In Jesus Holy Name June 16, 2024
Text: Mark 4:26,30 Pentecost IV - Redeemer
“The Parables About Seeds”
The Seed is the Word of God… We Just Sow
The message today is not about how to have peace with God not how to obtain heaven. It is about our walk, our responsibility as followers of Jesus to tell His story.
In the 1960”s the famous Jewish archologist Yidel Yadin was excavating Herod’s Fortress above the Dead Sea referred to as “Masada”. The Masada fortress was used by Herod the Great as a winter retreat. The wall paintings of Herod's two main palaces, and the Roman-style bathhouses that he built are still visible. The Masada also became the last stand for Jewish rebels in the 1st war against Rome in 66-73 A.D. Jewish rebels fled there after the fall of Jerusalem.
The Roman legion surrounded Masada, building a wall and then a siege ramp against the western face of the plateau. According to Josephus, when Roman troops entered the fortress, they discovered that its defenders had set all the buildings, except the food storerooms, ablaze and committed mass suicide, 960 men, women, and children in total. Only two women and five children were found alive.
During the excavations in the 1960’s, 2000-year-old Judean date palms were discovered, buried in the rubble of the store rooms. In 2008 several of these 2000-year-old Judean date palms, were planted. Since 2019 more than 6 Judean date palms have grown and produced dates. A Judean date palm, thought to be extent, still grew into a tree because it was exposed to the proper conditions, water and oxygen and light. The embryo's cells inside the 2000 year old Judean Date seed when exposed to warm water, fertilizer and good soil, started to enlarge. First a root, then a leaf breaks the soil and seeks the sun.
We cannot make seeds grow; I can’t even explain how it grows. I suppose a scientist can explain the process, I just know that when I plant a good seed into good soil, good things happen. When the seed takes root, there will be fruit
I don’t have to understand how things work in order for them to work. I don’t know how a microwave or iPad or works, but that doesn’t stop them from working when I push the “on” button.
Jesus the “creator” of the seed tells a parable about soil, seeds, a farmer and a tiny mustard seed. Every gardener understood. Good seeds in good soil, with water and sun shine will grow. Jesus said: “this is what the kingdom of God is like.” A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day whether he sleep or gets up the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.”
We have friends who are farmers in the Mid west. When we talk with them we often ask how the crops are doing. They will often answer: “We’ve done everything we can do. Now we just wait. It’s all up to God now.”
Just like the seed which germinates out of sight, so too, the seed of the gospel, which is the “word” of God, begins to grow in someone’s heart before it will show. Just two weeks ago my grandson, Isaac who has a summer job in Boise was working with his two partners putting up sheds and playgrounds in people’s back yards. Out of the blue one of his working buddies asked: “What happens when we die?” Isaac just told him about the promise of Jesus. His friend has no knowledge about Jesus but he had a serious question about life and death.
This is how it begins. God’s Holy Spriit causes a friend to ask a spiritual question. A question was asked, a seed was planted.
Martin Luther was spot on when he said, “After I preach my sermon on Sunday…I return home…and I just let the gospel run its course.” When someone is converted, I would give them two items – a Bible and a hymnal and would say, “Let them loose and like fire they will spread on their own.”
The Sabbath services in Capernaum are over…everyone gathers on the hill side to hear Jesus. And a large crowd gathered. It’s a nice day. He is a captivating speaker and He might work another miracle.
“The Sea of Galilee was one of His favorite places to preach to large crowds by using a boat as His podium. The water was a sounding board and the sloping hills and curving coves were people sat was a natural amphitheater.” (Jesus A Theography p. 177) So Jesus climbed into a boat that was anchored at the shore. He sat down and spoke many things to them in parables.
Jesus said the seed is the Word of God (Luke 8:11). It’s the only thing
that has the power to change the human heart. Preaching alone won’t do it because we cannot talk people into a new heart. Our words have no power in and of themselves. Programs won’t do it. Programs are helpful in creating fellowship and community….but changing the human heart is the work of the Holy Spirit.
