Mark 4:26-29 - Planting, Sowing, Harvesting

From J.C. Ryle’s “Expository Comments on the Gospels - Mark”

Pray

House Rules: Phones, Respect, Stay on the Text

Mark 4:26-29

Mark 4:26–29 NASB95

And He was saying, “The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil; and he goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows—how, he himself does not know. “The soil produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head. “But when the crop permits, he immediately puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

Introduction and Review:

The beginning

Jesus and John the Baptist

Jesus message

The mission so far

Parable of the Soils

Seed at the wayside

Seed on Stony Soil

Seed in the brush and thorns

Seed on good Soil

Lights in the darkness

What to do with our gift (seed on good soil)

bear fruit

Diligence

Today - the Christian life

Short parable and only found in this gospel

A way to reflect on our own walk. For true Christians, a model of the Christian life

Jesus uses the experience of a corn or grain farmer as a way of understanding Christian growth

Mark 4:26

Mark 4:26 NASB95

And He was saying, “The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil;

#1 The Planter

Firstly, there must be a sower, or a planter

Soil does not bring forth grain by itself, only weeds

Someone must plow the soil and seed it, or no harvest

The heart of men and women, on their own, will never turn to God, Ephesians 2:1-2 “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.”

Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, must first prepare our hearts, give us a new nature. He prepares the ground, and His disciples plant the seed

Grace, the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, does not come naturally - it is sent from heaven.

No man would ever seek God on His own

God works through teachers and preachers and other Christians, they are the sowers

No sowers, no grain

Mark 4:27

Mark 4:27 NASB95

and he goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows—how, he himself does not know.

#2 We can’t understand everything in this life

The brightest farmer cannot explain exactly how a seed ultimately grows into an ear of corn or a head of grain- he only knows for sure that he planted it.

knows generally he tilled the soil, planted, covered it, fertilized it, and hopes an ear will grow

Doesn’t know for sure if it will grow or which ones will grow

Cannot explain why some live and some die

Can’t even be sure when the seed will sprout.

Can’t even explain what life is

These things he has to leave alone. 1 Cor 3:7 “So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.”

How God works in the heart is a mystery

How the Word of God may effect one and not another is also a mystery

Some with every advantage, with every appeal, reject it and stay dead in their sins

Others, who have many difficulties and with no encouragement are born again - become Christians

John 3:8

John 3:8 NASB95

“The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

This is humbling to those of us who are teachers and preachers

Why is it that the best preaching doesn’t always produce results?

In the end, only God can give life

All we can do is plant the seed - then we have to wait

Then we leave the work to the Lord - only He can give success

Mark 4:28 NASB95

“The soil produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head.

Life grows slowly

As in the growth of grain, so God’s work of faith - life grows gradually

Someone once said: Nature does nothing at a bound

Seeds don’t just suddenly sprout and produce a corn stalk

Plants grow through stages - first a blade, then the ear, then the corn in the ear

In all those stages though, it is still a living plant

A work of grace - God’s work in our hearts, also goes in stages

New children of God are not born perfect in their faith and understanding

Christian growth begins with a day of small things

Understanding of sinfulness and Christ’s fullness, beauty of His holiness

The newest, weakest child in God’s family is still a true child of God

As weak as he is, he is still alive in Christ

The seed of grace, of understanding has sprouted, though it may be just a sprout

He is alive from the dead. Eccles. 9:4 “For whoever is joined with all the living, there is hope; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion.”

Weak faith does not mean people are not born again

Everything has a beginning - mighty oak started as an acorn

Strongest man was once a baby

Mark 4:29

Mark 4:29 NASB95

“But when the crop permits, he immediately puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

#4 The harvest comes when the time is right

There is no harvest until the plant is ripe

No farmer cuts his wheat while it is still green

Waits for the sun, rain, heat and cold to have done their work and the golden ears hang down

then and only then does he put in the sickle and gather the wheat (or corn)

God deals with the work of grace the same way

We are talking about the death of Christians here

Never takes people out of the world until they are ripe and ready

Never takes them away before their work is done

They never die at the wrong time (though their deaths may be mysterious to us)

Many have appeared to die at the wrong time (can you name some?) (Kennedy, musicians, Diana)

God knows why, and we will know why when we meet Him in heaven

God never cuts the grain before it is ripe

Bringing it home

Let’s keep this last truth in mind and take comfort about the death of every believer

No chance, no accident, no mistake about the death of any of God’s children

Christians are all God’s crop and God knows best when they are ready for harvest

If you are not a believer, you will be a part of God’s harvest too, but He will separate you from His crops and cast you into hell for eternity. You can change that though, if you accept Jesus message: the kingdom of Heaven is at hand, repent and believe the gospel

Prayer

Discussion