some things but he cannot do the main thing. God is the One who brings the increase. Paul says,
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
God is Everything in the spiritual growth of the Christian. The preacher is an obedient servant of God. The church is the place that God has designated for the Word to be preached each week. One commentary helps us understand this relationship,
“All the farmer can do is trust. To be sure, he can cover the seed, root up weeds, loosen the soil, add fertilizer, and perhaps even channel water to his plot. All these things are important. But he cannot cause the seed to sprout and grow. As to that, all he can do is sleep night upon night, and rise day after day. The rest he must leave entirely to the seed, ultimately to the One who created the seed, who knows it thoroughly, and activates it. The farmer must trust and pray. He must wait patiently.” - Hendricksen, pg. 167
And he continues,
“So it is with the kingdom, the reign of God. A faithful minister scatters the seed year upon year. He explains, pictures, invites, exhorts, comforts, warns, urges, makes pastoral calls. Nevertheless, to a considerable extent his efforts seem to have been futile. Then of a sudden the winds of God begin to blow upon the gardens (hearts) of his parishoners (cf. Song of Sol. 4:16). The word shows its power. It had been active before, but results had not been greatly in evidence. But now men and women, old and young, educated and unlettered, rich and poor, jubilantly confess their faith and show this in their lives. The Spirit is working mightily, always in connection with the word, the gospel. The people have peace within their hearts, the assurance of salvation. They look forward to their inheritance stored up for them in heaven.” Hendricksen, pf. 168
The parable is clear that God is the One who ultimately grows His people and He is the One who grows His church. One day, the harvest will be ready. In verse 29, we see that the harvest has now arrived and at the perfect time, there is a crop that is reaped. Both in the Judaism of the time and in the other parable of Jesus, reaping is the final judgment of the world.
Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: Come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; For their wickedness is great.
James tells us,
Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
Jesus is coming soon and there will be a judgment of all people. What have they done in response to the preaching of the Word of God? What have you done? Have you received salvation? Are you growing each day?
Jesus died for the sins of the entire world. He loved mankind so much that He came and lived a perfect life. He died on the cross for you and me. On the third day, Jesus rose again in victory. He is alive today! He has new life in Him that is available to each person who will believe in Him. Jesus came preaching belief and repentance of sin, as we have seen in Mark. How are you responding to the Word of God?
Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
Growth happens according to God’s time. We cannot speed it up or even create it. Instead, we must be faithful. Wherever you are in your life, whoever you are currently helping spiritually, don’t give up! God is working and one day we will surely see the harvest! Let’s be faithful and patient as we obey God! (Peterson)
3. Growth Cannot Be Stopped
3. Growth Cannot Be Stopped
And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it. And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
One writer has spoken this truth that Jesus is teaching in an axiom that we should always remember:
“Under normal conditions nothing can stop growth.” - Hendricksen, pg. 169
There is a final parable that Jesus gives in this passage. He uses the picture of a mustard plant. In the case of the Kingdom of God, growth cannot be stopped.
Verses 30-32 tell the story of a small seed, the mustard seed. While not the smallest seed in the world, this was well-known to these Israelites and may have been planted in some of their gardens. Jesus uses a question again as a speech device to introduce this parable. In verses 31-32, He tells the story.
A mustard seed is planted in the earth, though it is the smallest seed. When growth occurs, it becomes so large that even birds can come and live in it. This small seed has the potential and the destiny to become a giant plant.
This is not just an amazing truth of nature but a vital truth of theology. God’s kingdom, though it started with just God Himself, will grow into something that includes many. The connection of the “tree” is found in Biblical Theology showing that Jesus is the coming Messiah. From the garden of Eden to the heavenly city, a tree is seen in the story of Scripture. It points to the sin of man in the Garden as he ate the forbidden fruit. In the dream of Nebuchadnezzer, his kingdom is cut down because of his pride. On a cross of wood, Jesus as the perfect Sacrifice dies for the sin of the entire world. In heaven, the tree of life is promised to those that overcome.
Here, the tree of the mustard seed is the kingdom of God. Though it begins as so small, it will grow without anything to stop it. The kingdom of God today is offered to the world on every continent and in many countries that are not free. Yet, the gospel cannot be stopped. What a powerful God we have!
We need the Word of God to grow. We need to be living the Word to become stronger in our faith. Jesus has revealed the kingdom to the world and it will grow through His power.
Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
In your life and in mine, growth will occur if we function as plants ought to. When we allow bad nutrients or thorns or other things to stop our growth, we are in danger of stagnating in our Christian life. Growth occurs when we allow the Word to affect the soil of our hearts and prepare us to become more fruitful in the work of God.
The Christian life is like a treadmill. I remember when I was a kid, I tried to get on a treadmill while we were on vacation. Adjusting the speed to the right speed is a challenge for adults as well as for children. I slipped and fell and sprained my knee pretty bad. I learned a lesson, the treadmill is always going one direction and you must be going the opposite direction or your will slide backwards.
The Christian life is the same way. That is the reason that we talk about people who are backsliding. We must grow or we will wither!
The passage ends with the note that Jesus, when He is alone with His disciples, makes clear each of the parables and the principles that they contain. This is the reason that we have Scripture. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and the research of these four men, we have the Gospels. God used these men to bring us the Word that we can grow through today!
Growth cannot be stopped if we allow a plant to be fruitful in good soil. The kingdom will grow into a great mustard tree through the power of God. Will we have growth in our lives? Will we allow the thorns or the stones keep us from seeing that growth? Growing is something that Jesus wants us to be doing today!
Conclusion
Conclusion
God's kingdom will grow according to His perfect plan, despite any opposition. Jesus is making it clear that growth is the work of the Word in the heart of the receptive believer. Today, we must grow in our understanding of the Word and work of God.
Jesus has changed His teaching to reveal to those who believe the truth. The parables hide the truth from those who are rejecting His call to repentance and faith. In our passage this morning, Jesus is using the parables to address Christian growth. We have seen these three principles of growth illustrated in these parables.
What will we do with the preaching of the Word of God? Are we present for it? Does the Word change our lives and contribute to growth in our hearts? To this day, no one really can understand the miracle of a seed changing into a plant. God does the work as He does in hearts through His word.
Are you growing with what you have? How is your application of the Word each day? Has it changed your thinking and your actions? Can other see that you are becoming more like Him?
Are you waiting patiently for God to do something? Waiting on God and faithfulness to His Word are the same coin. The farmer has to do his job and leave the results to God. We will see the harvest one day and the miracle of growth will bring glory to God alone.
Is there anything that is preventing the growth in your life? We allow the cares of the world or the trials of our lives to affect our growth. Yet, God is in control and the kingdom will be triumphant. He is on the throne no matter our circumstance. Do you believe that Growth cannot be stopped?
We are faced with a question this morning: believer, how do you respond to the Word in your life?
If you have never accepted salvation, you have a question as well. Will you believe in Jesus alone for the removal of your sin? We are all sinners. He has taken away our sin. You can have peace with God today through the death of Jesus. Will you believe in Him today?
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
