Lost Parables: The Growing SeedPosted by Phil on May 3rd, 2009
if you grew up in church at all, you probably know that Jesus often taught in parables. in fact, many could probably list off a half dozen without too much thought. but why did Jesus teach in parables?
first of all….people love stories. people enjoyed a good story then just as much as we do now. but today, we get stories through books, tv, and movies. the only option then was really spoken stories. storytelling was a great form of entertainment. good storytellers could make a living as street performers. tell a good story and people will pay them for it.
but parables were also a way to teach those who cared and would just be a story for those who didn’t. did you catch that? Jesus wasn’t trying to teach everyone? he taught in parables for those that cared?
if you look at the parable of the sower in Matthew 13, Mark 4, or Luke 8. Jesus tells the story about a farmer who throws seed on 4 different soils that range from bad to good. and in the end he says, “he who has ears to hear, let him hear”…..or….if you get it, you get it. at this point, his disciples kindly pulled him aside and asked…”what was that? what’s it even mean? do you realize how confusing you just were?”
and Jesus says, “yeah…and that’s ok.” he got what he wanted. he wanted those who were hungry to stop and ask questions. he wanted them to not be satisfied and demand a deeper understanding. so parables were stories for some and then opened new doors, asked new questions, and changed the lives of others.
with that in mind and with the parable of the sower in mind, we come to the parable of the growing seed in Mark 4. summed up…a farmer plants seed and waits. day and night, he doesn’t ever see it grow before his eyes, but the seed transforms and grows w/out his knowledge and without his effort until it was fully mature.
now, it doesn’t say that the farmer did anything other than plant the seed. says nothing about watering or caring for the soil. however, coming out of the parable of the sower, a seed only grew to full maturity in good soil. in other soils it was eaten up, burned by the sun, or choked by thorns. this seed grows.
Philippians 1:6 says, “that he who begane a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
the seed planted in good soil takes off. it grows. you don’t necessarily see the growth while its happening, but looking back, you see how much change has taken place.
for me sometimes, i feel like i’m standing still. i feel like i’m not growing at all…but if i step back and look at my life, i can see how far God has brought me. sometimes, i don’t notice how much i’ve grown until i take a look over time. sometimes i need a good friend to point out how God has changed me when i don’t notice it.
but a seed planted in good soil takes off….it just grows.
so are you a seed planted in good soil? Francis Chan says that too often American Christians assume they are good soil, when so many times we allow ourselves to be choked out by activities, sports, sin, or money. Jesus wants us to want him. so are you hearing? are you asking questions? and are you desperately seeking answers to those questions b/c your not satisfied with what you know now?
Jesus tells parables for people who are not satisfied with who they are now, but want so much more. can you look back and see how God has helped you grow over time? do you have friends who will help you with that as well? are you a growing seed?