The Parable of the Seed I. Base Text: Mark 4:26-29 II. Context A. Mark has spent most of his time discussing the acts of Jesus in Mark 1:1-3:35 B. He then features many of Jesus' parables (Mark 4:1-34) 1. The Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1-9) 2. Explanation of the Parable of the Sower to the disciples (Mark 4:10-20) 3. Illustration of the Lamp (Mark 4:21-23) 4. Illustration of Measurement (Mark 4:24-25) 5. The Parable of the Seed (Mark 4:26-29) 6. The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Mark 4:30-32) 7. Mark then explains how Jesus taught those who would hear in parables and would explain them privately to the disciples (Mark 4:33-34) C. All but one of these illustrations and parables are found elsewhere in the Gospels 1. The Parable of the Sower: Matthew 13:1-23, Luke 8:4-15 2. Illustration of the Lamp: Matthew 5:14-16, Luke 8:16-18 3. Illustration of Measurement: Matthew 7:2, Luke 6:38 4. The Parable of the Mustard Seed: Matthew 13:31-32, Luke 13:18-19 D. The Parable of the Seed, however, is not found in Matthew or Luke; it is unique to Mark's Gospel E. We can see that the Parable of the Seed is given in the context of other parables; what does it mean? III. Meaning A. The Kingdom is compared to a man who scatters seed on the ground (Mark 4:26) 1. Very similar to the Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1-20) 2. Justified in similar line of interpretation: seed as the Gospel, the Word of God; the man as the one who goes about proclaiming that Gospel B. The man goes about his daily life, sleeping and rising; meanwhile, the seed grows of its own accord, despite his ignorance of how (Mark 4:27) 1. After intense study of plant properties over the past few hundred years, we have a better idea of how plants grow in the soil, but that does not lessen the miracle of plant growth 2. The seed, within itself, contains all that is necessary to begin the growth process 3. So it is with the Gospel message: it works within a man and grows of its own accord even though the proclaimer of the message may not see it at first or know how (Romans 1:16, Hebrews 4:12) C. The plant grows in the earth: first blade, then ear, then head of grain in the ear (Mark 4:28) 1. Jesus accurately explains the growth process of grains like wheat and barley, quite familiar to His audience 2. Through the nourishment of the sun, water, and nutrients in the soil, the plant is able to grow from a seed to a blade of grass, then the ear, then the head of grain in the ear, thus having produced its fruit 3. Thus the Gospel can grow inside a person through proper nourishment, leading to belief/conviction and then the behaviors that follow from such conviction D. When grain is ripe, the man uses the sickle, because the time for harvest has come (Mark 4:29) 1. It is time now for the man to do something: he must harvest the grain 2. It does no good to leave the plants in the field; they must be harvested and brought into the barn! 3. Thus those who come to faith must be encouraged to be brought into the fold of God! 4. Christians as reapers, field as the world, harvest as those who are to hear the Gospel so as to be brought to faith: Matthew 9:37-38, Luke 10:2, John 4:35 5. Paul speaks of his desire to spend time in Rome in terms of desiring a harvest among them and among the rest of the Gentiles in Romans 1:13 E. Thus we can see how the Parable of the Seed complements the Parable of the Sower 1. The seed as doing the work implicit in the Parable of the Sower; explicit theme of the Parable of the Seed 2. Laborers as scattering seed explicit in both, harvesting implicit in Parable of the Sower, explicit in Parable of the Seed F. Kingdom Meaning of the Parable of the Seed 1. We can understand the Parable of the Seed in terms of the growth of the Kingdom 2. God has cast the seed of the Kingdom out through Christ 3. The Kingdom grows in ways not understood by those outside 4. The Kingdom matures and brings forth its fruit 5. In the end, God in Christ will reap the field (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, Revelation 14:14-16) G. The Parable of the Seed, therefore, illustrates how the Kingdom grows in terms of both individual conversion and the collective movement IV. Application A. The Sufficient Seed 1. The main message in the Parable of the Seed is the sufficiency of the seed for its work 2. While Jesus would not deny how the sun, water, and soil quality have much to do with plant growth, He instead focuses on how the little seed contains all that is necessary to begin and