Sowing Seeds

Scripture:

Again he began to teach beside the sea. Such a very large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the sea and sat there, while the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. He began to teach them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.” And he said, “Let anyone with ears to hear listen!”

(Mark 4:1–9 NRSV)

Observation:

There are two major parables in Mark’s gospel, and this is the first. Jesus is again seen as the teacher, sitting in the boat and the crowds are listening. The crowds are filled with those who represent the many different kinds of soil and Jesus is the one sowing the seeds. 

Jesus begins his parable by telling them to listen. You will note that at the end he again reminds them to listen. This is an active type of listening — they are admonished to listen and pay attention to what is being said. They are encouraged  to genuinely hear this teaching. Jesus is saying that they ought to apply this to their own lives and maybe they would discover whether their soil is prepared to receive the seeds which he was sowing. 

Some people have chastised the farmer and thought that he should have paid more attention to the type of soil in which he was sowing. However, the sower is seen as being generous — reflecting grace — in throwing out the seed to all who may be willing to receive. 

In this parable four types of soil are presented which represent the spiritual state or condition of those who are listening. The people knew very well what the pathway looked like for this was well-worn soil. The feet of people walking between the towns and their work would have become hard and the seeds on this path would have simply laid out in the open, ready to be devoured by the birds. 

The rocky soil was also not able to grow the seed. The seed may have sprouted and a little growth seen but it soon died because the soil was not deep enough. When the heat of the day came, it simply died away. 

Interestingly the seeds among the thorns and weeds may actually have been sown on fertile ground. The growth began but it was soon crowded out by the many other plants allowed to grow in the soil and it choked and died.

Finally there is the seed which falls on good soil. The word used here represents not just a one-time event but a continuous and on-going sowing of the seed. The good soil received the seed and remained continually in condition so that the seed could grow. 

Some have remarked on the size of the harvest — that all of it is of unusual size. Our more recent commentaries say that these sizes of harvest were possible under the best conditions. In some places thirty fold would be simply outstanding, while sixty and a hundred fold would probably make the record books. It reveals the potential that exists when the seed of the kingdom is nurtured in the right soil. 

Again, he urges those present to listen and soak in this teaching for maybe there is the possibility for each person to evaluate their own soil and become intentional in making change. 

Application:

Many ministers of the gospel find themselves discouraged these days. Jesus, himself, was discouraged because he knew that all four types of soil could be found among those listening, and even among his disciples and his immediate family. As we contemplate this story there are certain truths that ought to encourage the sower. 

1. The sower is called to sow the seed, not to cultivate the ground. That may seem like a strange way of looking at this story but we see no indication that the sower was responsible for the soil. Followers of Christ are responsible for generously sowing seed. As participants in God’s gracious activity in the world we are to share the good news of Jesus everywhere we go. Far too many are searching for the “good soil” and waiting for that moment to sow the seeds. Jesus knew that the different types of soil were all present among his listeners. We don’t necessarily know what will be good soil and which will be rocky, but that is not supposed to preclude us from telling others about Jesus. We will be just as surprised as the farmer when the seed produces a huge crop. 

1. There are different aspects of life which affect our ability to become good soil. 
• Sometimes we feel as if we have been stomped on by the people around us. We are the doormat that so many take for granted. When we begin to think about ourselves in this way, we become angry and cynical. Our hearts are no longer tender, and even when the seed is generously sown in our direction we just let it lie on top and be eaten up by those around us. 
• Of course there are always those who want to see everything happen quickly. They don’t want to take the time to nurture their spiritual growth but want to see immediate results. These people love getting attention in the church, probably wear the WWJD T-shirts for a month or two, but never take time to be discipled. Their roots are extremely shallow, and when the Christian life begins to cost them something, they simply disappear. These may be people who are in the church and have been present for many years. What they don’t realize is that they have already shriveled up but return week after week with their rocky soil and think that they have something to say to the church. 
• Then there are those who have great potential, who have excellent soil and could grow but little by little allow the weeds and thorns to choke out their growth. The early church fathers felt that these were the individuals who became obsessed with wealth and business. Today it may be those who have scheduled their children to participate in every sport possible. Or, is it the well-meaning individual who builds a vacation home that must then be cared for on a regular basis? The weeds grow, the thorns come and before they know it, those who had been growing in good soil are choking. 
• In the midst of all of these people there are those who take us by surprise: those who are ready to listen and receive all that Jesus has to offer. What’s important to notice is that it doesn’t just happen all at once, but there is continuous and on-going sowing and care. The sower participates with this soil and the result is a bountiful harvest. 

1. The results of the harvest differ, so no one should be expecting the same results. The thirty-fold is a good standard harvest. For some reason we have come to think that every pastor or every church is supposed to have a hundred-fold result. Sadly, we have pastors and churches that are feeling defeated and burned out. But what if the church and the sower simply continued to faithfully participate in grace while sowing the seeds? Then, relax in the harvest, for that is dependent upon the soil and the Lord. Every part of the world, every city, every context is different. Some places have more fertile soil than others but the sower just keeps sowing. 

God’s people are called to sow seeds. Could it be that we have become too afraid to sow the seeds because we want just the right soil? Instead, Jesus invites us to be lavish in our sowing. Let people mock the fact that we sow where it seems that the seed won’t grow, but let’s just keep sowing. May we never be the one to judge whether someone is good soil or not, for when we do, we may withhold the possibility of beautiful growth and harvest. Listen. Let’s go and sow some seeds. 

Prayer:

Lord, please help remove the fear of rejection when sowing seeds and help me to move and participate in your lavish grace. Amen.