"The Parables About Seeds” The Seed Is The Word Of God… We Just Sow

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