promote growth in the plant 3. So it is with the Gospel message: it is sufficient for its work! 4. Romans 1:16, Hebrews 4:12 5. People are convicted regarding the reality of God's rule in Christ, their sinfulness, and their need to come to repentance through the message God has provided in Christ, and not through the arts and devices of man (1 Corinthians 2:1-5) 6. Through this parable Jesus reminds us (and warns us) that our additions to, innovations regarding, or detractions from the Gospel will not be effective; it is not for us to change the message or try to "improve" the message but instead to seek to clearly communicate the message in our own time and place! B. Our Role in Conversion 1. We learn much from the man in the Parable of the Seed 2. His role in farming is to cast the seed and harvest the crop! 3. Thus our role in conversion is to proclaim the Gospel and make disciples through baptizing and teaching (Matthew 28:19-20, 2 Timothy 4:1-4) 4. 1 Corinthians 3:5-8: God gives the increase; even the Apostle Paul reckoned himself as one who planted, while Apollos watered, and not only gave the glory to God, but recognized that the substantive work of conversion was accomplished by God 5. Therefore it is God, through the convicting power of the Gospel message, who turns the heart of men toward Him; it is not in the oratory of the preacher or even the good works of His followers 6. There is much regarding the conversion process of each individual that we cannot immediately see and do not know, and perhaps could never even know; such is why God should receive all the glory! 7. Thus we should not say that we have converted anyone; all we have ever done is direct people toward the One who can redeem them! C. The Way of the Kingdom 1. The Parable of the Seed nicely illustrates the way God grows the Kingdom 2. Complemented by Parables of Sower and Mustard Seed 3. Faith and the number in the Kingdom start small (Matthew 17:20, Acts 2:1-48) 4. Despite all odds, and not noticed by those around, they grow 5. Then there is the full blossom of growth and fruit that provides sustenance to others and leading to even more growth: more mature followers of Jesus spreading the Gospel, influencing even more people! 6. The growth in faith and in the Kingdom is a testimony to the power of God and the folly of man, how great things can arise out of humility 7. We may not understand it, but we can praise God for it! V. Conclusion A. Thus we have seen the Parable of the Seed 1. The man plants and harvests 2. The seed grows of its own accord 3. So it is that we are to proclaim the Gospel and make disciples, but it is God in His message who convicts and leads to faith! B. Let us maintain humility and earnestly seek to do our part C. Let us glorify God for such a powerful message and a great Kingdom! D. May the seed of the Gospel transform all of our hearts toward faith and repentance in Christ, and let us proclaim the Gospel and make disciples of all the nations to God's honor and praise! E. Invitation/songbook Scripture, Meditation, and Application 1. "...and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, he knoweth not how" (Mark 4:27). Plant growth from seed to grain features a miracle of life. So it is with the work of the Gospel: its work in conviction in the heart is beyond our understanding. God is the Author of conversion, not ourselves (1 Corinthians 3:5-8). 2. "The earth beareth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear" (Mark 4:28). As the seed of the plant, in the right environment, grows of its own accord, so the Gospel message, on its own, can lead a good and honest person to faith in Christ. The Gospel has been God's power unto salvation for 2,000 years; we should not be so conceited as to think we can improve upon it! 3. "But when the fruit is ripe, straightway he putteth forth the sickle, because the harvest is come" (Mark 4:29). God is the author of salvation, and His message convicts the heart, but we are still called to harvest the crop. We must not only take the Gospel message out but bring in those who would become Jesus' disciples and teach them His ways (Matthew 28:19-20)! 4. "So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed upon the earth..." (Mark 4:26). The Kingdom of God starts small, in an inconspicuous way, and grows ever larger and more fruitful in ways that surpass human understanding. We are to work in the Kingdom of God, but it is always His Kingdom in Christ, and He will accomplish what He has purposed by it. Let us ever praise and glorify God in His Kingdom!