Here is the central teaching of the parables in Mark 4. There is nothing wrong with the seed. The seed is the Word of God.
In the Old Testament the children of Israel were to be a “light to the nations”. It worked like the light on your front porch in the summer which attracts bugs. In the Old Testament God resided in the Tabernacle and then in the Temple in Jerusalem. God was the destination. People would take pilgrimages to Jerusalem.
Jesus turned this inside out and upside down. He was the onsite, dwelling place of God. In Him the Holy Spirit moved out of the Temple and moved where ever Jesus moved. Therefore Jesus could heal people, cast out demons and raise the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit for He was the dwelling place of God. Jesus said: “I am the light of the world.” He who believes in me will have eternal life. (John 6:47)
On the Day of Pentecost His Holy Spriit filled the disciples and went where ever they went. The Holy Spirit went with Peter to the house of Cornelius. The Holy Spirit went with Philip when he visited the Ethiopian in his chariot. Jesus said: “God and make disciples, baptize and teach them to obey my commandments and I will be “with you.” (Matthew 28:19)
In other words: a trip to Walmart or Starbucks becomes a short term mission trip. It is not unusual to walk next door to “Kuppa Joy” and see people sharing a short bible study or talking about their faith. Kent Hunter in his book states that the missionary you know best is the one you see in the mirror.
Jesus told the disciples and us to be His witnesses, where we live, work and play. A witness simply tells their story. The parables are stories. Every Christian has stories. Your stories are not about you. They are God Stories. They are stories about God’s work in your life.
You and I are to share our “God Story” with our unchurched friends at work and in our neighborhood. God will use these stories to grow His Kingdom? It is His job. Our job is to tell the story.
This is why Jesus said we are “witnesses”, story tellers, not religious professors.
Think of the woman at the well in Samaria. She had a poor reputation in her village. Jesus wasn’t supposed to talk to a woman. She wasn’t supposed to talked to a Jewish man. But she had a “God Story” to tell her village. They came with her to the well to meet the man Jesus. He stayed in their village two days.
(Who Broke my Church Kent Hunter p.17)
Be a friend. Build a relationship. Listen to your conversations. Watch for words of signs of receptivity, spiritual questions provide openings for conversations. Share your story with Jesus. Help the person with questions with ongoing bible study. I was just talking with Chuck Huggins this week and He is doing just that with his grandson and 4 friends every Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. on zoom.
Share what God has done in your life. Sow your “God Stories” recklessly. Let the Seed fall where it may. Let God bring growth. It’s that simple.
Hundreds of years before the Savior had been born in Bethlehem, the Old Testament prophet Isaiah had predicted Jesus would, in the performance of our rescue, have to carry grief and sorrow; that He would be stricken, smitten, afflicted, and wounded, for all the broken commandments humanity had done or would ever do. On Good Friday, the sound of hammer on nails was heard on a skull-shaped hill outside Jerusalem's city walls. Passersby would have noted three crosses being lifted up - three crosses containing three men whom society thought worthy of death. Three crosses - one carrying the body of God's innocent Son, Jesus. His work was done, on the cross He took the wrath of God that we deserved for our broken commandments. Then three days later the stone which had been set in front of His tomb was rolled aside. This was not done to ease the escape of Jesus from a stone tomb, but to let the world see that Jeus had risen with a glorified resurrected body.
This is the answer to the question…”What happens when we die?” Paul writes: For those who accept Jesus as their Savior….”we know that our citizenship is in heaven and we eagerly await our risen Savior from there who will change our bodies to be like His glorified resurrected body.” (Philippians 3:21-22)
Jesus' resurrection has ushered in a new world - a new world where death's sting was removed and the grave's victory was only temporary. Christ has conquered sin, Satan, and death. The truth remains, Jesus lives, and because He lives, all who believe on Him will also live. Just share His story.
